Tag Archives: international

Passionist Volunteer Brooke Lahr Reflects on New Realities in Honduras

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Children enjoying a meal at the Comedor Infantil Pasionista

After being here for a little more than a month, my experience is still one of discovery.  But, little by little, what is frustrating, outrageous, shocking, and even debilitating is passing from “discover” to acceptance as everyday reality. With each experience of what I have found both amusing and shocking, I hear myself now saying “that’s just the way it is here.” A very difficult but necessary first step, is removing my “American fix-it mentality”, and just letting it all sink in. As I begin to accompany these wonderful people of Honduras, I am trying as best I can to accept so many things as they are. I am trying to accept reality as it is and not as the way I think it should be. It is very difficult for me seeing so many problems and knowing that back home we would find the resources and help to fix them.

Most of my acceptance has come from my being a part of Passionist Volunteers International’s growing project, “The Comedor Infantil.”  An amusing example of this is seeing little girls in worn, uncomfortable, frilly, princess-dresses, which are their every day outfit for the week, knowing they were discarded by wealthier kids after one Halloween use back home. A very humbling experience for me is seeing an older brother, at 9 years old; regularly refusing his only balanced meal of the day until he knows his youngest sibling has gotten a share as well. Another experience is the sinking and defeating feeling of coming upon the remains of a completely destroyed adobe home as the result of flooding in a community that doesn’t need any more problems.

While my initial reactions may be to laugh, cry, complain, or even run away, I now have learned to pause.  I have learned to process what has happened. I know that the debilitating loss experienced by so many doesn’t keep them down or from starting all over again.  Their attitude and spirit helps me to stand tall and not falter.

This week, I bandaged the foot of a 9 year old who stepped on a nail, knowing that at home a tetanus shot would surely be called for and given. This, however, will not happen. The family does not have the money for a tetanus shot. Any little money they have would be spent trying to provide food for their five children.

For now, I just have to take this problem for what it is. Worrying about the possible and more likely effects of a rusted nail is not going to bring that family the money for the shot, nor the necessary food for all five children and their parents. But doing what I can, bandaging the foot and providing one meal a day, can lighten their load that is already way too heavy.

Simply because these are the realities Hondurans face every day doesn’t allow them to see themselves as victims. They are people: proud, beautiful, capable people. And I am lucky to walk with them, think of them, be thankful for them and witness the beauties and strengths that thrive in their reality.

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Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.


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Passionist Volunteers International Celebrates Anniversary!

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Today, Passionist Volunteers International celebrated 7 years of service in Jamaica.

Learn more about PVI at: http://passionistvolunteers.org

Learn more about the Passionists in Jamaica at: http://www.thepassionists.org/Jamaica.html

Please consider a donation to help the Passionists in their ministry to people living in poverty: Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.


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Reflection on Passionist Volunteers International Orientation

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It is strange to want to summate something as the first steps towards the rest of your life. I stood at the door of the retreat house for St. Paul of the Cross Monastery in Pittsburgh not entirely sure of what awaited me, but with what I considered a reasonable understanding of where I came from.

Less than a month ago, like many young people of my age, I adorned a cap and gown as I walked across a stage to receive my college diploma. What I chose to do after though, is what distanced me from my peers, and brought me to the door of the Passionist Monastery.

I chose to break the traditional path that my other fellow graduates would endeavor because of the calling I felt. This was by no means an easy decision, but the affirmation I received in my three and a half weeks of training in Pittsburgh for my experience with Passionist Volunteers International was the blessing I needed to be able commit whole heartedly.

I, along with ten other volunteers, all of us recent college graduates, began to root ourselves in the eminent experience of overseas missionary service. To do so, we took great pains to reflect as both an individual and as collectives, particularly in the group with whom we would live with in intentional community in either our site in Jamaica or Honduras. It was made clear to us that with the stresses of international service is it important to know oneself. This task, though appearing straightforward enough, was perhaps the mot difficult part, but the lynchpin of my orientation experience. It is in my path of self discovery that I could truly understand how this volunteer experience corresponded with God’s plan for me. I began to see how this experience offered opportunities of growth and understanding that truly affirmed my presence there.

Contributing to this understanding and my place in the program was grasping the Passionist charism. Studying the history of St Paul of the Cross, the expansion of the Passionist Community into North America, and the work they continue to do around the world gave us future volunteers valued perspective. We became part of something bigger than a volunteer, and throughout the training period, my own interaction with the Passionist priests and brothers demonstrated to me how familial our embrace with the Congregation of the Passion would be. Furthermore, our study of Passionist charism also gave us the fundamental mission ideology we share, “ to accompany the crucified and suffering of today”. The way in which we each grasped this accompaniment is very personal but serves as the modus operandi in our individual service abroad.

It is a unique opportunity to be able to love and serve with the support of a collective and the autonomy of the individual. That is what I needed when I passed those doors into the retreat house. To enter a new part of my life, be able to look back, but have confidence in where I am going.

