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

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Sept 2005

Six young adults have joined the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers program for the August 2005—June 2006 session.

• Briana Colton comes to the GVV program from Minnesota. She graduated from Marquette University with a HBA degree in Public Relations. Briana is serving at St. Vincent DePaul Parish and at St. Francis Cabrini Academy.

• Clare Lassiter is from Virginia. She graduated from Belmont Abbey College with a B.A. in Sociology. Clare is working at Places for People, a social service agency that provides a variety of services for people with mental illnesses.

• Annie McCance is from Illinois. She graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Graphic Design and Digital Production.
  Annie is working for the Franciscan Connection’s Stone-by-Stone Project, where she assists with home repairs for people in poverty.

• Suzette Smith comes to the GVV program from Texas. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a BFA degree in Communication Design. Suzette is working at the Family Center in East St. Louis, an organization that seeks to help families break the cycle of poverty, and at Marian Middle School, a middle school for impoverished girls.

• Nelson Perez is from Florida. He attended Hillsborough Community College. Before joining the GVV program, Nelson worked in the Accounting department of an architectural firm. Nelson’s GVV work site is Guardian Angel Settlement Association, a social service agency that provides assistance to people living in poverty.

• Erica Stacy is from Rhode Island. She holds a BA in Biology from Connecticut College. Erica is working at Community Alternatives, a social service agency that provides many services to people with mental illnesses.

We do our work to find God in it rather than to just get it done. - St. Vincent DePaul

THANK YOU!

The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers program is grateful to our donors, who help us in so many ways—by making financial contributions as well as donations of time and talent. In this issue, we recognize those who have made monetary contributions since our last newsletter in June 2005. Your generosity helps make this program possible!

Amelia and Lawrence Berra
Donna and Tony Buehrle
Fr. Larry Christensen, C.M.
Theresa Giudici
Mary and William Jacob
Elaine and John Jansen
Scott Kelly
Emily and Robert LaBarge
Linda and Kevin McDonough
Fr. Henry Piacitelli, C.M.
Fr. John Richardson, C.M.
Mary Lou and Bill Schicker
Carolyn and Michael Sorensen
Fr. Edward Sullivan, C.M.
Br. Matthew Teel, C.M.
Michelle and Michael Todt
Fr. Ray Van Dorpe, C.M.
Joan and John Vatterott
Joan and Gerald Wentzel
Steve Wiederkehr
Grace Whalen
Fr. Robert Zimney, C.M.

“GVV gave me the formation as a lay Vincentian and brought out a passion to serve the poor and marginalized.”

from a recent letter written by a former volunteer

A year of service to the poor in the spirit of St. Vincent truly does change lives!

If you know any young adults who are interested in living in community, serving the poor, and learning more about Vincentian spirituality, please tell them about the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program! Visit our Web site at www.vincentianvols.org.

Please pray for the new Gateway Vincentian Volunteers—Briana, Clare, Annie, Suzette, Nelson, and Erica—during their year of service. Thank you!

Loving God, shower your blessings on the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers during their year of service to the poor and marginalized in South St. Louis. Grant them the grace to live a simple, prayerful life in community with one another and with the Vincentians of the Arsenal Street Residence. Grant that they may learn to see the face of Christ in each person they serve this year. Grant too that they become a vital part of the Vincentian Family, with a lifelong commitment to serving those in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program Board of Directors

Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., President
Mr. Rich LaPlume, Vice-President
Fr. Tom Esselman, C.M., Secretary
Mrs. Tricia Thiel, Treasurer
Mr. John Capellupo
Fr. David Nations, C.M.
Mr. Ted Fiedler
Sr. Kieran Kneaves, D.C.
Ms. Martha Lane
Sr. Kathy Overmann, D.C.
Mr. Bill McRoberts
Dr. Fred Rottnek
Mrs. Sue Shine
Jim and Geri Ryan, Program Directors

Board meetings are held on the second Monday every other month at 6 P.M.

GVV Alumni News

Enjoy these news items about the former Gateway Vincentian Volunteers (Associates).

• Michelle Astrup (Castellano) (2000-01) has been happily married to Jason for a little over 1½ years. She is in her second year of teaching fourth grade at a Catholic school in Queens.

• Kelly Dodson (2000-01) has returned from two years of international service in South Africa. In the spring, Kelly hopes to begin a dual Master’s program, pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Studies at Aquinas Institute and a Master’s in Social Work at St. Louis University.

• Julie Morig (2000-01) is pursuing a Master’s in Pastoral Counseling at Loyola in Baltimore. She is interning as a grief counselor at a local hospice and working full-time at a local psychiatric hospital.

