Long-term Volunteers & Service Opportunities

In the Bible story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25: 31-46), we are told about the connection between the way we act in society and our religious faith. Since love of God is so closely connected to love of neighbor, we show our faith into action by loving our neighbors. We “are called to reach out to the hurting, the poor, and the vulnerable in our midst in concrete acts of charity.” ( Community of Salt and Light, USCCB, 1991)

**************************

Current Volunteer/Service opportunities Need

(Volunteer/Service opportunity announcments are posted when received. Visit this page regularly to get the most updated info.

Ablaze Ministries
Interested in Youth Ministry? Consider becoming a missionary with Ablaze Ministries! Our missionaries are loved, cared for, trained, mentored, and challenge to be a better Catholic minister. We focus on providing our missionaries with the things that are most lacking for youth ministers: a holy community to work alongside, consistent formation, and financial stability. Our missionaries commit to serve two years as Youth Ministers, Campus Ministers, or Confirmation Coordinators for our partner Catholic parishes and schools. We have three locations: right next door in Bryan, TX, Waco, TX, and St. Louis, MO. Check out our website at https://ablaze.us/ for more information and to apply to serve with us! Questions? Contact work@ablaze and we will answer them as soon as we can. Still in school? We also offer internships for the fall, spring, and summer. Serve alongside a Youth Ministry team and see what youth ministry is all about!
(posted January 2020)

SOLT Mission Trip

This May, 15 young missionaries from across the US will set out on the adventure of a lifetime! Shortly after completing their Spring semester of studies, they will gather in Houston, TX to prepare for their mission to Belize, Central America.  Since 1969, SOLT has served in Benque Viejo del Carmen, a town located about a mile from the Belize-Guatemala border, a 2-hour drive west from the port of Belize City.  Today, SOLT has missions in Benque Viejo, across the border in Melchor, Guatemala, at Divine Mercy parish in Belize City, and on the island of San Pedro, Belize.

Serving alongside the SOLT teams already present in Belize, the missionaries will engage in many of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, bringing a jolt of enthusiasm and generosity to the stability of the service already present there.  The visiting missionaries will also have the opportunity to meet our year-long SOLT Missionary Volunteers, who have devoted a year of their lives to the students at Mount Carmel High School and John Paul II Junior College.  

Trip cost: $1300, plus flight to Houston and flight from Belize (Upon acceptance, participants will be given a fundraising coach.)
https://solt.net/missiontrip
(Posted January 2020)

Christ in the City
Interested in a summer of service? Christ in the City offers summer Catholic Formation and Service to the Poor  in Denver (Jun 1- Aug 1) , Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and San Antonio (May 24 -June 14). For more info and to apply go to www.christinthecity.co
(Posted January 2020)

Franciscan Volunteer Ministry (FVM)
FVM is a year-long service and faith formation program.  FVM has three core values: intentional community, direct ministry, and expressed prayer. We encourage our volunteers to eat together, pray together, and have a community fun night at least once a week (although many communities choose to do so more often than that). Our volunteers typically have 3-5 different ministries in which they are involved.  We aim to have our volunteers in direct service to the poor (as opposed to administrative work) at least 85 percent of the time. Our volunteers do everything from working in a restaurant-style soup kitchen to social services with immigrants to working in schools, hospitals, prisons, parishes, and more.  
FVM covers room/board, access to a community car, a monthly stipend, and four retreats throughout the volunteer year.  We also offer health insurance for volunteers who need coverage (including co-pays), and we assist with student loans (up to $400/month for existing student loans once the grace period is over).
Check us out online to see what a day in the life of a volunteer is like (FVM website, FVM Facebook page, FVM Instagram, or FVM YouTube channel).  Applications can be found here.
(Posted May 2019)

Colorado Vencentian Volunteers
  If you’re 22 to 30 years old & looking for a year-long opportunity of Direct Service with-in vulnerable communities, a faith based intentional living Community, integrated Reflection on your experiences, a chance for Spiritual growth, a broad base of community Support, an opportunity to develop Professionally, and the Preferential option for the poor in Action, Colorado Vincentian Volunteers may be right for you. Take that LEAP of Faith and check out CVV at www.covivo.org! Benefits include: Room & Board, transportation, monthly stipend and more. Placement sites include but are not limited to: Health care/medical clinics, shelters, schools, sustainability and urban farming, clinics, social services, housing (repair/construction/activities), refugees/asylees, runaway/homeless youth/tutoring and mentoring, women's services, food justice, special needs community, intellectual disabilities, child care/pre-school and more.
(posted May 2019)

Discern Your Call with the Maryknoll  Missioners
Discernment Retreat, on July 26-28, 2019, in  Chicago, IL. Cost is $60 (financial assistance available). Email or call 914-467-8857 to register or for more information, visit www. maryknoll.org
(posted May 2019)

Project SERVE
Project SERVE is a year-long opportunity for recent graduates to serve full-time with Catholic Charities while living in intentional community with fellow volunteers.  Volunteers experience the depth, love, and support of life in intentional community, while challenging themselves both professionally and personally as they walk alongside Catholic Charities’ and community partners. To support our volunteers Catholic Charities offers free housing, health insurance, a stipend to cover transportation and living costs in Baltimore, and three retreats throughout the year.
Placement sites this year include:

• The Weinberg Housing and Resource Center, our downtown emergency shelter
• The Esperanza Center, offering immigration-related services
• Our Development Office, working with donors, fundraising, and nonprofit management
• Villa Maria School, teaching pre-vocational classes for students with behavioral and emotional needs
• Sarah’s House, our transitional housing for families experiencing poverty

They accept applications on rolling admission until placements are filled and there are still some sppots opened!  Students can find our application and more information at www.cc-md.org/serve or write to me at smcilvried@cc-md.org. 
 (posted April 2019)

Amigos de Jesús
Amigos de Jesúsis a children's home serving abandoned, abused, and impoverished children in rural Honduras.  Rooted in its Catholic faith, the Amigos de Jesús family offers multiple volunteer opportunities.  The summer program, which is offered for the whole of 7 1/2 weeks or in 2 sessions, consists of summer fun/camp-type activities while simultaneously strengthening the children's English language acquisition.  More information on the organization can be found  here and for volunteering here.
(Posted March 2019)
 
Rostro de Cristo
Rostro de Cristo is seeking young adults to apply and discern a year of service in Ecuador with their volunteer program. If you are a graduating senior or post-grad young adult who is interested in faith-based service in Latin America, check about Rostro de Cristo volunteer program. Applications are available by request at apply@rostrodecristo.org.  For more information, you can also contact Michele  at 617-746-5892. 
(Posted February 2019)