Christian Service Program at Corpus Christi

Son-Rise Program - Colleen Errington

2012-01-17T12:35:00.003-05:00

There are so many areas I could discuss in reflecting on our Son-Rise Program and the support we have received from Corpus Christi University Parish throughout this program. The focus for this blog will be GRATITUDE for Christian service and witnessing God's LOVE IN ACTION.

Our lives were forever changed in the fall of 2009 when I sent one quick email to some students involved in the Catholic Student Association at Corpus Christi University Parish. I was reaching out and asking for help as we started a new journey in our family's life with our son, Gavin (now age 7), who is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism affects his communication, behavior, thinking, and social interaction. It provides many challenges for his life, and ours, but most of all it is a “social relatedness” disorder. He was having difficulty relating to other people, communicating his needs and desires, explaining what he felt and thought, responding in conversations, and being flexible enough to relate and interact with other children and adults in a “typical” fashion. We were so blessed to have discovered the Son-Rise Program, taught at the Autism Treatment Center of America, in June 2009. By September 2009, we were seeking out volunteers to join our Son-Rise Program team to love, accept, play with, support, and learn from our beautiful and amazing son.

Our prayer was answered after that first email I sent to CSA students and CCUP staff by FIVE immediate responses from students who were willing to give of themselves to learn about, commit to volunteering in our home one or two times per week for a couple hours, and engage our son in play, learning, and loving interactions. My husband and I marveled at the openness and generosity of these young adults, many of whom knew very little about autism and nothing about the Son-Rise Program. We got started right away with teaching them about the program, training them on the Son-Rise techniques, helping them to connect with Gavin while accepting his challenges and differences, and learning to look at their own beliefs about HOPE, ACCEPTANCE, POSSIBILITY, the ability to CHANGE, and HAPPINESS. We are extremely hopeful about Gavin's future and his ability to change and reach RECOVERY from autism. We accept and love him just as he is, while working in a focused and determined manner to provide opportunities for growth and change. We ARE seeing steps toward recovery each day with this amazing little boy...and we could not achieve this without the love, help, and support of our team of volunteers and loving family, which is a daily experience of God's love in action.

We have shared Gavin's program and our family with thirteen volunteers, including twelve UT students, to this point and are more than grateful for the role that each of these amazing human beings has played in our life. We currently have three UT students continuing to love and inspire Gavin through their participation in our program and have appreciated each of our volunteers over the past two and one half years. Many people go through life wondering if they have or ever will have a lasting positive impact on someone else or our society. I hope and pray that these individuals realize they have participated in and helped to create a miracle. They have helped a withdrawn, scared, quiet, rigid, overwhelmed, and significantly challenged little boy blossom and grow into a funny, happy, humorous, conversational, very bright, increasingly flexible and social first grafer. Please help me in thanking and recognizing our volunteers: Grace Gosser, Shannon Spayde, Andrew “Drew” Keller, Melissa Velasquez, MaryPage Dalrymple, Kevin Day, Diana Gabriel, Sara Gosser, Kyle Marie, Melissa Kijowski, Mary Albrethsen, Danielle Barker, and Mary Henning.

I am eternally grateful to CCUP, the Catholic Student Association, and each of our volunteers for promoting and encouraging service to others and reaching out to those in need. Please know whether you help a special child, volunteer in our program, or help someone else in need of support, please know that YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES when you give of yourself, accept others just as they are, believe anything is possible, and love unconditionally.

We are planning to continue an intensive program with Gavin this summer to strengthen him even further before he returns to second grade at OLPH next year!! If you are looking for an exciting, life-changing, fun and fulfilling experience and can commit to one or two sessions per week, please consider joining Gavin’s Son-Rise Program team. UT students, high school students, parishioners or your friends are welcome! Contact Colleen Errington at colleenerrington@gmail.com, find me on Facebook, or talk to Bryce Roberts at CCUP for more information.

Christmas Presence - Jessica Roggenbuck

2011-12-14T14:19:00.002-05:00

Christmas time is probably my favorite season out of the entire year. The music, family gatherings, the food; everything just has a warmer fuzzy feeling this time of year. But what if things were not so blissful?

I am a member of the Society of Women Engineers, a professional and social organization that is not only at the University of Toledo, but serves internationally as well. This year, Lubrizol gave us funds to do some sort of project that would give back to the community. We decided to adopt a family, but did not really know where to start. Luckily I know people in high places, with the guidance of the Christian Service Program I was able to get in contact with a group that provides year-round services called Helping Hands of St. Louis. After working out all of the details, we were given a mom with five kids, ages 2-14.

As we worked out the details and planned away, I began to feel a mix of emotions. I was going to help provide clothing and toys for children who would otherwise go without. Wow. It gives me a reality check when I look around and see all the stuff I have. The feeling of giving is the next one that got me. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been or how often you do it, it just fills the spirit with peace and happiness to realize that you are being a servant of God. As we continued our planning, I was filled with the stress of holiday shopping. To be a mother of five children, it gets expensive and time consuming. We went back and forth with price ranges for the number of gifts. We weren’t even spending our own money, I couldn’t imagine being in a position where ends were tight.

After all the planning was finished and the gifts were bought, we had a wonderful time wrapping gifts and settling in the blissful mood of Christmas. But it wasn’t until we arrived at Helping Hands of St. Louis that my most important realization hit. The toys and the clothing would be appreciated, but that wasn’t the biggest gift we were giving this family. We were giving them happiness and hope. We were giving the warm fuzzy feeling of Christmas that would light up their bodies and souls, simply by being present and showing that we cared.

Jessica Roggenbuck, University of Toledo Chemical Engineering Student

Tent City 2011 - Maggie Kanney

2011-11-02T14:29:00.003-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to help those in Toledo who are considered part of the less fortunate. CSA had a group of students get together and go help out at Tent City this past weekend. For those of you who don’t know, Tent City is a weekend long event that takes place in downtown Toledo every year. It is an opportunity for the homeless of our area to get clothes for the winter, receive some hot meals, and to get health screenings, identification papers, and some other basic necessities. Our group went down on Friday night to help prepare and serve the evening meal.

When we first got there, the meal wasn’t quite ready so we didn’t have much to do. Bryce Roberts encouraged us to just talk with the people there until we were needed. So I buddied up with my friend Chelsea and we went up to a man and started talking. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous to talk with him at first. I didn’t know what would be appropriate to talk about, how much I could ask about his life. I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. Luckily, he took lead of the conversation after we said hi and it was smooth sailing from there on out. Unfortunately it wasn’t a long conversation, Chelsea and I got called to go help with the meal; it was still a nice conversation none the less. I’m not sure who benefited most from our brief chat, him or myself, but I do know I won’t forget it.

