Voices

Our voices are one of the defining characteristics we have as individuals. Some are soft, some boisterous. With all of the voices in the world, we might think our individual voice is never heard. This may be true, but in harmony with others', our voices can make a difference.

This past week, our new FVM's in Camden shared their voice, verbally and physically, to help create awareness and community togetherness.

We are very proud that they are not afraid to jump into the fire and let their voices be heard.

Check it out!

http://www.camdenchurches.org/photo?id=0006

FVM Wilmington

From l-r: (front row) Julianne Wallace, Kelly Donnelly; (back row) Brad Landry, Fr. Chris Posch, ofm, Eddie Whelan

FVM Philadelphia

From l-r: (front row) Mary Donahue, Celia Bogan; (back row) Rory Dunphy, Fr. Michael Duffy, ofm, Leo Vaccaro

FVM Camden

From l-r: (front row) Norma Dhanaraj, Anna Perkins; (back row) Fr. John Coughlin, ofm, Chris Calderone, Joshua Dupuis

Start of a new year...

Welcome to the beginning of the FVM year. The FVM's returned to their respective houses and communities on Thursday, August 20 from the opening retreat in Faulkner, Maryland. The week was filled with laughter, nervousness, and opening of hearts and minds.

The FVM's helped plan mass and community prayer, and shared their hopes and expectations for this upcoming year.

We were blessed to have FVM alum L.J. Milone visit with us and share a reflection on spiritual ministry. L.J. then led a group centering prayer session for anyone interested.

As the FVM's find out the nuances of their ministries and communities, please keep them in your prayers and hearts as they embark on their transformative journey of a lifetime.

Changing of the Seasons

As an FVM, and now the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry Promoter, the end of summer and start of fall has been marked by one event. Opening retreat. Even though the thermometers and oppressive humidity don't agree, vacation is officially over once the FVM's make their journey to a retreat house in mid-August.

As an incoming FVM, I understood that my life would be changed quickly when my calendar noted retreat was coming. The excitement and nervousness that comes with the beginning of a new volunteer year is indescribable.

During my year of college in between FVM years, once I saw the Facebook notification that retreat was underway, I knew college and soccer pre-season was right around the corner. During that period, I wished I was heading to retreat, not double-sessions on 100 degree artificial turf.

Now, as the new FVM Promoter, the coming of retreat brings a new excitement, but again, the knowledge that another summer has come and gone. This by no means is a bad thing however. It is a feeling similar to New Year's Eve. We celebrate the year that just ended with a celebration of the year to come. That is retreat.

The band Semisonic has a song called "Closing Time" with the lyrics, "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..." Summer's beginning has ended, now we begin the '09-10 FVM year!