Fall Program Update - Settling In

The 2013-2014 Loretto Volunteers have had a busy two months acclimating to life at work, in community, and in their cities.  Please enjoy these brief updates on what they’ve been up to!

DC / Junia House
D.C. volunteers spent their first week developing community skills by gardening and planting at Junia House, helped with mailings at New Ways Ministry, attended a BBQ with the Lutheran Volunteers, attended a Call To Action event with Simone Campbell, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and rallied for peace in Syria. Some fun events included Nationals baseball game, a free play at the Shakespeare Company, and a celebration in honor of Maureen Fiedler SL’s 50th jubilee.

St. Louis / Lockwood House
The St. Louis volunteers had so many similar experiences. All three attended a day long workshop entitled “Unpacking Biases Training”, had dinner and a community night with the L’Arche community in neighboring Maplewood, attended a Simone Campbell event and a peace vigil at St. Louis University. Entertainment events were also similar to their friends in D.C.: a Cardinal’s baseball game, visits to the Botanical Gardens and Shakespeare in the Street, the St. Louis Symphony at Art Hill, $3.00 movies, Insight Theatre productions, and a BBQ with Vincentian, Mennonite, Lutheran and Episcopal Volunteers.

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New York
Molly, our United Nations volunteer in New York has quickly jumped into life in New York.  She has taken cooking classes at the community garden near where she lives, attended free Friday and Saturday night concerts in Brooklyn, and attended an art festival on Governor's island.  She also had a retreat day with Loretto members at a Loretto co-member's house.  She and her housemates, a former Loretto Volunteer and a former Jesuit Volunteer, have chosen to have community breakfasts together.

Upcoming Events

October 11: Take Your Housemates To Work Day
Volunteers in DC and St. Louis will take a day to visit each other's workplaces and learn more about the work each other's organizations do.

November 1-3: Call To Action Conference
All our volunteers will travel to Milwaukee to attend this conference, where they will be receiving the Call To Action Leadership Award!  Some program alumni, Loretto sisters and co-members will be there. 

November 10 [DC] and October 19 [STL]:  Fall Reflection Day
For the first time this year, the volunteer program is offering our volunteers a day-long fall retreat for community reflection and personal quiet – to step back in the middle of a busy first season of service.

November 22-24: School of the Americas Vigil
Five volunteers will travel to Ft. Benning, GA to join the annual vigil that seeks to close the School of the Americas, a military training facility.