The buzz of my alarm, the rushing of traffic, the screeching tires in the parking garage, and the “good morning” conversations in elevators…This is how my day starts and probably how many people start their days; this routine of going through the motions of a preprogrammed, premeditated day. In my mind, I already know which […]
Category: Vocare
What Does Welcome Really Mean?
On August 9th, I climbed into a shiny, blue minivan with Sister Mary Swain. She must have seen the fear in my eyes, because she immediately met me with an embrace. She was taking me to the Loretto Motherhouse where I would embark on a year-long journey with the Loretto Volunteer Program. I was terrified. […]
The Service Summit
Wind rushing through my hair, crunching snow below, and the surrounding sights of sharp cliffs; at last, I have made it to the summit! Nothing can describe the thrill of seeing the view at the top of a mountain I struggled to climb. The beauty takes my breath away as I recall the memories along […]
A Poem to Close
One of my last days living in El Paso, my house mates and I sat in Sister Mary Margaret’s home with about 5 or 6 Sisters/co-members. We circled around Sister Elisa’s chile con queso and piled this delicious gold of hers onto our plated chips. Periodically, her dog trotted about the circle of humans in […]
A Renewed Sense of Community – Part 2
After joining a community, building and strengthening that bond is so important to maintain unity. I was so fortunate to become close friends with my fellow AV volunteer Rugile. Our household became smaller in the summer when our third volunteer had to leave early, but the two of us kept on with regular meals and […]