Volunteer Opportunities
Click here to download our volunteer brochure
Have you wondered how you might use your gifts and talents for volunteering, but were not quite sure what to do or where to go? Do you want to give service with others who share Christian values? Do you want an opportunity to prayerfully reflect about your experiences?
Each year the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary sponsor volunteer opportunities in the United States and Ecuador that integrate service, community and prayerful reflection. We invite you to join us in reaching out in love to people in need for an afternoon, a weekend or more.
Who can participate?
Persons over the age of 18 who have the desire to make a difference in the lives of others and give of themselves freely in service are invited to volunteer.
Volunteer opportunities for ministry and social justice work with BVM Sisters and/or our Associates are available in these locations:
2012 Volunteer Opportunities
Location: Ecuador Service Project—
Date: March 12–21, 2012
Registration Deadline: Feb. 1, 2012
Description: Learn more about the ministry at the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador, administered by BVMs Cindy Sullivan and Miguel Conway; and the education ministry of BVMs Saskia Alquinga Cahuatijo and Luann Brown. A day trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Nuevo Mundo, administered by associates Pat McTeague and Sonya Rendon; and the Hansen’s ministry at Damien House, administered by BVM Ann Credidio; is also offered.
Contact: Lou Anglin, BVM Initial Membership Coordinator – langlin@bvmcong.org
Watch video from a recent Ecuator trip!!!
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Date: April 27–29, 2012
Registration Deadline: March 27, 2012
Description: The weekend will include serving and learning about the needs of the poor and marginalized in Milwaukee County. It is an opportunity to work with BVM sisters and associates, sharing prayer and community as they live out their core values of freedom, education, charity and justice. Room accommodations provided.
Contact: Mary Ann Krems, BVM Associate – jmak@charter.net
Phone: 715.344.2453
Volunteer at Mount Carmel
Location: Dubuque, IA
Date: year round
Description: Volunteers in the Dubuque area and beyond are welcome to come and be present to the retired sisters in the Mount Carmel Continuing Care Retirement Community. You may be interested in visiting with sisters, reading to them, or transporting sisters in wheelchairs. The Activities Department welcomes assistance with weekly planned events and special projects.
Benefits: Meaningful contact with retired sisters, opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Mount Carmel along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, and a feeling of well-being that comes with helping others.
Benefits: Meaningful contact with retired sisters, opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Mount Carmel along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, and a feeling of well-being that comes with helping others.
Contact:
Angele Lutgen, BVM - alutgen@bvmcong.org
Coordinator of Support Services
1100 Carmel Drive
Dubuque, IA 52003-7991
Additional Opportunities
These BVM sisters and associates invite you to volunteer with them in the following locations:
United States
Location: Glendale, CA
Description: Volunteer to tutor students at Holy Family Elementary School.
Contact: BVM Associate Cheryl Hannah – dearcheryl@hotmail.com
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Description: Work with Mother Teresa’s Brothers of Charity to help prepare food and distribute to the homeless in downtown Los Angeles.
Contact: BVM Associate Eli Lopez – belopez0662@sbcglobal.net
Location: San Jose, CA
Description: Volunteer to teach English, health education, financial and employment skills at the Day Worker Center, a nonprofit organization that helps people find daily employment.
Website: www.dayworkercentermv.org
Contact: Elizabeth Avalos, BVM – eavalos@bvmcong.org
Location: Arcadia, FL
Description: Serve in Catholic Charities outreach ministry to immigrant workers.
Contact: Ann DeNicolo, BVM – adenicbvm@comcast.net
Location: Berwyn, IL
Description: Volunteer with Project IRENE (Illinois Religious Engaged in Nonviolent Endeavors), a statewide powerful, collective voice for systems change on behalf of women and children in Illinois. Advocacy issues include trafficking, poverty and domestic violence. The Capitol in Springfield is the center of this advocacy.
Contact: Rose Mary Meyer, BVM – projectirene@aol.com
Location: Chicago, IL
Description: Assist the staff at 8th Day Center for Justice, a coalition of Catholic religious congregations which commits to act as a critical alternative voice to oppressive systems and to work actively to change those systems.
Contact: Joellen McCarthy, BVM – joellenmccarthy@sbcglobal.net
Location: Chicago, IL
Description: Volunteer at Blessed Sacrament Parish to help in the food pantry, work in the community garden, or tutor in the adult learning or youth centers.
Contact: Pat Kerz, BVM – patkerz@aol.com
Location: Chicago, IL
Description: Offer your service at Taller de José, a community resource center that helps people navigate the often complicated social service system through the ministry of accompaniment.
Contact: Kathy Brazda, CSJ – srkathy@tallerdejose.org
Location: Chicago, IL
Description: Volunteer to assist people wishing to increase their basic education skills at Westside Employment and Education Center, or bag and distribute groceries at Holy Family Parish Food Pantry.
Contact: Marion Murphy, BVM – mcm3828@aol.com
South America
Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Description: Work with Ann Credidio, BVM at Damien House, a caring place for persons with Hansen’s disease.
Contact: Elizabeth Avalos, BVM – eavalos@bvmcong.org
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Description: Volunteer at the Working Boys’ Center in Quito.
Contact: Miguel Conway, BVM – miguelcbvm@hotmail.com