We started off the meal with a prayer, asking God to bless everyone there and to thank Him for the food and for events like Tent City that remind us that everyone matters. There was a hearty Amen to close and the line for food began moving. My job while serving the meal was to hand out bread; just that, plain white or wheat bread without any butter. I was honestly a little disappointed that I wasn’t responsible for giving something a little more interesting -like the main course or the delicious desserts. But, as people started coming through the food line, I began to see my job as so much more than just handing out bread; there was something more important going on.

Instead of just a person handing them bread, I was a friendly face with a smile to share. I was a source of compassion instead of anger; a kind voice of concern instead of a cruel voice of bitterness and judgement; a helping hand offering love instead of a fist of hatred. The bread was just the physical nourishment, but my presence and gift of love was the spiritual nourishment, reminding each of them that they matter, that they are important, that people do care about them. That is what every single volunteer there did, shared their gift of self and great love. Sure we fed their stomachs, but more importantly, we feed their hunger to feel loved.

I am so glad that I was able to go and be of service to everyone at Tent City. It was a reminder of how blessed I truly am. I am extremely fortunate to have the life that I do. Serving at Tent City has also reminded me that I don’t have to do anything major, like chain myself to a building demanding change, to make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying hi, having a small conversation, or giving someone a slice or two of bread. Helping others to see that they matter, that they are loved, is one of the easiest things to do. My prayer is that we all take the time to do it a little more often.

–Margaret (Maggie) Kanney, Junior Nursing Student

Cardboard City-2011 by Michael Blake

2011-10-03T16:58:00.002-04:00

Everyone Matters!

On Saturday, September 24, a group of students from the Catholic Student Association (CSA) took part in a program called “Cardboard City.” Cardboard city is an event put on by the University of Toledo Habitat for Humanity. The purpose of Cardboard City is to raise awareness for homelessness by sleeping over night in a cardboard box on Centennial Mall. Not many of us realize how special it is to have a nice, warm bed to sleep in every night. This was an opportunity for students to experience how living on the streets can be.

At 6 p.m., the group of twelve CSA students came together to build what would be our home for the night. When I decided to participate in Cardboard City, the thought did not occur to me that there would be twelve students in one cardboard home. To accommodate for everyone, we built a fairly large box, which we attempted to shape like a ship. After nearly two hours of taping and cutting cardboard boxes, the “S.S. C.S.A.” was complete. The “ship” was about twelve long complete with portholes and a mermaid expertly drawn by David Gosser.

One of the most memorable events of the night was when we had guest speakers from 1 Matters speaking about homelessness in the Toledo area. The first person to speak was Ken Leslie, the founder of Tent City. Ken, with his great sense of humor, encouraged us with what we were doing. He urged us to take leadership in the world because we are the future. We, the students, will affect how the world will be in twenty years. Following Ken, there were several speakers all from 1 Matters who emphasized the phrase, “Everyone Matters.” As each person came up and told their stories, I felt as though I was there with them. Although they were all volunteers, they gave endless hours of their lives to Tent City and 1 Matters. My favorite speaker of the night was one man who adopted several children and whom he brought to Tent City every single year. At the end of the talk, he became very emotional and threw his “1 Matters” wristbands into the crowd. If everyone had the emotional and drive that he has to the cause for homeless, the world would definitely be a better place.

For me, this experience was one of my first experiences through CSA and the Sojourner committee. In high school, I volunteered on Sunday nights distributing food to the homeless. These nights weren’t so much about making sure everyone had food; but rather that everyone had someone to talk to. I enjoyed these nights because I only needed to give a smile, a name, or a conversation to make somebody’s day. The one thing about this experience is that I never really had the opportunity to put myself in the shoes of the people I met on the streets. This is what Cardboard City did for me. It helped me to feel, at least on some scale, the discomfort, loneliness, and depression that most marginalized people experience every single day. I hope to take these experiences that I had and turn them into action just like every person involved in 1 Matters. I want to reach out to those suffering because everyone really does matter!

-Michael Blake, Freshman in Pharmacy

Reflection on Service - David Gosser

2011-09-20T11:37:00.002-04:00

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I here for?” Have you ever wondered if, somewhere on the journey, you’ve lost your way somehow? There are times in everyone’s life where each person asks him or herself “the big questions.” And when that time comes, it can be very serious business—long held beliefs can be shaken, perspectives can be altered, and (I know of it happening) the whole course of a person’s life can be changed. I myself have had some experiences in facing reality (i.e. coming to grips with those big questions) where it seemed that all that I held with esteem in life was stripped away. I distinctly remember an in-depth reflection about vocation and “my purpose in life” that ended with me being totally unsure of what I was called to do. Totally unsure that is, except for one thing: that I was loved by a God more powerful, more indescribably good than the joy in my heart could express, and that I was called to share that love with others. And I am not the only one with this calling. The message I am trying to share with you today is that at each of our cores, we are made for more than ourselves; we are made to reach out to those around us. It is part of who we are. While our mission to serve can vary considerably from person to person (an engineer constructs bridges in such a way to keep everyone in her community safe, a father supports his family by working in a factory, a young aspiring doctor goes on a medical missions trip to Honduras while on break from school, a nun dedicates her life to praying for the world and giving her time, a mother gives up something she loves to be there more for her kids, etc.), the core of the mission is universal—DO.
Not everyone is called to go out and build houses for the needy; I want to reiterate this because it’s important that we understand that. My best friend is, by nature of his temperament, an extreme introvert. Thus, I would never expect him to, for example, go out and find homeless people on the street and try to hook them up with the resources they need. He would do a pretty poor job of it if he tried. But does this make him less of a person? To say such a thing would be to say that God made something that is not good, which is absurd. No, the more accurate answer is rather that he is called to a different purpose that is no less wonderful and helpful to humanity. Albert Einstein has a great quote that demonstrates this point: "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." Do we see now? For those who are called to service projects, local service, mission trips, and the like, that is wonderful and I encourage you to go out and make a difference in your community and beyond. If you need help getting there, that’s what we at the Christian Service Program (CSP) are here for, so let us do what we love to do and help you! For those of you not called to do those things, I encourage you to find your own niche and live out your life in your own kind of service (and perhaps CSP can help you with that too).
A further point should be made on that last statement: you should be aware of the GREAT plurality of different things within the scope of what I just loosely called “service projects, local service, mission trips, and the like.” There has to be hundreds if not thousands of such opportunities in Toledo alone. I draw your attention to this fact so you can think twice before “tossing in the towel” with all local service after one bad experience with something that perhaps didn’t fit you well. Like to teach? Help tutor. Like to work with your hands? Rake leaves for those who can’t do it themselves anymore. Go out and build houses for the homeless. Want experience in your medical field? There are SO many opportunities for you to put those skills to good use. Take some time and really find what is right for you; if you need help, ASK CSP.