By: Brendan O’Leary
Serving in Mandeville, Jamaica July 23, 2010-July 2011

Brendan and his fellow PVIs are generously giving a year of their lives in service to others. Please consider a donation to support their work! Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website. You can use the drop down menu to direct your donation to Passionist Volunteers International.


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Meet Passionist Volunteers International’s 2010-2011 Honduras Volunteers

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Last week you met our new volunteer team headed for Jamaica. This week meet the new team that will serve in Honduras!

Rosi Trichilo: Born in Springfield, MA, grew up in Enfield, CT; 2010 Graduate, Holy Cross, Worcester, B.S. Biology and Pre-med with concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies.  She is an avid reader with a keen interest in music and dance of different cultures. Extensive Volunteer experience in inner city Worcester; has traveled to visit family in Italy, language study in Spain and two immersion programs in Nicaragua; co-Chaired Students for Responsible Choices—a peer education campus group for educating about drugs and alcohol abuse.  Rosi’s immersion experiences in Nicaragua solidified her plan to volunteer internationally as she came to feel, “that I had not only a moral obligation to serve others but rather a responsibility to do so.  I would not describe this as a decision so much, but as a logical culmination to everything that I have learned and started at Holy Cross.

Brooke Lahr: Was raised in Indianapolis, IN; 2010 Graduate, Bellarlmine University, Louisville, B.S Biology with Minor in Psychology; immersion experience, Guatemala; member of THE EDGE OUTREACH for applying global education and assistance towards pure water and sanitation.  Interests are: people, social justice, biology and photography.  As Brooke looks ahead to serving with PVI, she reflects, “I realize that I cannot fix the problem of growing poverty that exists in the world, but I can do my part to work towards improvement.   However I don’t just want to help the suffering with service work and donations; I want to respect their culture, enjoy their traditions, feel their struggles, and acknowledge them “face to face.”  I want to come to know the people through solidarity and love.

Andrew Fitzpatrick: Grew up in Drexel Hill, PA; 2010 Graduate University of Scranton, B.A International Language and Business; enjoyed two studies abroad: Guadalajara, Mexico, and Beijing, China; Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Cookville, TN; Friends and family are his principal interests.  Andrew sees service as a way “to give back— for the people that may not have been in the same position I have been in my whole life.  After taking a plethora of courses that focus on Central and South America, and having studied Spanish for so long, I came to the conclusion that international service would not only benefit the people I help but also teach me first hand about what I’ve only read about.”  Andrew chose a faith-based volunteer program in order to “deepen my own connection with God not only through prayer at home and Mass but through action in the world.”

Chanel Marin: Born in San Antonio, TX; grew up in a “globe-trotting” military family. After father’s retirement family settled in Killeen, TX.  2010 Graduate, University of Maryland, B.A. Psychology. Spanish is her first language; Semester abroad, Universidad de Valencia, Spain.  By way of interests or hobbies Chanel enjoys reading, painting and photography; deep passion for diverse cooking.  She has long and extensive volunteer experience, particularly in sexual assault and rape crises centers where she is a certified trainer.  Chanel tells us that her original reason for volunteering abroad was “simply to help individuals in what I believed to be more dire conditions than those at home.  Through my community service in the United States I learned that suffering has no boundaries.  There are individuals in every city and country in the world who suffer.   She chose PVI because “it provides a Christian framework which will help me grow in my faith and teach me to live as Christ lived—helping others.  I want to change at least one person’s life for the better and I know that they will do the same for me.”

Melissa Eells: Born in New York City and raised there until her family moved to West Chester, PA; 2010 Graduate, University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Psychology and Latin American Studies; Studies Abroad: participant, Casa de la Solidaridad Inrernacional, University of Central America, El Salvador; two months study, Quito, Ecuador.  Four years volunteered with Crisis and Suicide Hotline, Pittsburgh; Board of Directors, Pitt’s Campus Women’s Organization.  Interested in politically-minded blogs, reading local history and running.  Attracted to Passionist Volunteers through PVI’s mission statement that she says, “really spoke to me and captures why I want to participate in this particular experience, ‘we extend our service…in a spirit of accompaniment.’ I think it’s really unique that accompaniment focuses on a mutual journey rather than roles of the helper or the helped, in the sense conveyed by Lilla Watson, ‘if you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you  have come because your liberation is bound up with mine then let us work together.’

Molly Beggy: Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH; 2010 Graduate, Miami University, Ohio, B.A. Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Minor in European Studies; semester abroad, Florence, Italy; Intern for Congressman Steve Driehaus (D. Ohio, 1st District).  Molly’s initial inspiration for international volunteer service was her sister’s volunteer year, 1998, with Fr. Rick Frechette in Haiti.  Interests include global politics; hobby is reading. Seeks personal and spiritual growth through serving with PVI.  With strong international interests Molly views “peace and justice as intangible aspects of our world that are important not only for today but for future generations.  I believe that justice is fairness and equality for all people but it is not achieved without peace.  For peace we must make a concerted effort in understanding people of different ethnicities, cultures and religions.  It is important that we embrace the similarities and respect the differences in order to work towards peace and justice.  I also believe the reverse is true—we cannot achieve justice without peace.”

