Making a World of Difference

My name is Sean Mundy and I was a Dominican Volunteer from 2011-2012 at St. Pius V School in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago.  I lived at the Carlos Morales house (a lay community), but shared community with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield at Martin de Porres Convent and the friars of the Central Province. My community allowed me to discover new ways of living out my faith life.  My fellow volunteers and extended community taught me new ways to pray, their experiences of faith, and more about official Church teaching.  I even learned more about Ignatian spirituality (thanks Becky, go Creighton!).  We watched documentaries and held study nights, exposing me to many social justice issues.  I tried new foods and I grew in so many ways.  I was excited to be able to work in education, a field that I had studied in college.  I learned a great deal about Hispanic ministry, since St. Pius V School serves a majority of Mexican American students. 

Also, our students were below the poverty line, with close to 90% of our students receiving free or reduced breakfast and lunch.  Despite having a lack of resources and opportunities, our students thrived in their academics.  Students were able to overcome difficult home lives in order to succeed. I was blessed to be a part of that.  Working in the resource room gave me the freedom to work with a variety of age levels and provide services in the classroom, as well as lead small group instruction for remedial work or enrichment experiences.  Working at recess, I soon learned all of the students’ names from early education through 8th grade.  I worked with students who had learning disabilities, social-emotional disorders, and many of whom were English language learners.  We even had some students who freshly arrived from Korea, for whom communication was particularly challenging. 

To top it all off, I had the amazing opportunity to work with a dedicated faculty, staff, and administration who became my mentors, inspiration, and friends.  It is truly a vocation and a calling to work as a Catholic school teacher with an underserved population.  I was able to make and maintain relationships with my community members, the friars and sisters, the students, the faculty, administration, and staff, and my Pilsen neighbors.  This was at the heart of my ministry.  I was lucky enough to be hired on as the sixth grade teach four the following four years.  Now, my fiancé and I are moving to Orlando, Florida where I hope to be working in the public school system there.  St. Pius V School’s motto is “Making a World of Difference” and I truly believe that I was able to do that, one interaction at a time.  We never know or will see the ripple effect of our service, but seeing my students grow, mature, learn, and even graduate to go on to outstanding Catholic and public high schools has made the entire experience worth it. 

For all alumni, DVUSA staff, communities, and current volunteers, I share with you the Dominican blessing, which was a great source of strength during my community’s volunteer year: May God Creator bless us, May God Redeemer heal us, and May God the Holy Spirit, fill us with light.

Career as Ministry

Stacey Sangtian served as a Dominican Volunteer from 2011-2012 at St. Anthony of Padua School in New Orleans, LA, where she lived in community with the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Stacey is currently working on a Master’s in Speech Pathology at the University of South Carolina and expects to graduate in August 2016.

This week I headed back to school to continue studies for my Master’s in Speech Pathology. Some weeks I wish I could go back to my DV year (2011-2012) in New Orleans as a pre-school teacher’s assistant where the lead teacher said my work “doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be better than a 3-year-old’s.” Those were the days of being with 3-year-old pre-schoolers by day and 70+-year-old nuns by night, an atypical, but invaluable, experience for a fresh college graduate.

Stacey teaching students how to cut paper.

Those pre-schoolers gave me something to genuinely smile and laugh about every single day. They found joy in the smallest things, an ability I try to imitate in my life. I mean, when was the last time I had an ecstatic response to getting an extra animal cracker at snack time? Over time, however, I discovered the realities some of those children faced outside of the school environment. That girl who loved playing on the magnet board? A different person picked her up from school every day, a glimpse into her unstable family life. That boy who loved running around the gymnasium? He lived in a neighborhood where it wasn’t safe for him to play outside in his own yard. Despite their adversities, the parents did their best to provide their children with a good Catholic education in a safe environment by enrolling them at St. Anthony’s. In return, it was my responsibility to foster that safe, nurturing environment for the children to grow and learn to love school.

Stacey helping a student hold scissors.

Generally speaking, working with three-year-olds was easy. When the children had something to say, they called out my name as their whole bodies wriggled with eagerness to share: “Miss Stacey! So-and-so touched my paper,” or “Miss Stacey! MISS STACEY! MISS STACEY…Today I ate a cookie.” But there was one child in my class, whom I will call DF, whose speech was more difficult to decipher than his peers’. DF didn’t live in the safest area of New Orleans and came from an unstable family, but he loved school. He loved learning, taking on challenges, and tried to choose right over wrong, which is why my heart sank each time a frown and exasperated look of defeat showed on DF’s face at moments when the neither the lead teacher nor I could figure out what he was saying.