We are called to do service in different ways, but everyone must make a willful choice to do something. Sitting on our duff is to go against God’s will just as much as choosing to do something contrary to God’s commandments. Having said that, I challenge you: really make an effort to discern what God’s will is for you, and have the courage to go do it! Maybe you’re like me and could really go out and pick up homeless from the street; maybe you’re more like my friend and are meant to be that rock-solid foundation for your friends and family. Who knows? Read the Scriptures, talk to CSP, interact in the Mass, and even test the waters of different service organizations, and you will soon find your niche. I have faith. I will leave you with one of my absolute favorite quotes from the Gospels, Matthew 25: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

-David Gosser, Junior in Nursing

Service Kick -Off! - Anna Muller

2011-09-02T16:40:00.003-04:00

On Monday, August 29th students from the University of Toledo eagerly gathered to see what the Christian Service Program’s Service Kickoff had in store for them. As the minutes passed, over 70 students walked through the doors of Corpus Christi University Parish. As they entered the gathering space, the music played over the speakers was drowned out by the lively discussions between students and the representatives from local organizations in need of volunteers

I watched as the room filled with different displays of organizations all sharing a common goal, helping others. A once empty room filled only with tables and displays, was now bursting with eager hearts and bodies. Students migrated their way around the room with a willingness to learn more. The first thing saw they as they walked into the room was a water filtration unit from “Clean Water for the World”. This small display was one of many that made a large impression those gathered. It seemed to empower them to get more information, not only from “Clean Water for the World," but also the 19 other organizations in the room. After the students made their way around the room once, I had expected them to leave, but was surprised to find them making their way to the organizations a second and third time. The room was filled with a sense of passion for service.

Ken Leslie, the founder of “1Matters," spoke to the group of students in the church about the importance of helping not only a person, but also the soul. Through his experience with 1Matters, Ken was able to ignite a fire in the hearts of those gathered. His words of inspiration spoke to the desire to help others and serve our gracious God.

The Christian Service Program table was hard to miss, not because of a flashy display, but because of the student representing the program. David Gosser, lit up the room with his passion for service and care for others. He welcomed each student asking them questions to help direct them to a table that would help suit their desire to serve.

Each person at the Serivce Kickoff came to get information about making a difference in this world. Each organization works to share the light of Christ, and be the hands and feet of Jesus. We can do boundless things with love, desire for change, and great will. In the sea of injustice, I hope that others join in the Christian Service Program’s desire to creative not just ripples, but waves of change and service.

Anna Muller, Corpus Christi University Parish - Ministry Assistant

2011 Jamaica Mission Trip - Daniella Soriano

2011-06-22T11:04:00.004-04:00

First off, we set foot on the land and were greeted with Jamaican heat and sunshine. The authentic warmth and hospitality was overwhelming and we were incredibly thankful for our friendly guide, Boxer. Finally, we encountered what we had been waiting for, we were about to see Jamaica up close and personal as we started driving through the city of Kingston. I was in awe of the buildings painted vividly with yellow, green, blue, orange and all sorts of other colors; but most all it was clear that we were tourists and the locals gave us blank stares and children were constantly waving and smiling at us showing their sincerity. We eventually arrived at the convent, our home for the week, and it was filled with both peace and beauty that equals to grace and the landmark of our new community with our group and the volunteers of the Jamaica Outreach Program.

Our work days were spent at St. Pius X and DuPont Primary School. Our job was to perform medical histories and physicals of the children that were to attend school the following year. I had one of the most rewarding jobs on the trip as I got to work closely with the children. I was given the assignment of keeping the children occupied while waiting for their medical history interview. The children were shy at first but when we started coloring and talking about their favorite cartoons and games then their smiles and laughter soon became contagious. I had the chance to observe their characters and put the two together with the human nature, that as humans we are oriented to mystery and the children were very much attracted to the strangeness of us tourists. I recall a little girl who put her arm next to mine and asked to touch my hair. She was constantly asking questions about America and myself. The joy that the children found in the simplicity of playing tag, coloring, or just simply talking made me appreciate my life a lot more because their contentment was incomparable and irredeemable, it was a gift among all things that consisted of peace and satisfaction.

We also had a chance to visit a neighborhood called White Wing, where the living situation of the people who lived there was very sad. Houses consisted of metal sheets and wood; and their privacy was close to none. Their sewage system was absent and they did not have the simple comfort of a home that I would be accustomed to. It’s disappointing to say that for most of those that live in White Wing it is all they will ever see in their lives. What we usually take advantage of everyday such a bed, a shower, a home, these people would be thankful for a lifetime. The very same day we saw the White Wing neighborhood, we had the chance to visit a Mustard Seed Community. These communities are a home for abandoned and disabled children. Going into the building we were all quiet as we silently walked through and greeted the residents with the utmost kindness and setting aside their appearances and conditions. I think one word describes the White Wing and Mustard Seed and it is mercy, by mercy alone the individuals and the people experience compassion and generous love from strangers who admire their determination to live their lives.

To the people of Jamaica time was not an issue, it taught us a lesson that slowing down from the fast pace of life gave you the chance to think, to savor the time with the people around you and build new relationships and grow in community. This simple way of life is more like the church, simply by serving unselfishly and willingly to benefit the people and the kingdom that eventually grew into friendships. The time spent with our group and the volunteers made us grow close on the trip, almost like a family. With home being so far away it was great to have a support system that you can count on. The wisdom and character from the retired volunteers was poured into us that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Love unmistakably plays a big role and was everywhere on the trip. As scripture tells us constantly and found in Mark 12:30-31, “And you must love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

Jamaica Mission Trip 2011, you are an experience that will not be forgotten, a memory to be cherished as the people of Jamaica embraced us openly with curiosity and kissed us goodbye with kindness. You have inspired me to continue on to serve and pour out love and compassion on others. Thank you!

