2019 Response

At the most unexpected times, mission changes your life. It doesn’t always happen during the big exciting celebrations or on the most important days of your ministry. Sometimes it happens in the small everyday moments….When your everyday moments become the ones that allow you to experience heaven on earth, then mission is changing your life. AMANDA, FRANCISCAN MISSION SERVICE

TYPE OF PLACEMENT: Immigrant Rights. Offender Aid. At-Risk Youth. Pregnant Women. Job Seekers. If you are a college senior with a passion for social justice and an interest in helping others, we encourage you to consider participating in our successful program. WVC has a history of changing lives -- of those who volunteer and those who benefit from their involvement. Partner agencies include Capital Area Immigrant Rights Coalition, an immigrant rights advocacy and legal aid organization; Sasha Bruce Youthwork, providing shelter, support and training for runaway, homeless and disconnected youth; Offender Aid and Restoration, supporting re-entry for offenders; Pregnancy Aid Center, a community-based health clinic serving low income women; Jubilee Jobs, working with unemployed job seekers to help them re-enter the workforce; Mobile Med, providing primary and preventive health services to homeless, uninsured and underinsured; and Samaritan Ministry, an interfaith social service group providing job readiness training. Check our website for up-to- date listing of placements and job descriptions. AREA OF SERVICE: Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, Maryland). LENGTH OF SERVICE: Eleven months beginning early August through late June. REQUIREMENTS: Interested applicants should have a commitment to simple living and openness to spiritual growth and exploration of values. College graduate or equivalent life experience. Spanish is a requirement for some placements, desirable for others. Driver's license required for some placements. U.S citizenship or permanent residency required. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Commuting allowance, health insurance and $650 personal monthly stipend for food and personal expenses provided through agency placement. Housing, utilities provided by church for a modest monthly rent. Roundtrip travel to Washington, DC covered for candidate interviews with agency placements and WVC board members. One trip home financed during year of service. Annual/sick leave follows practice of agency where volunteer serves. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Volunteers live together in a furnished house on DC-MD border with easy access to bus and metro lines in the Washington, DC area. Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms. Volunteers share cooking and cleaning. Community meetings required one evening each week with community counselor who provides support for community living, exploration of values, and adaptation to new work environment. Three weekend retreats per year with WVC board and counselor. SIZE OF PROGRAM: Five volunteers per year. TRAINING: Training provided on-the-job by employing service agencies, who typically have a great deal of experience integrating several new volunteers/interns each year. Participation encouraged in annual DC-based Ecumenical Advocacy training and activities.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications accepted starting January 2019. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. After review, finalists are brought to DC for interviews until five volunteers are selected for placements at agencies. White Violet Center for Eco-Justice 1 Sisters of Providence Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876 812-535-2932 internswvc@spsmw.org; lheber@spsmw.org w whiteviolet.org; SistersofProvidence.org F facebook.com/WhiteVioletCenter L @wvcecojustice CONTACT: Sister Mary Montgomery, Internship Program Coordinator; Lorrie Heber, Director AFFILIATIONS: Ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of- the-Woods, Indiana GOAL OF PROGRAM: White Violet Center for Eco-Justice exists to teach, care, and inspire for all Creation. Grounded in an understanding of Providence Spirituality as hope and healing, the center offers leadership and education in the preservation, restoration and reverent use of all natural resources. TYPE OF PLACEMENT: Long-term: Organic Farming Internship. Short-term: Organic Farming volunteer opportunities. If a participant is interested in discerning the possibility of religious life, the Sisters of Providence are happy to provide needed resources, including spiritual direction. AREA OF SERVICE: Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana. Ten minutes outside of Terre Haute, Indiana. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods is home to White Violet Center for Eco-Justice with certified organic farmland and gardens, a herd of alpacas, classified forests, bees, chickens and more. It is also home to the motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, the spiritual and physical home of the Congregation of Catholic women religious who created and sponsor the ministry. In addition, it is the location of the national shrine of the Congregation's foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. LENGTH OF SERVICE: Long-term: Three months to one year. Short- term: One day to one month. REQUIREMENTS: Long-term: Application process and interview; no experience necessary, but a strong desire to learn about eco- spirituality, sustainability, and sustainable farming. Short-term: No experience necessary, willingness to work on organic farm. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: Long-term: Housing, partial board, $150/month stipend, produce from our gardens. Short-term: Housing, one meal per day.

90 RESPONSE 2019 | A DIRECTORY OF FAITH-BASED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES