We are grateful to share that Catholic Volunteer Network has received new grant funding to
strengthen the well-being of staff and volunteers of our member programs through a somatic care
initiative. CVN programs accompany refugees, immigrants, survivors of violence, the unhoused and
impoverished communities and have done so for many years through countless seasons and
circumstances. This work is sacred – and it is also very heavy.
We know that the weight of trauma, injustice, and compassion fatigue often settles in the body and
the spirit. Those who serve carry both their own pain and the pain of those they accompany.
Without care and renewal, that weight can affect health, relationships, and ministry.
This new initiative will focus on somatic practice as a form of care that honors the whole person.
Somatic practice invites awareness of how our bodies hold stress, grief, and resilience. It helps us
reconnect with our humanity and restore balance in ways that words alone often cannot. This work
reflects the belief that each person has inherent dignity and that our well-being is bound together
in community. Caring for the body and spirit of those who serve is an act of justice and love.
Through this initiative, we will offer opportunities for rest, reflection, and renewal in the form of
retreats, workshops, and one-on-one support. In the spirit of subsidiarity, all CVN Member Programs are invited to apply for funding to host a local retreat or workshop in partnership with a trusted somatic practitioner or facilitator of their choice. For more information on how to apply as a Member Program or as a non-member somatic care practitioner, we invite you to read the Request for Proposals.