1. When you do the common things in life in an included a haunted hayride, low ropes course, canoeing,
uncommon way, you will command the attention of basketball, fireside chats, and decorating journals.
the world. --George Washington Carver
Over the past few months the MercyWorks volunteers
have fully transitioned into their job placements and have
further explored the five program values—professional
development, community, simple living, social justice
and spirituality. They continue to develop their
professional skills each day. In addition to learning on-
the-job from co-workers and supervisors, the volunteers
have participated in nearly 90 hours of training, including
CPR, first aid, crisis prevention, conceptual framework of
care, and youth care worker certification. The volunteers
have been busy getting to know the youth through
tutoring, goal-setting, visiting with families, teaching life
skills such as cooking and cleaning, and participating in
many activities at Mercy Home and around Chicago. The 2010-2011 MercyWorks volunteers at the ice rink
Recent activities with the youth have included a
Thanksgiving dinner celebration hosted in the new In addition to community nights and Fall retreat, other
cafeteria at the Hay Boys Campus, cheering on Chicago special events have provided opportunities for spending
sports teams, attending theatrical performances, and time with one another and building relationships. Twelve
giving back to others through volunteering at local non- of the volunteers helped out at RingSide for Mercy’s
profit agencies that serve children, families and the Sake. The volunteers hosted Thanksgiving dinner in the
elderly. MercyWorks apartment and welcomed friends, family
and co-workers. They hosted friends, family and alumni
Due to the volunteers’ varying work schedules, at a liturgy and brunch on the second Sunday of Advent.
Wednesday community nights have remained a sacred They decorated the apartment for Christmas and helped
time to share a meal with one another and examine the out at holiday celebrations for the Friends First mentees
program values. Community nights have included and mentors, AfterCare members, and the residents of
exploring spirituality and prayer life, viewing the film King Mercy Home. Most of the volunteers will take some time
Corn and discussing the implications of daily choices as off around the Christmas holiday to reconnect with family
consumers, learning about hunger around the world and and friends back home.
distributing food to the homeless, attending a talk about
sex trafficking at St. Xavier University, examining gangs Did You Know?
and their impact on the lives of the youth of Mercy
Home, attending a talk about the death penalty at St. 58 of the 112 MercyWorks alumni have stayed on as full-
Clement Church, bowling, and ice skating in Millennium time paid employees after their service year.
Park.
70 of the 112 MercyWorks alumni have gone on to
A four day Fall retreat in Burlington, Wisconsin allowed receive an advanced degree.
for some time away to reflect on the MercyWorks values.
The group reflected on their work and community. The 126 current and former MercyWorks volunteers
Coworkers Tom Gilardi, Daniel Nelson and Lori Kinast have come from 53 different colleges. 22 volunteers
conducted sessions on the retreat and provided have come from the University of Notre Dame, 9 have
invaluable feedback and advice. The volunteers had come from University of Dayton and 7 have come from
their first reflection and mass with Father Gary. Other Marquette University.
activities
2. Being A Witness To Another’s Life Alumni Updates
I have come to realize that what I really came to Chicago Joanna Griebel (’01-’02) is living and working in Los
for was a sense of legitimacy in my life. After sixteen Angeles, CA. She works for Sony Pictures Imageworks
plus years of study and learning, I wanted action and as a Production Assistant. She is currently working on
doing. I wanted to experience the things I had read the movie Green Lantern which is due out next Summer.
about in classes for years—the places, the people, the
politics. I didn’t want to entirely give up my contemplative Matt Pilon (’03-’04) was married to Alicia Judkins this
life, though. That’s where the MercyWorks Volunteer summer in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Father Scott
Program came in. celebrated the wedding ceremony.
While still allowing me to express my theoretic reflection Liz Bomgaars (’03-’04) is engaged and set to get
side, volunteering at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls has married in June 2011.
challenged me to develop my practical action side. It
was a transition for sure, but having the opportunity to do Javier Herrera (’04-05) recently passed the Texas bar
direct service with the youth of Chicago has really been exam and is working at his father’s law firm in San
a blessing. Antonio, Texas.
Sure, I could have found a job somewhere and helped Jean Fitzgerald (’04-’05) is in her second year of a
the causes I believed in with my finances, but I have Masters in Teaching in Art Education at the School of
found that I personally don’t learn or grow from that. No, the Art Institute of Chicago. She will be visiting schools
for me to understand how something (in this case in Haiti in January as part of her thesis research on
residential social work with at-risk youth) works, I have to students' relationships with books and literacy. You can
immerse myself in it. My experience has to pull me out of see some of her own book sculptures on exhibit through
my comfort zone, throw me into the lives of the youth, January at the Williamsburg Art and Historical Center in
and stretch my awareness of the world. Brooklyn, New York. To follow all of her artistic antics
and musings, you can visit her blog:
How does this happen? Through seeing my youth come www.heartjean.blogspot.com.
home from school everyday, bubbling with energy
because they got on their high school basketball team or After seven years of dating, Becka Lutz (’05-’06) is now
brooding over a poor test score. By celebrating their engaged! Her fiancée, Phil, recently proposed to her
completion of a science project, mourning their loss of a while on a trip to Chile.
friend, and letting them scream and yell at me when they
are frustrated. This is the only way for me to truly test my Karen Sarmir (’07-’08) will be graduating from the
textbook knowledge, to see if what I think I know about University of Michigan with her Masters in Social Work
th
the world lines up with reality. on December 18 . Upon graduating, she will be working
for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Michigan
Direct service isn’t really about helping people at all. Chapter.
Direct service is about removing the layers people place
between themselves and others and interacting with John Paffen (’08-‘09) is living and working in
another human being—it’s about being a witness to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the Enrollment
another’s life. Manager at the ESF Dream Camp Foundation.
Rachel is a graduate of St. Norbert’s Rachel Feerick (’09-’10) recently accepted a job at
College and is originally from Colby, Alaska Crossings as a Field Guide. She will be doing
Wisconsin. She is currently serving as a behavior modification while guiding 13-18 year old youth
Youth Care Worker in Daley Home. in the wilderness while canoeing, backpacking, and
She enjoys writing and took some time mountaineering.
to reflect on her experience as a
MercyWorks volunteer during the past
four months.
10 for $10 Challenge and Reunion Giving
Upcoming Events In honor of the MercyWorks Volunteer Program’s 10th
anniversary and reunion, MercyWorks hosted a “10 for
December 16-22 Holiday Celebrations for Youth
$10 challenge” and also solicited donations through the
and AfterCare Members
mail. Many thanks to alumni, their friends and family that
February 6-9 Winter Retreat at LaSalle Manor
made donations. $4,300 was raised in honor of the 10th
March 12 Shamrocks for Kids
anniversary. Special recognition goes to the 2004-2005
TBA Spring Quarterly Liturgy
MercyWorks volunteers who raised $1,230.