• Steve Wiederkehr (2000-01) is a residential teaching counselor, working with developmentally disabled and mentally ill adults in St. Louis. Steve also works for UPS and will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

• Elizabeth Gappa (2001-02) continues to teach at St. Francis Cabrini Academy in St. Louis. Elizabeth will marry Bob DeBoo on July 7, 2006, in Fort Worth, Texas. Elizabeth is the lead clarinetist in the Torture Chamber Orchestra, which plays regularly in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis.

• Scott Kelly (2001-02) earned his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kentucky in August 2005. Scott is working as a substance abuse therapist in Lexington.

• Sarah Lenhart (2001-02) continues to work for Ranken Jordan Pediatric Center in St. Louis and as a Health Coordinator at St. Francis Cabrini Academy. Sarah has returned to school and is pursuing a degree in Nursing.

• Jeff Maciej (2001-02) was married this summer. Jeff and his wife, Rebecca, live in St. Paul. Jeff is working at Andrew Residence as a Living Skills Instructor, helping residents with living skills and running some group sessions.

• John Roarick (2001-02) has also married. He and his wife, Sara, live in Iowa City. John is finishing his degree at the University of Iowa and is working in the Child Psychiatric Unit at the university hospital. John and Sara are expecting a baby in March.

• Nichole Schneider (2001-02) is living in St. Louis and working for Guardian Angel Settlement Association at Hosea House.

• Karen Lyons (2002-03) also earned her MSW from St. Louis University. She recently moved from St. Louis to Colorado. Karen is employed by Savio House as a Multi-Systems Therapist, working with the parents and guardians of troubled adolescents.

• Elizabeth Sain (2002-03) lives in South Bend, where she works as a Technical Communications Specialist at a software company.

• Christine Shine (2002-03) earned her Master’s in Social Work from St. Louis University and is employed by Guardian Angel Settlement Association at Hosea House. She recently moved into a new apartment.

• Kellie Willis (2002-03) has moved to Chicago and is pursuing a Master’s in Liberal Arts at DePaul University. Following her volunteer year, Kellie worked for two years for Guardian Angel Settlement Association, her former GVV work site, at their LaSalle and Hosea House locations.

• Amy Arendt (2003-04) returned from World Youth Day in Germany and began a Master’s program in Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University. She is going to school full-time and working part-time.

• Stephanie Demarest (2003-04) is starting her second year of work on a Master’s in Public Services Management, with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration, at DePaul University. She is also the graduate assistant for the DePaul Leadership Project at the University.

• Jeremy Dixon (2003-04) is in formation with the Vincentians in Chicago. He is studying theology at Catholic Theological Union. Jeremy is a new uncle!

• Molly Jacob (2003-04) is in her second year of teaching children with autism. She lives in Cleveland and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Special Education with certification as an Intervention Specialist.

• Brian Kelly (2003-04) has moved to Chicago and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at DePaul University.

• Christy Leming (2003-04) continues to teach English at Marian Middle School in St. Louis. Christy was the GVVA (Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Associate) in residence last year and has recently moved to a new apartment.

• Jennifer Courtney (Leon) (2003-04) was married to John Courtney this summer. Jennifer and John are settled in their home in Birmingham, and Jen is teaching first grade in a local public school.

• Mark Buehrle (2004-05) has moved to Chicago and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sociology at DePaul University.

• Rachael Edelen (2004-05) has begun work on a Master’s degree in Systematic Theology at Aquinas Institute in St. Louis. She continues to work part-time at her GVV work site, Guardian Angel Settlement Association, and live at the Arsenal Street House as the GVV Associate in residence.

• Mike Herold (2004-05) is working at Places for People, a social service agency in St. Louis that serves people with mental illnesses.

• Kate Jansen (2004-05) is in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at the University of Toledo, studying suicide risk and anxiety.

• Nicholas Koenig (2004-05) is in the process of discerning whether or not to enter New Melleray Abbey, a Trappist monastery.

• Audrey Krumbach (2004-2005) has moved to Chicago and is pursuing a Master’s of Divinity at Garrett Theological Seminary. Audrey intends to become an ordained Methodist minister.

• Toshio Sato (2004-05) has entered formation with the Vincentians in Chicago. He is studying philosophy at Catholic Theological Union. Recently, Toshio was joined by many Vincentians, former GVV volunteers, Daughters of Charity, and other friends for the Rite of Welcome and dinner at the Perboyre Mission House in Chicago.

Please remember in your prayers all the former GVVs, who continue to spread the mission of St. Vincent DePaul in the world.

Are you interested in supporting one Gateway Vincentian Volunteer during his or her year of service? Would your parish or organization like to help?

Please let us know.

Thank you!

314-771-1474  888-771-7220  gatevol@aol.com

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Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
2912 Arsenal Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) - 771-1474
Toll free: (888)-771-7220
Fax: (314) - 771-2410
email: gatevol@aol.com