-Daniella Soriano, University of Toledo Senior - Social Work

Jewish Community Center/Y.M.C.A: Sarah Clark

2011-04-27T11:04:00.002-04:00

My name is Sarah Clark and I am a senior majoring in Middle Childhood Education. I am a member of the CLP IV program at CCUP. I completed my Christian Service Project at the Sylvania JCC/YMCA. While there, I assisted with the After-School Adventures Program. In this program students aged Kindergarten to 6^th grade are bused from the Sylvania and surrounding area schools to the JCC/YMCA center. When the students arrive at the center, they are served a healthy snack. After snack has been put away, the students that have homework stay inside and complete that homework while the other students go outside to play. While performing this service, I worked with kids in both formal and informal settings.

In the formal settings, I helped the students with their homework. I can recall one time when I was helping a young girl who was struggling with her math homework. I could tell that she did not understand this assignment at all, so I sat down with her and tried to explain it in a way that made sense to her. All of a sudden the light bulb went on in her head and she finally understood how to complete the homework. When her mother came to pick her up, the little girl was so excited to tell her that she had finished her homework for the night. Seeing the happiness that this brought both the girl and her mother was one of the moments I will take with me as I continue to work with children in my career as a teacher. I believe that God was working through me in this instance. For in 1 Peter 4:10 it says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” I believe that I was truly administering God’s grace in many different forms while serving at the JCC/YMCA. I was using the talents that God gave me to help the children in the after school program.

In the informal setting, I supervised and played games with the kids out on the playground. I led activities that I had learned through my involvement with one of the organizations at UT, the University YMCA. The children loved the games and requested that we play them each time that I was there.

This was a great way to observe children in both formal and informal settings but also to give back to the Sylvania community that I grew up in. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to use my God given talents to serve in the community.

Alternative Spring Break 2011: Melissa Kijowski

2011-04-05T13:26:00.003-04:00

Just two weeks ago I was in sunny, warm, beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida on spring break….hammering nails into cement blocks. I participated in a Habitat for Humanity build along with about 65 other college students who chose to do an alternative spring break. (20 of these were in our group of Toledo Catholic Student Association members!) If you’re not familiar with Habitat for Humanity it is a non-profit Christian ministry helping eliminate poverty by providing simple, decent shelter to those in need. Homeowners and volunteers, like us, work under the supervision of trained professionals. Though I had not originally planned to do this spring break trip, when the opportunity unexpectedly arose I jumped on the chance. Last year I was a leader in the group that went down to Miami, Florida to build so I knew what was in store. What I failed to remember is that no service experience will ever be the same. This is because the people, location, and even one’s own current life circumstances will heavily influence the experience had.

We were fortunate to have phenomenal group and site supervision on this trip. I feel as though the volunteers and professional workers alike brought out the best in me. I was able to see Christ in their work as they told their stories and demonstrated never-ending patience. Their passion was contagious and I was moved by their big hearts.

Habitat for Humanity holds a special place with me I think mostly because of the empowerment that is embedded in the service. Our site coordinators in Fort Lauderdale really stressed that they were giving nothing away for free. Homeowners that are selected must complete 500 hours of volunteer service for Habitat and make monthly payments on their no-interest mortgage until it is paid off. These families are given an opportunity to rise out of the poverty they are in, but not without hard work. The ultimate goal is to help people help themselves, and it’s a beautiful thing.

Now this may be the SoJo in me, (last year I served as a Sojourner co-chair in CSA) but throughout the trip I had the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching revolving in my thoughts: Life and Dignity of the Human Person, Call to Family, Community, and Participation, Rights and Responsibilities, Option for the Poor and Vulnerable, The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers, Solidarity, and Care for God’s Creation. The work I was doing alongside both friends and strangers falls in some way under each of these themes which I find to be the guiding lights of Christian service. I found a passion rooted in these teachings last year that have continued to be a part of my life, as I found out in Fort Lauderdale. I am grateful to have had such an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, dip into my spiritual life, and contribute to a good cause that is much bigger than I. Mother Teresa says do what you can because even small acts are made with great love; and that is what Christian service is all about.

Melissa Kijowski, Senior - Speech Language Pathology

Honduras 2011: Kevin Day

2011-03-21T14:03:00.001-04:00

As Japan was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes in world history and the tsunami that followed, I was in Honduras, a country still slowly recovering from one of the most powerful hurricanes in history, Hurricane Mitch in late fall of 1998. I was part of a team that included some of the first responders to that natural disaster who headed south to provide medical aid to a country in dire need. This team, led by Dr. Richard Paat from the University of Toledo Medical College, included seven doctors, a pharmacist, three nurses, a physical therapist, thirteen medical students, four pharmacy students (myself included), and four invaluable volunteers without medical experience other than past medical mission work.

In the weeks before the trip we spent hours preparing our supplies and medications with the plan to treat 2,000 or so patients, most of whom would walk for hours at least to get medical attention without us. After departing St. Luke’s Hospital at three in the morning and travelling most of the day we arrived in La Esperanza, Honduras, a small city in the mountainous south western region of Honduras, around eight P.M. After unpacking and a long opening presentation and learning experience, we started a trend that involved late nights and early mornings with long days in between.

Over the next five days we immersed ourselves into our mission work, providing medical care to 2,244 patients who, for the most part, could not receive medical attention without a several hour walk. And even for those who get to care, most could not afford the treatment they really needed, or worse, the clinic or hospital they went to could not provide it. For these people we were a true gift. The anti-parasite medicine we gave to every single patient may help a child avoid mental problems and growth problems down the road. The vitamins we provided for pregnant and nursing mothers hopefully will lead to healthier newborns and children. The year’s supply of medications we provided for hypertension and diabetic patients should increase quality of life for both this year and future years. The surgeries we preformed will save pain, and cost. The referrals we made should help those get the higher assistance they truly need and advance the health of the nation as a whole. The nearly 200 water filters we provided for schools and families ideally will stunt the endemic of parasitic diseases and dehydration. Possibly more helpful than anything, the open, caring arms we provided were a sign of hope to villages that seemed hopeless.

As we worked from shortly after dawn until well after dark, we not only affected the lives of Hondurans we served but also the lives of 34 team members we travelled with. Seeing the villages and the poverty, the hunger and pain, opened my eyes again to the harsh realities of the third world. In America, we complain about the silliest things, we wake up from six hours of sleep in a comfortable, warm bed and say, ‘I wish I could have slept longer.’ In Honduras they wake up from four hours of sleep on simple mattresses in dirty huts and walk to work in fields all day without complaining. In America we hate getting stuck at ‘long red lights’ that might hold us back for two minutes. In Honduras, no one said a word after standing in lines for hours and hours. In America, we worry about and constantly desire having the best car, phone, clothes, and job. In Honduras, people only dream of cars, most have hardly seen cellphones and certainly not BlackBerrys and iPhones. Seeing this aspect of life that so many people in our world live in made me realize how blessed and lucky I really am. So often I caught myself pausing to thank God for all the blessings in my life, particularly the gift of the experience in Honduras.

Speak Up 4 Service...In Her Own Words: Rachel Foot

2010-09-23T14:44:00.002-04:00

Nicaragua, also known as The Land of Volcanoes and Lakes, is a country that has gone through its share of troubles. Ten of the fourteen volcanoes in Nicaragua are still active and have destroyed many towns and cities in the history of their eruptions. The capital city of Managua was destroyed by an earthquake in 1972, and this was not the first time. While the country has been ravaged by its share of natural disasters, the revolution of 1979 was one of the most devastating events for the economy. Previously one of the wealthiest countries in Central America, Nicaragua currently averages an income of $2 U.S. per day per household.

While health care in Nicaragua is nationalized, and therefore theoretically available to all. Hospitals are few and far between and the state they are in is not sanitary let alone sterile. A group of 26 people from the University of Toledo College of Medicine, including myself, went down to help some of these people receive healthcare. We had five days of clinic, each day we would take a bus to a new community and set up a makeshift clinic at a school or church. We saw over 800 patients while we were in Nicaragua. We provided services for everyone from children to the elderly. For the first time ever we also performed 41 PAP smears, which is a very important preventative health measure for young women.

We brought with us donated prescription drugs, mostly antibiotics and pain medication such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen. While some of the drugs we provided are sold over the counter, the people often have no access to them, being an hour away from the closest town. Transportation provides another problem for access to a hospital or clinic; they don’t have things like ambulances in Nicaragua. There are very few people in the communities we saw with cars and some people ride a cart or horse, but most walk. We also provided donated toys for the children; many times this seemed to be the only reason they came in to be seen other than to get a parasite pill.

Nicaragua is a predominately catholic country. The catholic faith is a big part of the culture there. We happened to go during a holiday, they celebrate the assumption of the most Holy Virgin Mary. The origin of this holiday is unique to Leon, Nicaragua. One of the local volcanoes began erupting in 1947 and the bishop of Leon at the time began to pray to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Nicaragua. Soon after the ash stopped raining from the sky and the volcano was quite. Every year on that day the city celebrates for the Virgin. They have a large procession into the Cathedral of the Ascension, the oldest Catholic Church in Central America and the children go around collecting candy.

The people are what I will remember the most about this experience. The way they lived so simply often not having a floor to their home and still were very happy is something to be admired and remembered. When I am jealous of what others have or unhappy with my life, I will think back to the people of Nicaragua and their relentless love and faith in the Lord.

Speak Up 4 Service in his own words...Shaun McDonald

2010-07-13T14:52:00.002-04:00

My name is Shaun McDonald, and I’m a senior chemical engineering student (at
UT). I have been volunteering my time and knowledge to Women Blessing Women. Every
week for an hour, I meet with women in the community to help them with algebra
and geometry. I have always enjoyed helping others with scholastic work because I
remember my own struggles with it. This has been a very gratifying experience to
see the women grow in understanding and boost their self esteem. This small donation
of my time makes a big difference to these women, and I hope to see more volunteers in
the coming months! For me, this experience has helped me see Christ every time these women smile and walk out of the room with their heads held high. One woman in particular
has been striving to achieve her GED so that she may accept a government grant to learn a technical trade at a local college. After working with her, I know that she has the skills to achieve her goal, and it’s exciting to share her hope and excitement for the future. I highly recommend that you find your own niche or way of helping the community and make it a priority in your life; it has helped me grow and realize that helping others is more important than focusing
on my own wants and desires.

Speak Up 4 Service in her own words...Courtney Clement

2010-06-29T16:31:00.004-04:00

Courtney Clement, a senior nursing major shares her experience while helping those effected by the recent storms that have it NW Ohio. The following is her theological reflection on her experience helping those in need. Also, here is a link to a related story featuring Courtney and others doing the amazing work they do!

Two weeks ago a storm ripped through Northwest Ohio and left families in pieces. Two weeks ago I, Courtney Clement, went to go see the aftermath and was speechless. The storm had destroyed the high school and jumped from house to house, leveling whatever was in it's path. I was amazed to see how some houses were untouched while others had nothing but piles of debris around them. Instantly, I knew I had work to do! Therefore, I got a group of 6 people together and we headed out Monday morning to volunteer. We went to Reiman Rd in Genoa, Ohio. From the neighborhood where we were working you could see the path of the unforgiving tornado. We helped a man who's house was completely leveled. His entire house was scattered across the 10+ acres that he called home. We picked up debris and searched for items that were valuable. Pictures, jewelry, and pieces of china were included in the items we found. We spent the entire day there and still, there was so much to do. Another group of us went on Wednesday and then a group of 60+ students got together to help cleanup on Sunday June 13th. The students of University of Toledo made a HUGE impact on Genoa, Ohio. We were scattered at different sites helping those who had lost it all. The stories that the community members shared with us were heartbreaking. These were people that lived for the land. They were farmers and now their fields were destroyed. These people will be forever affected by the storms that destroyed there homes.

I believe that there isn't anything more rewarding then volunteering my time to those who are going through a difficult time. Whether it be Hurricane Katrina or the tornadoes that struck Northwest Ohio, disaster requires teamwork in order to bounce back. With every hand that reaches out to pick up a piece of wood or debris, I see the hands of Christ. Although some students are still in school this summer and others are just up here to work and enjoy the weather, we all got together to make a difference. Just because the school year ends that doesn't mean our volunteering experiences should end as well!

Unfortunately, I haven't been back to the work-sites since last Sunday. I am a full-time Nursing student this summer so I have to keep up with my school work before I can have some free time! But hopefully another group will be heading out either this week or next week! If anyone is interested in helping out when we go, email me at courtney.clement@rockets.utoledo.edu and I will get back to you with more information. Most of the work is now skilled labor, but the people of Northwest Ohio still need helping hands no matter what!

Would you like to get involved in the efforts to assist those hit by the storms? Contact Courtney directly at courtney.clement@rockets.utoledo.edu.

Zachary Reaver on Food for Thought

2010-05-17T14:56:00.004-04:00

The following is a theological reflection written by Zachary Reaver for the Christian Leadership Program (CLP II). Zachary is a junior majoring in Bioengineering and Chemistry. In his own words, thoughts on Food for Thought:

My Christian Service Project was participating in the Food for Thought program. Through this program, there are many services and goods provided for the poor, needy, and homeless of Toledo. My main involvement was helping to prepare food and pack lunches on Friday evenings at New Harvest Christian Church in Oregon, OH to pass out at the Saturday Morning Picnics held by the library in downtown Toledo. On Fridays, I would help out for a little over an hour making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or putting cream cheese on bagels, as well as helping to load up the truck for delivery the next day. I was able to meet others that were passionate about helping those less fortunate than us. On Saturdays for about an hour and a half, I not only passed out food, but I was able to talk to those we were helping and form meaningful relationships. As Catholics, we should all reach out to the poor and needy, as Christ and the Church encourage us to do.

Jesus, on several different occasions, preached that we should help the poor and needy. When talking with His disciples, as recorded in Matthew 25: 34-36, Jesus said, “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you have me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’” Jesus is referring to the judgment day, when the good will be separated from the wicked. Essentially, by doing acts of kindness to the poor and needy, we are glorifying God and doing these things for Him. Through Food for Thought, I was able to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and welcome strangers. Much of society seems to forget that these people exist, and in reality, they are just the same as you or I. Many people had interesting stories and were very friendly; some were just in need of a friend. I felt good every week that I was able to participate knowing that not only was I helping out people, but I was strengthening my faith in God.
The Church also teaches us to go out and help others, claiming that one should both have faith and do good works. In the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, there are several references to helping the poor and needy, all part of the Catholic social teaching. On page 424, the book claims, “The causes of poverty are many, but they all call forth the compassion of the Church.” On page 425, the book states, “Acts of charity for the poor are a good way to start living the Church’s social teaching. Personal contact with those who need our help fulfills Christ’s command to love the poor most effectively.” I believe I was able to show compassion to the poor and correctly align my actions with those of Catholic social teaching on poverty. Most important for me, however, was forming relationships with people and being able to recognize faces week after week and understand people’s situations. As the Catechism states, I believe this personal contact helped me to love the poor most effectively.

Food for Thought has been a great program for me to get involved with, and I have learned and gained a lot from my experiences in the program. I have invited several friends to come along with me on Fridays and Saturdays so that more people can get involved and be exposed to the problem of poverty right here in Toledo. I feel that I have been able to fulfill the goals of the CSP by helping others in need, learning about other cultures and people of diverse backgrounds, developing a stronger faith in God and love of my neighbor, understanding Catholic social teaching, and becoming more conscious of social sins in our society. I plan on continuing with this program during this summer, and I look forward to establishing more relationships and a more active role in helping others.

Transforming Our World: Our Catholic Faith in Action

2010-04-28T11:24:00.004-04:00

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently launched a new website to help college students (that's you!) and campus ministers promote Catholic social teaching on campus.

The site, Transforming Our World: Our Catholic Faith in Action, includes educational materials, ideas for reflection and prayer, weekend retreat outlines, forums for online reflection with other young adults, videos, podcasts, and more. I am already thinking of ways that the Christian Service Program might be able to tap into these awesome resources.

One of the ongoing challenges of service is finding a way to integrate those experiences into our lives, into our faith journey. As a people rooted in community, we hunger to reflect with others. The USCCB site is a great way for us to do that.

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Abby Lammers

2010-04-22T11:25:00.005-04:00

My name is Abby Lammers, and I am a student at the University of Toledo. Before I came to UT, I attended Owens Community College and helped start their CSA program. This Spring Break, I went with Owens CSA to Washington D.C., to work with a program called So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.).

The (S.O.M.E) program started with a priest simply handing out sandwiches to the homeless of D.C. back in the 1960s, and since then the program has done miraculous things to ensure the homeless are taken care of. During my time at S.O.M.E., I was able to work in the Dining Hall, where they serve just about 800 homeless individuals a day, providing them with breakfast and lunch. Also, seeing the faces of the homeless and knowing that we provided them with a hot nutritious meal was rewarding in itself. S.O.M.E. also provides housing; free medical, dental, and behavioral services; showers; clothing and much more.

I decided to go along on this opportunity because I love to do service, and this is one way for me to get out of my comfort zone and be able to see what others need. I volunteer whenever the opportunity presents itself, which is about all the time. I see Christ in the people that I serve. Deep down I remember that Christ helped people who others wouldn’t help, and for me, I want to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and continue the service. I feel that I have been blessed throughout my life, and I am entitled to give others the same blessing.

Abby's experience is a great reminder for all of us that our participation in the Eucharist allows us to be bread for others so that others might eat. Let us go out to love and serve the Lord... and one another.

Speak Up 4 Service... in his own words: Peter Cicinelli

2010-04-16T12:41:00.003-04:00

My name is Pete Cicinelli and I am a student at the University of Toledo. I went to Miami over spring break with a group of students from Corpus Christi. While in Miami, we participated in a Habitat for Humanity event. For four days, we worked on houses in a development with over 200 other college students from across the nation.

The reason I decided to go on this trip was because I wanted to see firsthand what it was like helping out a community other than my own. Everyday, I see something in the news about communities all over the world struggling with all sorts of problems. When I heard about this event through the parish, I could not pass up the opportunity. This week long service trip was definitely something I’ll never forget. Along with making a lot of new friends, I learned what it takes to roof and put in a driveway. Building houses was way more demanding, both physically and mentally, than I expected it to be.

While building one of the houses, we were able to work side by side with one of the future home owner’s. I experienced Christ when I saw how excited and thankful this man was for so many students dedicating their spring break to help build his future community. With all of our help, he would soon have an affordable home that he can call his own.

The most rewarding part about this trip was knowing that I helped make a few peoples lives a lot easier. Being able to afford and own a quality home is not something that everyone has the privilege of doing. By all of the people who went on the trip sacrificing one week out of their lives, we took the future residents in this community one step closer to their lifelong dreams of owning a safe and dependable home.

If you are ever given an opportunity to volunteer your time outside of your community, I highly recommend that you pursue it. The path that God leads some people down may not be as smooth and clear cut as others. With a little bit of time and effort, your help can get them back on the right track.

