Steven Kesslar
My first few weeks in the MFVP have been full of great new experiences. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, I wanted to lead a life of greater service, and that commitment brought me to this program.

I minister at the New Horizons Senior Center, which is part of the Allegheny East Mental Health and Mental Retardation Centers System. My work with mentally challenged senior adults has been deeply rewarding, and I thank God for guiding me here. Our mission is to give a second home to our clients, a place where they can relax with friends.

Many of our clients were institutionalized in their youth, and the relaxed and friendly atmosphere is exactly what they need to make up for those years. Our clients are so thankful for everything we do, and yet I feel as if I should be thanking them for the joy they give me. I am grateful for the time I have already spent and look forward to the coming year.

Alicia Hartle
Originally I looked into mission work in eastern Germany, yet the MFVP caught my attention for several reasons. I realized that there is mission work around the world, but I could not find the Franciscan lifestyle that is a central part of this program anywhere else. Also, I wanted to focus on materially and spiritually impoverished communities within the United States before moving to other countries. Although I had lived in a wonderfully Christ-centered environment for the past four years in college and at home before that, I looked forward to one year of a simple lifestyle and community completely focused on growing spiritually and serving others.

My first week at Catholic Charities (Greene and Washington Counties) was intriguing, intimidating, joyful, sad and wonderful. The people at work were welcoming and displayed their passion for the people to whom they minister. I spent my first week learning about forms, procedures and shadowing caseworkers for Women In Need (WIN) and Children and Youth Services. My first night, I could not sleep. I could not stop thinking about some of the seemingly hopeless cases I had seen. Then God whispered into my thoughts the promise of his truth and grace and hope and joy. God’s always right. It was good to be surrounded by the beauty of creation in the rolling hills of Appalachia. God reminded me each day that in all his majesty, he is in control.

Liz Gonda
When I first started thinking about doing a volunteer year, it struck me that I had no experience with the problems that plague the urban poor.

Living and working in Pittsburgh opened my eyes to what it means to be impoverished in an urban setting. Sometimes it was hard for me to not want to go out, gather up all the homeless people I see, and bring them home for a meal and a warm place to sleep. Seeing their plight made me more grateful for all of the blessings God gave me.

Working at Bethlehem Haven was an amazing experience. Everyday there I faced new challenges from which I could learn. The people on staff were welcoming and extremely helpful and I was able to rely on them for guidance. Conversations with the women who live at the shelter gave me a taste of their struggles with homelessness and all of its implications. My specific role at Bethlehem Haven was “Project Employ Mentor.” This means that I helped my wonderful supervisor, Anna Lisa Wolfe, run a program that assists formerly homeless people put all of the pieces of their lives back together and maintain meaningful employment. Being a mentor also meant that I helped my clients learn about responsibility, honesty and integrity through word and example.

When I came home at the end of a long day, I was greeted by two people I care about and who care about me. My relationship with my roommates was one that brought great joy to my life. Sitting around the dinner table and sharing was my favorite part of every day. I don’t think that I would have had enough strength to do service if I wasn’t able to share my experiences with people who were going through the same things. The most important thing that I learned during my volunteer year was that Christ is present in every person, but sometimes He is just a little harder to see.

Jackie Spizarny
It is difficult to describe the transition from my volunteer year to the real world. The changes were subtle yet profound. It took me a while to adjust to not having someone at home to talk about my day, cooking for only one person, and not consulting with roommates about weekend plans. It has also been an adjustment having more than the $85 a month stipend.

Despite all of these changes, I continue to live out the values I learned during my volunteer year.

All of these changes have been difficult, but also very good. I constantly see the fruits from my volunteer year. I am forced to face many of my weaknesses daily, but instead of running or avoiding them, I face them head on. I credit my strength and confidence to my experiences in the MFVP and God’s grace.

Thank you for teaching me the Franciscan way of living. I may no longer live in community, but the values I learned will remain with me forever.