These young people are generously giving a year of their lives in service to others. Please consider a donation to support their work! Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website. You can use the drop down menu to direct your donation to Passionist Volunteers International.


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Meet Passionist Volunteers International’s 2010-2011 Jamaica Volunteers

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Meet the new team of Passionist Volunteers who will begin their year of service in Jamaica next week!

Steve Parker: Born and raised in Randolph, NJ; 2010 Graduate, Fairfield University, B.A. Sociology/Concentration in Anthropology; Minor Psychology.  Long volunteer service experience: three sessions in New Orleans, work with homeless in Washington, DC.  His semester break visit to Jamaica in January ‘10 profoundly influenced his decision to serve with PVI.  Steve loves sports especially soccer; was captain of his club soccer team at Fairfield.  Led Kairos retreats throughout college.  A recommendation testimony from a University staff person wrote: “Steve will change the world.  I firmly believe that.  I give him my highest and most enthusiastic recommendation.”  By going to Jamaica to serve with PVI Steve “plans on serving, getting experience, learning from the people I serve and using these to eventually study sustainable development in grad school, hopefully become a professor and one day to initiate an NGO.”

Michelle Asher: Born and raised in Elon, North Carolina; 2010 Graduate, University of Notre Dame, B.B.A. Finance.  Appalachia Seminar, Freshman year; semester abroad at Trinity College, Dublin. A high school mission trip to Costa Rica laid the groundwork for her desire to do service abroad.  Besides reading, Michelle has a strong interest in microfinance and business development as well as similar areas of international development and would like to work with non-profits and NGOs to ensure that their services are reaching those in need.  Michelle believes that “no one should live in a world ruled by fear, whether that fear be about wars and safety, money or anything else.  I have been given a lot of opportunities throughout my life and I want the chance to give those opportunities to other people.”

Brendan O’Leary: Born in Oceanside, CA into a military family living for a time in Quantico, VA and eventually settled in Fredricksburg, VA; 2010 Graduate, University of New Mexico, B.A. Anthropology and American Studies; attended two high schools simultaneously, one being the Commonwealth Governor’s School for Gifted Students; studied abroad at the University of East London.  Enjoys playing and listening to music along with backpacking and hiking.  Brendan sees himself instilled with a spirit of service from a young age that was given deep roots through his experience in Scouting.  Brendan is an Eagle Scout!  As he comes to the end of his undergraduate career he feels burnt out on academia but feels more aware than ever of the need to live outside oneself.  In connecting social justice to his own faith he sees it stemming “from the Greatest Commandment, to love God with your whole heart and to love your neighbor as yourself.  Peace and social justice should begin with your love of God and from that love a caring spirit towards others.”

Jen Martin: Born and raised in Reading, MA; 2010 Graduate, Fairfield University, B.S. Sociology and Communication, two minors: Peace & Justice and Theatre.  A member of Ignatian Solidarity Corps at Fairfield; Semester Abroad, Cape Town, South Africa.  Enjoys painting and knitting, but Jen has a passion for theatre and its therapeutic potential for children and youth living at life’s margins.  Jen’s life changed through her experience in South Africa where she discovered a love for finding connections with others across cultures and for learning about injustice in a practical sense, not just an academic issue.  She declares that thanks to the family she found at Fairfield she is continuing to learn and create who she is and wants to be, “I am an artist and an activist, constantly growing, experiencing new challenges and aspects of the world just when I am starting to feel like I have it all figured out.  I am ready to work, to learn and to take the next step in my life.  There is so much more to learn about the world and myself, and I want to experience that journey!”

Sean Clores: Raised on Long Island in Levittown and Huntington; 2010 Graduate Fairfield University, B.A. Communications, English minor. Sean likes to cook but has a deep passion for sports, especially basketball; Sports Director, Fairfield U’s Radio Station, WVOF; wants to be a basketball coach and a teacher.  Sean’s great grandparents were Holocaust victims at Auschwitz out of Salonika, Greece; his grandmother, a child prisoner there survived.  Sean was a founding member of a multi-cultural fraternity at Fairfield.  Cites his ten days in Jamaica this past January as some of the best days and most important of his entire life.  Asking Sean about his spiritual experience brought this striking response: “To me, God is the spirit above it all.  He created everything and is involved in everything.  To be honest, I hate giving answers like that because it doesn’t sound original and I really don’t know how to put my feelings of God into words, but this is what I know.  When I have applied my faith in God in my life, things have gone really well.  The real time where I find my faith comes in the tough times.  It’s easy to believe in God when everything is going well, but what about those obstacles and tests? I believe that I always have to be an example of what I believe.  So it’s a full time job!”

These young people are generously giving a year of their lives in service to others. Please consider a donation to support their work! Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The Donate Now button will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website. You can use the drop down menu to direct your donation to Passionist Volunteers International.


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