Peter Cicinelli challenges us to respond to the national problems we hear about on the nightly news and experience firsthand the human impact by getting involved. Another Peter was warned that he, too, would be led to places he would not imagine, as we hear proclaimed in this Sunday's gospel for the Third Sunday of Easter (C): Jesus says, "Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Danielle Roberts

2010-04-08T14:24:00.003-04:00

My name is Danielle Roberts, and I was fortunate this spring break to participate in my first international service experience to Honduras as part of a medical mission sponsored by the Health Science Campus. I am grateful for the sponsorship of two parishioners, who also accompanied me on this experience. My parents raised me to place a high priority on service, and I have continued to make service a significant part of my life as a college student.

We began preparing for the trip about a month in advance, spending our Saturday afternoons sorting medicine, packing supplies, and meeting with others on the mission team. As our departure date approached, I started to feel unsure about what exactly I should expect. Where would we stay? How would I communicate with people? What if I contracted malaria? What would I eat?

With these questions and many others in mind as I stepped off the plane in Honduras, we immediately settled into our hotel and got to work sorting the duffels of medicine, supplies, and stuffed animals we brought for the kids. This was the beginning of a crazy week, and to be quite honest, there was not a lot of time to step back and reflect on what I was experiencing. We saw over 700 patients the first day; each day we left our hotel at 7:30 a.m. and didn’t return until around 7:30 p.m. each night. We worked long days, but I noticed very quickly that no one from our team complained or asked to leave early. There was the pervading sense that we had absolutely nothing to complain about in a world where so many go without so much.

Of course, the Honduran people were very gracious and hospitable. The children ran around playing, the mothers were trying so hard to keep their children healthy despite the lack of access to health care and medicine, and many the fathers were hard at work in the fields. It became clear that the people of Honduras are just like the people of America, only living out their humanity in different circumstances and geographical locations. These people who were covered in dirt from walking 2 hours to see us, who have sun rashes from working so hard in the sun each day, and who can’t concentrate on their school work because they get parasites from drinking the water carry the cross of Jesus in so many ways. Yet, they are a people of hope, a constant witness to the death and resurrection of Christ, which we are celebrating during these Lenten and Easter seasons.

I am so blessed to have had the chance to meet so many of them, to play with so many children, and to feel God’s love through their appreciation, smiles, and laughter (even if the laughter was at my inability to speak Spanish). I hope that many others will have the chance to participate in an international service experience of some kind. It was an unforgettable week, and the experiences and interactions it allowed me to have will continue to inform the way I live out my Christian faith.

Corpus Christi University Parish is hoping to offer more opportunities for students and permanent community members to engage in international service. Are you ready to immerse yourself in a new culture to be the hands and feet of Christ? Are you ready to share time, talent and treasure to build up the kingdom of God, to be a bearer of peace and justice?

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Michelle Piel

2010-03-30T12:37:00.005-04:00

This will be the first of three Speak Up 4 Service posts from students and permanent community members who went on Spring Break trips to Mississippi, Florida and Honduras.

My name is Michelle Piel, and I am the student coordinator for a Spring Break hurricane relief trip to Bay St. Louis, Miss, sponsored by UT and Toledo Campus Ministry.

This past spring break marked the fourth time (third as a leader) I have volunteered to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Although things are getting back to normal and people have moved on since the storm, some continue to slip through the cracks, unable to finish projects, move on with their lives, and return to some sense of normalcy. Debris and abandoned buildings still lie around certain areas of the area, just waiting for someone to clean them up. There are a lot of people who cannot afford to finish rebuilding, and they are just waiting for volunteers to assist them in any way possible. This year, half of our group worked on a house for a woman who was still living in a government-provided trailer five years after the storm.

Each year, I return to help those people who are still not back on their feet and will continue to do so as long as there is a need. Many people lost absolutely everything they owned. I have truly realized how grateful I am for the blessings I have -- to have a nice house to live in with my family and all the things necessary to live comfortably. I have seen Christ in each and every person I help in Mississippi. Everyone is so kind, grateful, and extremely appreciative of everything we do for them. They do not care what you do, but rather are just so grateful to have you there helping them in whatever way possible. Our group has truly touched the lives of many people in Bay St. Louis. I love going back to see the people I have helped and places I have worked on. The trip is a life-changing and rewarding experience that I recommend to anyone.

If you have any interest in the trip in the future or in helping out in any way, feel free to contact me at michelle.piel@rockets.utoledo.edu.

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Corey Beth Monarch

2010-03-22T13:38:00.006-04:00

My name is Corey Beth Monarch and I am an active part of Team in Training. Team in Training is a comprehensive endurance-training program for runners, walkers, cyclists, and triathletes to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The goal of Team in Training is to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission to cure blood cancers while helping cancer advocates reach their personal fitness goals. The money raised by the local Team in Training chapter stays in our community and helps families in the immediate area needing financial assistance.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society generates public awareness, attracts and develops professional and volunteer resources, and raises the funds necessary to accelerate programs to achieve their mission. The Society supports the best researchers investigating the causes, treatment, and cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma. They advocate for government research funding and public policy to benefit their patients and patients' families. They provide both support programs for patients and their families and assistance to help them meet the costs of treatment. They serve the community through information, referral, and education programs and educate health professionals about the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment. 75 cents of every dollar raises goes directly to the mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I joined Team in Training out in San Diego when I was away on co-op and now I am a mentor for the Toledo Chapter of Team in Training. As a mentor, I help support new team members with their training and fundraising and strive to help the new team members make the most out of their Team in Training experience. It has been such a blessing to be a part of such a great national organization on the local level. I experience Christ in my service by being able to see the joy that my mentees are filled with while they are training for their respective event. Christ is also present in all of the people who are willing to make donations to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in these hard economic times.

To become involved in Team in Training, feel free to send me an e-mail at coreybethmonarch@gmail.com or if you want to follow my progress in training and fundraising check out my web page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/noh/rnr10/cmonarch

Corey combines her love of fitness with her passion for fighting Leukemia. Imagine what our world would look like if you exercised your passion.

Speak Up 4 Service: A Thank You and a Call for Volunteers

2010-03-16T16:23:00.003-04:00

Many times we serve others and receive little thanks, but sometimes when we serve, we are the recipients of deep and genuine gratitude. I wanted to share with you this note I received from one of the recipients of our Christian Service Program, Colleen Errington, whose son has autism. The grace of gratitude cannot be underestimated.