One time I sent DF to the “calming square” because he knocked over someone’s block tower…or so I thought. His limited intelligibility made it difficult for him to defend himself, through no fault of his own. Fortunately, one of his classmates came over and explained that it was an accident. Given the context, I pieced together what DF had unsuccessfully tried to tell me and realized my mistake. I apologized to DF, thanked him for trying to tell me the truth, and he went back to playing – no hard feelings, no grudges, just a smile of satisfaction knowing that he was understood.

It was my experiences with DF that first inspired me to explore the field of speech pathology. It is easy for children (and adults) like DF to get brushed aside because they struggle with clearly articulating their needs; consequently, their needs are not met. Think about how frustrating it would be to have the words in your head but be unable to get them out. How does that impact your home life? Your social life? Your life at school? What about answering the phone, or ordering at a restaurant?

The children I served at St. Anthony’s faced a variety of challenging circumstances. Some of the challenges require systemic change for a meaningful effect to take place. Some challenges can be overcome through hard work by the individual. It is easy to get overwhelmed thinking about the levels of challenges people face in the world and figuring out where you fit in the midst of it all.

My experiences as a DV, through my ministry and through witnessing the great work done by the Sisters in a variety of areas, have taught me that there is always room to be part of the solution. I may not be able to fix everything, but I can fix something. At closing retreat, my fellow DV Margaret Knows The Ground (2011-2013) gave a piece of advice that worked as a spring board as I pondered how I would combine my call to service with choosing a job: “View your career as a ministry.” It didn’t happen right away, but I realized that speech pathology would be my career and my ministry.

Stacey beginning a day of school work.

As a speech pathologist, I am able to minister to others by helping them get their voices heard, whether it be through their actual voice or an alternative means of communication. Furthermore, as swallowing falls under the speech pathologist’s scope of practice, I am also able to help people gain the ability to enjoy eating that extra animal cracker at snack time!

As for DF, during my DV year he was ineligible for speech services provided by the state due to his young age. His family could not afford private services. Even though I no longer interact with DF in person, I am reminded of him in the patients I treat and do my best to provide these patients with the same care I would have wanted DF to receive.

You can learn more about identifying signs of communication disorders at identifythesigns.org

Blessings in Salt Lake

by Paul Wizniuk

To be a Dominican Volunteer for a year ministering as an Assistant Campus Minister at the Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Newman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, how I have made my way through and enjoyed it!

Br. Gabriel, Fr. Peter, and Paul

My time in this capacity has consisted of two basic elements: living out a Dominican lifestyle and facilitating spiritual growth and greater community amongst the students and the parish. My days have been framed by the Liturgy of the Hours. I thank the Lord for the morning and pleasant rest, appreciate a mid-day’s moment of rest and refocus, and ask for blessings as I end my day. This prayer ritual, through the cycle I just described and the psalmist’s beautiful laments and praises has brought about conversion in my heart to deeper faith and reliance on God. Daily reception of Christ’s body and blood as part of my ministry day has been a large part of that conversion too.

Learning to live in intentional community has been quite humbling and inspiring. Among the lessons learned, obedience is surely the greatest, as well as accountability to more than just myself, but to those I live with whom I rely on and rely on me; especially for edible dinners, which I attempted to provide each Thursday. It is an interesting process of learning to live with and love individual quirks; some of mine I felt the need to qualify with a statement like, “You have to remember, I’m an artist.” (However, I’m not sure it clarify anything . . .)

My more specific ministerial duties that I stated above as “facilitating spiritual growth and greater community amongst the students and parish: have been rewarding and challenging. Trying to work to my strengths, I have focused on utilizing my people skills and sharing my passions in life. Most notably, in my opinion, are my efforts to provide tea time, building community and an open environment in the student lounge at the Center, as well as coordinating an Alternative Spring Break trip to Guatemala. I have been involved in many other projects and groups and roles in my ministry, but those two stand out for me. Although my desire to have tea time at a regular time and on a regular basis functioned more so as me serving tea throughout the day to students that came in and out (my most regular tea drinking companion being Stephanie, the Secretary), I believe the success of this venture was mostly in the power of the idea. Many people expressed to me how they thought this was a great idea and I think it opened people’s minds to the idea even if they didn’t come participate. I believe it helped people realize that is another world out there that they sometimes forget about, and in it there are some that still take a moment in the day to sit, enjoy a favorite beverage, reflect on the day and enjoy good conversation with friends.

Paul and members of the Newman Center

Coordinating the ASB trip to Guatemala was a wonderful experience for me because it offered me the opportunity to share some of my talents in areas I am really passionate about, namely serving others, specifically serving others in Latin America, speaking Spanish, and helping others experience the beauty of the people and culture of Latin America. I was able to use my passion for this kind of trip to get people excited about it and use my experiences to prepare them. Along with learning how to make this all go smoothly I had some unexpected lessons that Fr. Carl, the Pastor, described as “learning the ways of high finance,” or more specifically people reneging on their payments. Overall, the most outstanding lesson I believe was the experience of spearheading the trip and leading the groups through it; especially holding everyone together to the common vision and keeping the group united.

To be a part of the Newman Center community, which is described often (for good reason) as very special, and to participate in God's love with them was a profound experience as we worked to build the kingdom of God and make it present everywhere we are.  I am thankful to everyone there for playing the important role they did as a part of my experience, simply by being themselves and belonging to the community.  I move forward from this year of service with them enriched and more devote to Jesus Christ and for that I can't thank them enough.

Reflecting on a Year of Service

by Erica Stewart

Students of Immaculate Conception Academy

For the last few days in the month of June, I was blessed enough to spend time in Racine, Wisconsin with the sisters at their Motherhouse, the twelve other volunteers, and our wonderful program directors. This retreat provided ample time for reflection of my year of service and was the perfect ending to what has become one of the best years of my life. Have you ever made a decision—especially an important one—and just known deep inside you that it was the perfect for you? This was confirmed for me each and every day during my time with DVUSA, whether it was in my interactions with my students, coworkers, community members, or fellow volunteers. 

At our retreat, Mike gave us the opportunity to look over our applications that we had submitted more than a year before for DVUSA. This was such a wonderful experience for me to see the transformation I have undergone over the past year. For some questions, the answers have remained very much the same, like my desire to participate in service which I truly believe speaks to God’s intended path for my life: that I am called to serve forever and not until my contract ends July 13^th. 

Erica and Kristen

Over the past year, even through long painful minutes of waiting for my students to quiet down and prepare for my lessons, tearful reflections about the integration of God in my service year, seemingly endless lists of tasks that I never thought would reach their deadline, and of course, hours of prayer, together and community, I have responded to the call to serve with a fervent “yes” that echoes the same response that Mary gave in the Annunciation.

Please do not confuse this statement with my thinking I am anything like a divine figure because Lord knows I am far from it, but she, along with the members of my religious community who pray to her daily, has become a strong role model in difficult times when I find that the answer of “yes” too often slips off my lips when I am asked to take on yet another responsibility. Though I was asked to do quite the variety of tasks, ranging from preparing lessons on Charlemagne for my Church History class to leading an Amazing Race challenge for our freshmen around the city to cleaning out our faculty room refrigerator to hunting down the students who have failed to hand in their homework to stay after school, I often found it difficult to say no when I was asked to do something, no matter how full my plate seemed to be that day because I often did see the benefit in my “yes” to complete these tasks, whether it be a smile, a thank you, or on the very lucky days, a Starbucks gift card when I finally won the Faculty Friday raffle.

Immaculate Conception Academy staff

At the end of the day, and reaching the end of my service year, I am thankful for my ability to say “yes” and hope that it will continue to move me down the path God intends me to travel upon in my life, especially as I move on to my next job working as a recruitment associate for Catholic Volunteer Network. I hope that I will inspire others called to service to respond “yes” to help those who are so often told “no” by everyone else. Thank you, my Dominican family, for inspiring me to say yes and helping to unite us all in one body of Christ!

What I Have Learned Throughout This Year of Service

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by Sean Mundy

I was lucky and blessed enough to volunteer for a year at St. Pius V School in Chicago, IL, where I worked as a Resource Room teacher. 

As I sit here at the closing retreat in Racine, Wisconsin at the Siena Retreat Center (we are staying in a 15-room, Georgian revival mansion built in 1934, no big deal) run by the Dominican sisters of Racine, we are reflecting on our year of service.  These are the top 10 things I learned this year:

1.     The Four Pillars of Dominican Spirituality - I have and will continue to commit myself to living my life according to the Gospel through the four pillars: prayer, study, community, and preaching/mission/service.

2.     My Four Pillars - In an activity, we were asked to reflect on what would be the four pillars of how we live our lives.  Mine were: 

·      Acceptance and Understanding

·      Personal, Professional, and Spiritual Growth

·      Making a Difference One Person or Interaction at a Time

·      Living in a Spirit of Awe

Sean with his community at St. Martin de Porres.

  3.     Human Dignity - I have been exposed to many world issues this year.  I am learning that each of these issues all come down to human dignity or the lack thereof.  These issues include, but are not limited to immigration law, human trafficking, genocide, homelessness, poverty, the right to life, education reform, domestic violence, world peace, water (access to clean water, the bottled water industry, conservation, etc.), eco-justice, LGBT rights, prison ministry, gang violence, racism, military spending, fair trade, and so much more.

4.     Family Matters - I am thrilled to have such a positive relationship with my immediate and extended family.  Having approximately 850 miles between most of my family members and I has proven difficult.  This difficulty showed me how integral they are to my life.  Every time I came home to visit, I realized how much I need their love, guidance, and support.  Thank you!

5.     Teaching is My Passion.  The art of teaching and the profession itself is a craft that I want to perfect through continued study and professional development.  Affecting positive change in children is important to me.  I feel that I can truly change the world one child or one person at a time.  The ripple effect may go much further than I will ever know, and I’m okay with that. 

Sean in the classroom

     6.     Dominican Vowed Religious are Awe-Inspiring.  Their dedication to the Catholic faith in the Dominican spirituality is tremendous.  Their years of service in education, healthcare, social services and so much more are beyond compare.  Their fighting for social justice and human rights issues is inspirational and commendable.  Every interaction I have had with a sister (especially our weekly interactions with four Dominican Sisters of Springfield at the St. Martin de Porres Convent in South Chicago) and a friar (especially our monthly interactions with the Dominican Friars of the Central Province Priory) has been a pleasant, enriching, and beautiful experience.

7.     “No I Don’t Want to Become a Priest” - It was a lighthearted joke amongst some DVs to count the amount of times we are asked if we will become a friar or sister.  I still don’t feel called to join religious life, but I have learned throughout the past few years that when I plan, God laughs.  Life has been full of twists and turns, but it always works out in the end.  I now trust that God will lead me wisely, even if it seems difficult or scary at the time. 

8.     Labyrinths are Amazing - For those of you who may not know, Labyrinths are large mazes cut into the grass or painted on the floor that have one entrance, one path, and no dead ends.  There’s no right way to walk a Labyrinth, but often you pray or meditate before and then you leave something in the center before making your way back out.   They have brought me peace and helped me along my journey.

Sean and staff at St. Pius V School.

    9.     Relationship is at the Heart of Ministry - I have been so blessed to meet a number of people who have been so integral to my service year.  I’m going to mention a few of them here. 

·      Nancy Nasko, my principal at St. Pius V School and supervisor, is beyond supportive.  Every week she would tell me how blessed she is to have me at my ministry site.  She is so full of love for her students, faculty, and staff, but honestly, I know she has that love for everyone she encounters.  The highest honor at St. Pius is the Peacemaker award.  This spirit of peace permeates throughout the school and we rarely have behavior issues.  I think this safe, loving, and caring atmosphere it largely in part due to the leadership of Nancy.  She is a great role model for peace.

·      Br. Chris became my spiritual advisor in the winter.  I truly appreciated his insight, openness, and advisement (even if he is Franciscan – just kidding!).  He really helped me get my personal prayer life going again and truly helped me throughout my journey this year. I will be forever grateful!

·      The DVUSA staff has made my life as a service volunteer as stress-free as possible.  Michael, the director, and Erica, the assistant director, work so hard to develop the program and be in tune with the volunteers’ experiences.  It is clear that they truly care about each volunteer and really try to keep relationship at the heart of ministry.

10.  Overall, my volunteer year was a huge success.  Despite any negative experiences I have had this year, I truly love everyone with whom I have come into contact and the positive experiences have greatly outweighed the negative ones. I grew personally, spiritually, emotionally, and professionally.  I truly feel I have made a world of difference.  And hey, I actually got hired by St. Pius V School to be a 6^th grade teacher for next year!  See, volunteering can lead to employment!