Vincentian Volunteers: Newsletter

Change. If life can teach us one thing, it’s that change is the only constant. I’m spending my volunteer year at Places for People, a not-for-profit mental health agency that has been around for over 35 years, so it has seen its fair share of change.

From deinstitutionalization to community living, from insurmountable work loads to teams of social workers working with clients, from abstinence- only treatment to meeting the client where they are, the mental health field has seen a complete overhaul in its mindset and how clients are treated.

As a young ideal volunteer I was hoping I could bring about some changes as well. Having been schooled as an engineer and having absolutely no experience in the mental health field, I figured whatever changes I could bring would not be related to the mental health field. After only a few days of work I noticed that a large amount of trash was produced by the agency as a whole, and there was no recycling program at all. This struck me as a huge problem, and when I see a problem I feel compelled to fix it.

Conversations about recycling began, and so did a mixture of doubt and excitement. It had been tried before but had never caught on. Forging ahead, I made some phone calls and looked up local laws to make sure it was even legal for us to have a second dumpster. I met with a waste removal representative, and soon enough the whole operation was rolling with only a few bumps along the way (rooting through trash cans has become a daily occurrence).

Now trash pick- ups are down by half, which is saving the agency money and is better for the environment. My next plan is to install a dishwasher in the Clubhouse kitchen, therefore moving away from disposable plates and utensils for lunch. This will further help the environment and save the agency even more money. Looks like change is a good thing.

This year, with the help of the Gatekeepers, the Southern Province of the Vincentian Priests and Brothers, and the Sisters of Mercy Health Ministry, we were able to offer a match on all donations received from the end of January through the end of March up to a total of $15,000. The names listed below are those who responded to our appeal with great generosity! We thank you all for helping to spread the mission of St. Vincent DePaul to young adults. This program would not be possible with YOU!

An anonymous GVV
Marilyn Abkemeier
Robert & Suzanne Althoff
New Melleray Abbey
Arvo & Suzanne Aulik
John & Mary Ann Capellupo
Kevin Carbol
Rev. Jim Cormack, C.M.
John & Jennifer (GVV 03-04) Courtney
Dennis & Susan Cuddihee
Bob & Elizabeth DeBoo (GVV 01-02)
Rev. Louis Derbes, C.M.
Rachael Edelen (GVV 04-05)
James & Jane Ebel
Janel Esker
Ted & Penny Fiedler
Steven Fowler
Rev. Lou Franz, C.M.
Rev. Jerome Fortenberry, C.M.
Rev. John Gagnepain, C.M.
Br. Dave Goodman, C.M.
Gerry Hartel
Paul Heidemann
Edward & Margaret Jardon
Chris & Tom Jones
Helen Kassing
Martha Lane
Christy Leming (GVV 03-04)
Dave & Elaine Leming (Parents of
GVV 03-04 Christy Leming)
Ken & Marian Lemp
Bob & Fran Lenhart (Parents of
GVV 01-02 Sarah Lenhart Weiderkehr)
Mark & Linda Lipa
Jeff (GVV 01-02) & Rebecca Maciej
Robert & Janet Maciej (Parents of
GVV 01-02 Jeff Maciej)
Dianne Maguire
Rev. Jack Melito, C.M.
Robert & Emily Meyer
Rev. Ed Murphy, C.M.
Paul Payne
Nelson & Sylvia Perez (Parents of
GVV 05-06 Nelson Perez)
J. Scott Petersen
Rev. Charles Prost, C.M.
Maureen Rauscher
Rev. R. William Rhinehart, C.M.
Sr. Mary Rocklage, SSM, and the Sisters of Mercy Health Ministry
Dr. Fred Rottnek
Jim & Geri Ryan
Sharon Ryan
Yolanda Schneider (Mother of GVV 01-02 Nichole Schneider Purvis)
Society of St. Vincent DePaul of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish
Rev. Edward Sullivan, C.M.
Halbert & Jean Sullivan
Rev. Art Trapp, C.M.
Carrie Tucker (GVV 07-08)
Joe & Becky Vucko
Rev. James Ward, C.M.
Steve & Sarah Weiderkehr (GVVs 00-01 and 01-02)
Gerald & Joan Wentzel
Grace Whalen
Paul & Christine Woody (GVV 02-03)
Rev. Dale Wunderlich

