A Hopeful Lens & An Open Heart

My FrancisCorps experience began with a late night exploration on the Catholic Volunteer Network. As I searched for the best service program for me, I came upon the vibrant orange sun and a website filled with lots of authentic smiles and words of faith that spoke to the calling in my heart. I instantly felt that I had to apply. So I did. After I applied, interviewed, and spent weeks discerning, I knew I was destined to live in the “Big Bird” yellow house on Court Street. More importantly, I knew I was called to follow the light that radiated from FrancisCorps’ mission of Gospel, community, and service. And since August 3rd, I have felt that light everyday. My journey has since been filled with lots of laughter, a most wonderful community at home and at my service site Francis House, intentional prayer, and a deep curiosity for what is to come.

Honestly, it is hard to determine what excited me the most during this year of service to my community, from the extraordinary to the ordinary! This year I am at Francis House, a local hospice home. I am so excited to be able to serve in this space in the various capacities that I currently hold in the administrative and house volunteer side. I am even more eager to embark into the caregiving world in the next few weeks where I will be able to tend to each resident and provide them with end-of-life care. This is truly a whole new space for me that is actively pushing me to pursue work within the geriatric field in the future. I want to go into healthcare and being in such a supportive environment fosters this desire further. Even more, the community of support in all of the staff, volunteers, and residents bring so much coziness, faith, and peace to this place– which are things I hope to embody throughout my life and future practice as an occupational therapist.

But there are so many other things that continue to ignite excitement and joy in my heart when I think about this year. I am currently loving watching our community form. Sharing in the ordinary moments in the weeknight dinners, walks around Onondaga Lake, evening prayer times, pickleball competitions, octopus documentaries, coffee shop runs, and so much more. The ordinary with my community often feels extraordinary to me. How lucky am I that I get to live with people who genuinely seek the goodness in each other and for each other in such a short time.

It really is hard to encapsulate how much there is to look forward to. A trip to Italy—I’m wiggling in my boots excited! Retreats on retreats on retreats—what more is there to want! More hikes, waterfalls, and changing leaves—sign me up! Snow—what more is there to say! A quiet morning with a good cup of matcha and a book— my dream come true! Really when I look to the upcoming year, I see it with a hopeful lens and an open heart. As Sr. Ann Kenyon, OSF said to me this morning, “there is much to be grateful for, I don’t need to worry about other stuff,” and that is how I see this year!

Categories: General

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