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In the Spotlight
Bridget Marrine '11
MVC Volunteer
St. Michaels Association for Special Education
St. Michaels, AZ
"I would say that the definition of my year, at least so far, is culture. I'm living and working on the Navajo reservation, so I guess that's a little obvious. I am literally submerged into a completely different culture and every day I am surrounded by people with a much different ethnic, religious, and cultural background than my own. Yes, a big part of that is the Navajo culture, but there is much more than that too." Read more ... |
Mid-Atlantic Community Coordinator Mercy Volunteer Corps is pleased to announce that Lisa Stellino '02-'04 will be appointed as the MVC Community Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Community effective January 1, 2012. Lisa served with the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry and subsequently with Mercy Volunteer Corps from 2002-2004 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and St. John Bosco Orphanage in Guyana. Lisa has been on staff as the International Program Coordinator since July 2007. Lisa will work with Mid-Atlantic sites and volunteers as well as continue to work with the International Volunteers located in Guyana. This appointment is part of an overall plan to restructure the MVC program over the next several years and to strengthen and enhance our relationships throughout the Institute.
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Lisa Stellino
Mid-Atlantic Community Coordinator |
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Extending the Circle
Extending the Circle is a unique program offered by Mercy Volunteer Corps to enable our volunteers to share their MVC experiences with friends and family.
So far, our volunteers have raised $7,300. Check out the website at www.mercyvolunteers.org to view their personalized web pages.
Please consider sponsoring Mercy volunteers in their commitment to service, thereby extending their circle of support. |
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UPCOMING MVC EVENTS
November 29th-December 2nd
Sacramento Site Visit
Sacramento, CA
December 2nd
MVC Board Meeting
Teleconference
December 2nd-4th
Savannah Fall Retreat
Savannah, GA
December 5th-9th
St. Michaels Site Visit
St. Michaels, AZ
December 12th-15th
Baltimore Site Visit
Baltimore, MD
June 7th-11th
MVC Transition Retreat
Farmington Hills, MI
August 5th-12th
MVC Orientation Retreat
Erlanger, KY |
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New MVC Blog
MVC has started a new blog! Each week we will share a submission from one of our volunteers which will shed light on the experience of volunteering. We encourage you to share this blog with others to either encourage people to volunteer or to help people understand the impact MVC has on our amazing volunteers. Click on our link below!
http://mercyvolunteercorps.blogspot.com/
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2010-2011 Annual Report
Our 2010-2011 Annual Report is now available. Please visit our website at www.mercyvolunteers.org and click
on the link to view the report.
Please note that Mary Loftus, RSM will be added to the MVC Donor List. |
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Institute Justice Team
The Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas call us to "intensify our responses to critical needs of our times." To respond to these needs in the United States, we are urged to be active at national and local levels where policy decisions are made. Policy made in the United States affect the entire world and we need to let legislators know our concerns about the impact of their decisions. There are several ways that you as individuals or groups can effectively deliver messages to U.S. Senators and Representatives. We encourage you to sign up to receive action alerts from the Sisters of Mercy to become aware when critical timely advocacy is needed. Please sign up at the following link: http://capwiz.com/sistersofmercy/mlm/signup/.
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Greetings!
This month's A Moment With MVC features Carol Tropiano, RSM. In her ministry as University Minister at the University of Scranton, Sr. Carol is an effective ambassador for Mercy Volunteer Corps. Each year, she makes a significant contribution toward our applicant flow. Additionally, she serves as an interviewer. Sr. Carol talks about why she supports volunteerism and Mercy Volunteer Corps.
Our featured site this month is SafeNet, Erie, where we currently have two volunteers serving.
Advent Blessings! |
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Featured Article
Carol Tropiano, RSM
University Minister
University of Scranton
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Sister Carol Tropiano, RSM, helping out with recruitment at the University of Scranton |
What is your role at the University of Scranton?
I work in University Ministries at the University of Scranton, sponsored by the Jesuits. Being in campus ministry places me in a privilege place in the lives of our students. We have our own retreat house which allows us to offer various retreat experiences for our students including a five day silent retreat. I also coordinated our Christian Life Communities (CLC). These are small groups of students who meet weekly to share faith.
What is the importance of service in a college setting?
So many students in college are involved is service. Often they initiate the response to need. Here at the University of Scranton we have many opportunities for them to serve both domestically and internationally. These experiences bring them out of their comfort zone. They are encouraged through reflection to integrate these experiences in light of the Gospel.
What guides a student to do post graduate service?
I think the desire comes from within them. Many students recognize the blessings they have received and want to give back to society. They desire to connect their faith to service. They want to do something about the injustice that exists in our society.
They also recognize that the timing is right for them. I know several students who have been able to defer their graduate studies or entrance into medical school until after they complete their year of service. It would be a challenge for them to take a year off from a career path later in life.
What is your perception of MVC's effect on students?
They are incorporated into our story of Mercy and what that means for the world. The experience of MVC helps shape who these students are becoming and the choices they will make in the future. They know they are involved in a mission bigger than themselves and are supported in their ministry by the community and the MVC staff.
Why do you continue to help MVC?
I believe in MVC. It is so much a part of our mission as Sisters of Mercy to respond to the critical needs of our time. MVC provides an opportunity for volunteers to serve others rooted in the charism of Mercy. The volunteers are welcomed into the circle of Mercy which continues to grow and serve a world in need through their generosity. |
Site Spotlight
SafeNet
Erie, PA
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"Mercy Volunteers come with that philosophy of compassionate service and the drive to serve."
-Robin Young
SafeNet Domestic Violence Safety Network in Erie, Pennsylvania serves women, men, and children who are victims of Domestic Violence. SafeNet provides sanctuary, support, education and advocacy and promotes changes in legislation and social policies. Victims are provided with one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and 24 hour support through our hotline.
Mercy volunteers work along with our staff and are provided with the same training. That training enables the volunteers to learn about the dynamics of Domestic Violence and how to work with victims within the philosophy of empowerment. SafeNet believes that every human being has the right to be respected as a person and to a life free from abuse and fear.
Mercy volunteers are different than any other volunteer that comes through the doors at SafeNet. They come with that philosophy of compassionate service and the drive to serve. In return the volunteers receive training that can travel with them for a lifetime. Mercy volunteers help to stretch further the services that are offered by SafeNet. They also enable us to have a greater number of one-on-one contacts with victims and provide additional education within the community. Mercy volunteers are a very valuable asset at SafeNet.
-Robin Young, Training Coordinator, SafeNet
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Current Mercy Volunteers serving at SafeNet,
(L to R) Amber Lindstrum and Elizabeth Minor |
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Consider a Gift
to Mercy Volunteer Corps
This Holiday Season
Christmas is a time for giving and many of us choose to donate in honor of those we love. Consider honoring the spirit of Christmas by donating to Mercy Volunteer Corps. We will promptly notify the person of your gift and special wishes.
If you purchase gift items online, remember you can simultaneously raise money by linking through iGive or Goodshop before you make your purchase.
Whatever way you choose to support MVC, please know that you are impacting the future in a positive way and that we and the volunteers are grateful.
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Mercy Volunteer Corps' Mission Statement
In partnership with the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, lay women and men of Mercy Volunteer Corps (MVC), enter into relationship with people who are economically poor and marginalized. In a spirit of mutuality, volunteers cultivate mercy and justice in the world by embracing compassionate service, social justice, spirituality and a simple lifestyle in community.
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ALUMNI CORNER
Mary Buck '06, '07 served two years with CapCorps in Chicago, IL after serving two years with MVC. Keep on serving Mary!
Joanne Myers '98 is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Gettysburg College, teaching eighteenth-century British Literature. Congratulations Joanne!
Jennifer Skudlarek '06 and her husband, Ben, are both working for Habitat International and are currently living in Americus, GA. Keep up the great work Jennifer and Ben!
Alumni, please send your updates to Lisa Stellino at stellino.l@gmc.edu. We enjoy hearing from you! |
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