Volunteers everywhere in the world
from Jason and Michelle (GVV 00-01) Astrup

GVVs Suzette Thompson (05-06),
Mark Buehrle (04-05), Christy Leming
(03-04), Kellie Willis (02-03),
Brian Kelly (03-04), Karen Schumacher (07-08), & Christine Bentz (09-10)
from Sr. Mary Beth Kubera, D.C., and the Vincentian Lay Missionaries

GVVs 09-10 Elizabeth Chan and
Steven Falk
from Br. Donald Lachowicz, OFM, and the Franciscan Connection

Fr. John Campbell, SJ, and Francisco Valencia
from Kellie Willis (GVV 02-03)

Below are the names of those donors who contributed after our December newsletter but before our Matching Gifts Appeal. Thank you all for your great generosity! We are so grateful for your support of the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program.

Eugene Bachmann
Delbert & Agnes Bohnert
Rev. Jerome Fortenberry, C.M.
James & Christine Gilsinan
Bob & Lorene Grimes (Parents of
GVV 08-09 Callie Grimes Rollins)
Rev. Pat Harrity, C.M.
Paul Heidemann
Marsha Lintner
Nelson Perez (GVV 05-06)
Rev. John Richardson, C.M.
Steve & Becky Roarick (Parents of
GVV 01-02 John Roarick)
Grace Whalen

Ed & Lucille Mack
from Mike & Linda Backs (Parents of GVV 07-08 Carrie Tucker)

Br. Peter Baxter, C.M.
from Br. Paul Joseph, C.M.
Louise and Emma Cucco
from Larry & Amelia Berra

We also sincerely thank our donors who have asked to remain anonymous. If we have inadvertently omitted your name from our donor list, please accept our sincere apology AND let us know so that we can correct the error!

We are blessed with the kindness and generosity of so many people! We would also like to thank the following special people for their gifts to the GVV program.

The Knights of Columbus of St. Catherine Labouré Parish for donating
the personal stipend for one volunteer for the entire year.

The Vatterott Foundation for a grant to cover the costs
of three retreats for the GVV volunteers of 2009-2010.

The Daughters of Charity West Central Province for a grant to cover
the stipend for one GVV work site that was unable to pay.

The wonderful people (who have asked to remain anonymous) that donated the printing
of our Matching Gifts Appeal mailing AND the printing of our letterhead and envelopes.

I chose Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council (EHOC) as my work site this year. The short answer to the question, “What do you guys do?” is: we are a fair housing enforcement agency. However, I like to think, as a recent idealistic college graduate, and as corny as it sounds, we are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Dream” alive.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, and disability when renting, purchasing, taking out a loan, or insuring a home. The act, passed over forty years ago in the wake of Dr. King’s death, now may seem to some a distant historical event and one for the textbooks.
However, I have learned from our clients and from the staff members at EHOC that it is just as much a battle today as it was forty years ago. Our country has made tremendous strides in the amelioration of housing discrimination thus far, but the work continues as our country attempts to grow from our past indiscretions.

Part of our fair housing mission is educating tenants on landlord-tenant law and the rights tenants may have. As the Tenant Advocate, I have listened to some heart-wrenching stories: a single mother with seven children who lost her job and was facing eviction, or an elderly man with no working furnace in the dead of winter. I am often bombarded with situations and questions that make me uneasy or unsure. I do not always have answers for the tenants. I am working with these people in a limited capacity, helping them in one area when they have so many other needs.

Recently, I was speaking with an older woman, and I was trying to figure out her options after her landlord refused to renew her lease. We became sidetracked from the matter at hand and began discussing genealogy. We discussed her work in researching her ancestors and how I could start my own family research. Touched, I thanked the woman for her help; we shared a quick laugh about our side-winding exchange and continued our conversation regarding her rental situation. Amidst such an intense encounter, it is refreshing to share this simple yet heartwarming experience with a complete stranger. While I hope I am successfully educating others on fair housing and landlord-tenant law, I am also being educated this year on the even more colossal lessons of equality and compassion.

You see a great deal of stress that you are unable to relieve, God sees it also. Bear the pain with them, doing all you can to give them whatever help you can. Then remain in peace.

Nine adults sat in the well-lit classroom, chatting about low-carb recipes, methods of finger-pricking, grandchildren, and preferred types of aerobic exercise. It was the last day of our 12-week diabetes self-management program, the day in which all participants repeated their baseline testing of hemoglobin AIC (an average of blood sugar levels), weight, and blood pressure to see if his/her health had improved over the duration of the class.

One at a time, the clients went into the room for final assessment with a nurse. The last participant, Carol, had been particularly reluctant, staying glued to her chair as the others filed in and out. Eventually, it was her turn. She rose from her chair, glanced at the others seated around the table, muttered “wish me luck” with a hint of a smile, and passed into the adjacent room to see the nurse, feet dragging.

When she returned, her facial expression had brightened considerably. As she pulled me into a tight hug, I noticed the hint of tears glistening in the far corners of her eyes. “I’m down to a 7.1 A1C,” she beamed. “That’s a point and a half lower than last time, and my goal was to drop just one point!”

This day was a memorable one in my role of community health nurse with the Institute for Family Medicine. Part of my job is to organize and instruct community-based classes for people with diabetes. The participants benefit in several ways: they receive needed information and resources regarding their disease, they meet other diabetics who provide support and act as positive role models, and they work on setting attainable goals towards a healthier lifestyle.

Seeing moments of positive change, such as Carol’s, has been very impacting. I am empowered by the strength and perseverance of my clients as they work to meet their health goals in the face of every difficulty—financial strain, lifelong detrimental habits, and a healthcare system that often fails to address their presence, never mind their best interests.

They have also reminded me of the importance of setting personal objectives and reflecting on them periodically. At the beginning of my GVV year, we each set goals to guide us through the upcoming 10 months. Some of mine read: “I hope to invest myself in my communities: the house, our neighborhood, and in the larger St. Louis community” and “I hope to remain true to my strongest values while learning from the perspectives of others.” These goals, like those of my clients, give me direction and remind me to “take the long view” in doing a year of service.

Shannon is an R.N., working with the Institute for Family Medicine. The Institute is an independent, non-profit organization of physicians and health care professionals dedicated to traditional family medicine, comprehensive community-based services and public health, and innovative partnerships to provide health care and promote wellness for the underserved.

In November, GVV program directors and former volunteers Jenny Mohan and Kellie Willis, met with Very Rev. G. Gregory Gay, C.M., Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, along with volunteers and directors of all Vincentian volunteer programs—GVV, Colorado Vincentian Volunteers, the Vincentian Service Corps, and the Vincentian Lay Missionaries. Representatives from the Vincentian universities—DePaul, St. John’s, and Niagara—were also present.

At the meeting, Fr. Gay encouraged discussion about possible collaboration with MISEVI, an international lay association of people who desire to share the charism and spirituality of St. Vincent DePaul and who seek to develop an organized presence in missionary works. MISEVI is the youngest member of the Vincentian Family.

Fr. Gay also requested that some volunteers from the group attend the third assembly of MISEVI, which was to take place in Bogota, Columbia, in February. The GVV program decided to send Kellie Willis as our representative. Kellie attended the Bogota assembly along with representatives from the other Vincentian volunteer programs.

Please take a moment to read some of Kellie’s reflections on her experiences at the assembly:

It was really thrilling to see what Vincentian missionaries from all over the world are doing! The meeting set my heart on fire, and I was continually inspired by the amazing people and work of MISEVI. The internationality of the Vincentian charism was never more apparent to me than at the MISEVI assembly. The meeting itself was extremely important, but it was conversation during coffee breaks with new friends from Spain or Columbia that really allowed me to feel connected with other Vincentian missionaries.

After the USA delegation gave our presentation, there were many heartfelt questions from members of other delegations, and even, I think, some surprise. Our presence at the meeting connected the US Vincentian Family with MISEVI in the other eight countries in a way that hasn’t been done before. This allowed them to better grasp the desperate need for a true international focus for MISEVI.

The natural beauty of Bogota was outmatched only by the openness of the MISEVI Columbia delegation, the hospitality of the Daughters of Charity at Los Pinares retreat house, and the rich joy-filled culture around us. My experience at the MISEVI International Assembly was just JOY!

In January, Clare Lassiter (GVV 05-06) moved to Cochobamba, Bolivia, to begin her three-year term of service with the Franciscan Mission Service. Clare is living with a host family and is learning Spanish before she begins her work. Please take a moment to read a brief reflection from Clare.

At times, I still think, “How did I get myself into this situation?” I am living in a different country, learning a foreign language, acclimating to a new way of living, and trying to avoid getting sick from parasites that seem to be lurking in foods.

I quit my job at Places for People to work for free again. I said good-bye to all of my clients at Places for People. I left my friends and family back in the States. I sold my Volvo. I threw a going-away party for myself and invited all of my friends in St. Louis and Chicago. I even bought a piñata in hopes that it would entice more friends to come.

I donated items to the Goodwill because I deemed them no longer useful in my life. I gave up all that is comfortable in my life to receive. . . what exactly?

I do not have an answer right now. Instead, I am learning about love. It is simply infectious here. I constantly observe it in my host family. The little boys, Andres and Fabian, give kisses to the grandmother and to their aunts.

The ending of “ita” is added to everyone’s name. It is Andrecito, Clarita, and Abuelita. The adding of “ita” or “cito” indicates a degree of affection for the other person. I always hear “mi amor” being said to Andres and Fabian.

The grandmother wakes up early to begin lunch preparation. She then proceeds to cook all morning to give us a fantastic meal. I have my own set of toys in my room because of Andres and Fabian. I have to take care of the toys as instructed by Andres. My aunts, grandmother, and the children listen with patience to my beginning Spanish. All of these are countless examples of how much love is shown and voiced. I am amazed and humbled by it. I am only in the beginning stage.

The 7th Annual Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Golf Tournament
Friday, June 4, Normandie Golf Course
$100.00 per player; $100.00 hole sponsorship

The Grand Ten-Year Reunion Celebration of the GVV Program
Saturday, September 18th, St. Vincent DePaul Parish

Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that we are once again heading towards the end of another year of the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers. This year is especially important as we are closing a decade of young adults serving those who are poor and marginalized, carrying on the mission of St. Vincent DePaul.

There are so many people to thank. We thank the Vincentians for their unwavering support, our board members, all of our generous donors and supporters that make this program possible, and last, but certainly not least, all the young people who have worked so hard and brought joy and love to those they serve.

We ask you to pray for this year’s volunteers—Alexa, Brady, Christine, Elizabeth, Mallori, Maria, Pat, Shannon, and Steven—as they move on to their next exciting adventure. We ask for your prayers also as we assemble next year’s group of volunteers.

Jim and Geri

Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., President
Mr. Rich LaPlume, Vice-President
Ms. Tricia Thiel, Treasurer
Mr. John Capellupo
Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M.
Janel Esker
Martha Lane
Joseph Komadina
Sr. Rosa Lee Kramer, D.C.
Fr. David Nations, C.M.
Sr. Kathy Overman, D.C.
Jim and Geri Ryan, Directors

Working, Praying, and Living in the Spirit of Vincent DePaul