Another new year and season recently began for Passionist Volunteers International.  On June 4th at St. Paul’s Monastery, Pittsburgh, a three week Orientation program began, the final stage of preparation for ten young people committing to a year of service in the name of the Passionist Community.  This will be PVI’s sixth year of service in Jamaica, W.I. and its fourth in Honduras, C.A.  Five Volunteers will go to Jamaica and five to Honduras.

Directing the Orientation are Fr. Lucian Clark, C.P., Sr. Maureen Broughan, S.S.J., co-Director, Amy Escoto, Site Supervisor for Jamaica and Honduras; assisting will be Karen Kosinski, Associate Director, PVI. 

Orientation is a time of discernment as personal and spiritual development continues to unfold in preparation for the year ahead, the most important focus for these willing and skilled young people, the very reason for all the scrutiny and preparation.  A full team of Passionists along with other religious and laity will present a variety of topics from Acculturation, Spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, Adult Development and Theological Reflection.  These Volunteers in training will travel to Wyoming County, WV for four days for part of their preparation to participate in the opening of the summer service ministry of the Passionist Domestic Volunteers.

Below are listed these new Passionist Volunteers.  In addition to their university and intended country of service, there is some personal information about each one along with a quote reflecting some facet of their motivation. 

The Commissioning of all our Passionist Volunteers will be on June 22nd at the 10:00 AM Mass, St. Paul’s Monastery Church, Pittsburgh.  Fr. Jerry Laba, C.P., the Rector, will preside.  The new Volunteers will then return to their homes until their departure to their respective service sites, July 18th.

Jamaica, West Indies

Amber DelPrete: Born and raised in Derby, CT; ‘08 Graduate, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, B.S. in Business Administration. Activities in campus ministry brought about much of the inspiration Amber experienced through her various service trips, especially her experience in Jamaica, W.I. this past January.  Loves the outdoors and outdoor activities, e.g. hiking, swimming, running, snowboarding.  Amber looks to service in a faith-based program because of what she experienced in college: “Through leading the Kairos retreat at Faifield, I was able to explore my faith and beliefs more thoroughly.  Because of this I have a better understanding of what I feel I am called to do and I have strength and courage to do it.  A faith-based community is important so that I can continue to explore my faith through those who surround me.”

Betsy Rouleau: Born and raised in West Greenwich, RI; ’08 Graduate, Providence College, B.A. in English and Secondary Education.  Had extensive volunteer experience through high school and college in and around the Rhode Island area as well as service trips to Arizona and Dominican Republic.  Hobbies include reading, tennis, writing poetry, fiction and opinion pieces.  Very interested in environment and food issues, e.g. organic farming and fair trade products.  Betsy traces her volunteer attraction to her parents who “always taught me the value of service in a home community.  I am now pushed towards a lengthier commitment in a developing nation.  This evolution of my concept of service is the motivation and the passion behind my application.”

Dana Chambers: Born in Jamaica, W.I., raised in the Bronx, NY; ’08 Graduate, LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY, B.A. English and Women Studies.  Studied a semester abroad in South Africa, Katrina Volunteer.  Attributes her study abroad as having a huge impact on her decision to pursue service, seeing  the need “to help those less fortunate and feels great especially about going to participate because I see it as helping out my own people in need.”  Has special interest in reading, writing, music, being an activist in helping people.  Believes strongly in developing communication skills that can take those communicated to it a long way towards succeeding in life.

Lauren O’Neill: East Windsor, NJ; ’08 Graduate, Scranton University, B.S. Counseling, Human Services and History;  Volunteer experience in Mexico City as well as in and around Scranton.  “My work, service and prayer with the Mexican orphans inspired me to commit a longer period of time to another service site, people and culture.  I loved being able to absorb, attempt to understand and interpret another culture and its people through service. When I saw the Passionist program at my university’s long term service fair it immediately stuck out for me.”  Considers music, painting, service and time with family and friends as her current interests and hobby.

Michela Buccini: Grew up in North Olmstead, a suberb of Cleveland, OH; ’08 Graduate of University of Dayton, B.A. Public Relations and Sociology.   Did a semester exchange at Chaminade University, Honolulu.  A variety of service experiences; was Service Chair for the Pan-Hellenic Council at Univ. of Dayton.  Involved with the Lay Marianist Community at U.D.  Michela chose to apply to “a faith-based program because I wanted the aspect of religion, prayer and community to be a part of the service that I do and would like to continue in my faith while doing my year of service.”

Honduras:

Joseph Runde: Grew up in Cedar Rapids, IA; ’08 Graduate, University of Notre Dame, B.A. Anthropology; Semester abroad in Santiago, Catholic University of Chile.  Volunteer experiences include pastoral care/bioethics, service trips to Puerto Rico and West Virginia.  Hobbies include writing, movies, playing guitar, poker, running, playing as well as watching sports.  Looks to a year long program to offer an opportunity to fully invest in a social project.  “My interest in other people and other ways of life is something I feel has always sprung from the inside out but my capacity to understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures is an ability I have honed through my experiences abroad.”

Lauren Mahler: Grew up in Sutton, MA; ’08 Graduate of Our Lady of the Elms College, Chicopee, MA, B.S. Nursing.  Through service trips throughout college she met the Passionist Volunteers: West Virginia, Jamaica, W.I., Honduras, C.A.  Strong interest in sports and fitness: gym, running, hiking, snowboarding and swimming.  Emphasizes that volunteer service helped her to learn a lot about herself, through these experiences “I find courage to jump into murky lakes; I find faith in seeing impoverished families be thankful for the little that they do have, seeing the injured hobble to kneel at church, and in seeing smiles on the faces of the sick we brought Communion to.”

Melissa Farrell: Born and raised in small town Iowa, DeWitt, IA.  ’07 Graduate University of Iowa, B.S. Nursing.  Service trips to Eastern Kentucky and in her town with her Church.  Very interested in reading about things related to medicine, health care and nursing.  Likes music, especially live concerts; has a passion for college football—especially for the Iowa Hawkeyes!  “I feel strongly about the importance of social justice and can see how it is intertwined closely with peace.  I think the best way of demonstrating an act of peace is through small works or gestures.”

Michael Dubiel: Born in Euclid, OH and raised in Bay Villiage, OH.  ’06 Graduate, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, B.A in Arts and Science.  High school service trip to Ecuador proved a significant moment in his life.  June 1st, Mike will conclude a twelve month Volunteer Service at Annunciation House, a homeless shelter for undocumented immigrants in El Paso, TX.  Hobbies include fly fishing, playing the banjo, biking and sailing.  Wants service in a faith-based Volunteer program so that he “may stay grounded in my faith.  To remain in a community that has the same beliefs and values as myself.  A faith-based community is essential for me to continue to grow in my relationship with God.”

Sean McGarvey: Born and raised in the Seattle area, (Green Lake, WA); ’08 Graduate, University of Notre Dame, B.S. Biology, Science, Technology and Values.  Semester abroad in London; varied volunteer experiences—Humane Society, soup kitchen, assisting senior women religious with Alzheimer’s, service in Appalachia.  Hobbies: running, medicine, politics, comics.  Sees service abroad as allowing him to have a larger impact on the well being of others:  “The main needs at home compared to those in other countries are relatively small.  I am at a point in my life where I have the opportunity, and therefore the responsibility, to put my own life on hold and work towards the good of others.  I have had a blessed life, never forced to endure the hardships that many face in the world today.”