I am Colleen Errington and several of the student parishioners are volunteering in our Son-Rise program with Gavin. Kyle Marie wrote the first blog about his experience on our team. I just wanted to contact someone to let you know we will still need volunteers and are still going strong with our Son-Rise Program. I would love to do a talk for anyone who might be interested in the CSA or the rest of the parish. Working with Gavin, who has autism, can be a wonderful, life-changing, selfless experience. We so appreciate our current team members: Melissa Kijowski, Sara Gosser, Mary Albrethsen, and MaryPage Dalrymple. I think they are all active in the CSA and Corpus Christi parish. THANK YOU for having the Speak Up 4 Service program and the blog! We were so thrilled to see Kyle's as the first post and his excitement at participating in our team with Gavin.

Much love and many thanks,
Colleen Errington

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Katie Lillevik

2010-03-01T17:14:00.004-05:00

My name is Katie Lillevik, and I am involved in Project MORE, a tutoring program offered by the Autism Model School. Every week, I meet with two autistic students to help them read books and complete follow up activities on what they have read. Getting to know the kids has been very rewarding. They are truly intelligent students, who make me laugh. I look forward to going there every week because it’s always a refreshing experience. It is fun to joke around with them and watch as they make progress throughout the year. It’s a time when I am not focusing on myself and my studies, but on them and what they are doing and learning.

Volunteering here also has opened my eyes to how blessed I am to lead the life that I do. The students there struggle with things that you and I may not even think twice about doing. Prior to tutoring at Project MORE, I had never worked one-on-one with a person with a disability. Stepping outside my comfort zone has been a real eye opener to the gifts God has blessed me with. I go in there thinking how my week is so stressful because I have exams and quizzes, but really it is a privilege to experience college, one that not everyone will get. Students at the Autism Model School look forward to their time with the tutors, and it’s an awesome feeling to be the one that they look forward to seeing.

Katie shows us all what we can do when we give a little MORE. What are you doing this Lent to give more?

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-01T17:02:00.003-05:00

"Some experiences simply do not translate; you have to go to know." -Kobi Yamada

This Spring Break, several students and permanent community members from Corpus Christi will participate in alternative break trips to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; Miami, Florida and Honduras. Some will be building houses, some will be providing much-needed medical assistance, and some will simply be present to those in their midst with genuine care and compassion.

Regardless of the work being done, these trips provide an opportunity for our parishioners to offer their time and talent to people in need as well as deepen their own understanding of Catholic social teaching. Even domestic service trips can be a cultural experience, for the culture of the poor is often a presence that disturbs and wakes us up to our call to be Christ for others. And as the quote above says so eloquently, sometimes the translation can only happen by getting immersed in the experience.

Our prayers go with them.

Speak Up 4 Service... in his own words: Jason Mack

2010-02-17T15:14:00.005-05:00

Would you like to go to prison?
My name is Jason Mack and I belong to the Catholic Awareness Retreat group that performs prison ministry retreats. Four times a year we visit the Allen Correctional Institution in Lima. We begin at the prison for a couple hours Friday night, then spend the night at St. Charles and return early Saturday for the day with a closing mass at 5:30pm. During the time we spend with the guys, we work in either small groups or as a whole team doing fun projects, faith sharing, music and a lot of prayer and reflection. We are always under constant supervision by the security guards which allows us and the inmates to be safe, relaxed and focused on learning about Christ in our lives from each other.

You can feel Christ’s touch when you are able to look beyond the prison uniform and see in their eyes that these men are human beings. God loves them just like He does us, no matter what any of us have done. Jail is not just for hardened criminals. Any day, at any time, one bad judgment or one mishap could land any of us in jail. If you were in jail, cut off from the outside world, taken away from everyone and everything you love, could a little of God’s love make you feel better? It gives a world of hope and promise to these men, and we welcome any volunteers to help us do Christ’s work with them. They will learn from you, and I promise you will learn from them. This is a small commitment with large gains.
A volunteer orientation workshop is coming up in March for anyone interested in getting involved with this important social ministry. For more information, please contact Mary Lynn for contact information. We hope to see you in prison!
“For I was hungry and you gave me food…in prison and you visited me.” -Matthew 25: 35-36.

Join Jason behind bars. Catholic Charities will sponsor a Jail and Prison Ministry workshop on Saturday, March 20th at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Findlay for those interested in joining this ministry. The focus will be on programs currently offered in the jails and prisons. For more information, contact Germaine Kirk at 419-244-6711, x431 or e-mail gkirk@toledodiocese.org.

Speak Up 4 Service... in his own words: Dick Torchia

2010-02-10T15:04:00.006-05:00

My name is Dick Torchia, and I am involved in a project called Home Repair Ministry (HRM), which does repairs on homes of low-income homeowners that affect the safety or health of the homeowner. HRM has put on new roofs, installed new windows and doors, repaired rotting steps, plus numerous other projects, for a nominal charge to cover costs. Although HRM is associated with Habitat for Humanity, we must find our own volunteers and funds to underwrite the projects. We already have enough repair jobs requested and qualified to fill the 2010 calendar year, so we’re seeking volunteers that would like to help a needy family with work or a contribution since the number of projects always outweighs our funds. “Adopt a Project” is a new effort on our part to invite churches or organizations to sponsor the cost of a project ($500 for small projects to $2,500 for roof repairs/replacements). If any members of the CCUP community would like to volunteer or donate, call 419-382-1964 (Tues.-Fri.) and ask for Kori Rukowski, repair coordinator.

Are you a handy DIY person? Join Dick and the HRM to help make safer homes for Toledoans. Contact Mary Lynn to find out how.

Theological Reflection Night: February 11, 2010

2010-02-10T14:30:00.004-05:00

So, you've started serving in the community, and you're feeling like good things are happening. You're forming relationships; you're understanding the systems at play; you're figuring out what your gifts are. But you have questions... big questions... like why are people suffering? What does faith call me to do? How do I experience Christ in the people I serve?

Perhaps you're getting ready to embark on your service. Spring Break is just a few weeks away. You might be heading to Honduras or Bay St. Louis or Miami. You know how to prepare for such trips because you have packing lists. But what's on your spiritual packing list? What kind of "preparation of the heart" do you need?

If you're asking some of these questions, come to our first Theological Reflection Night on Thursday, February 11, 2010, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Kirtland Classroom. Don't be put off by the phrase "theological reflection." It's a way for us to talk about integrating experiences into our faith life.

Enjoy good conversation with people like yourself, who are striving to be "a sign and instrument of God's reign in the world... while seeking to humanize social structures." There might even be cookies!

Contact Mary Lynn for more information. And, don't worry, if you can't make it this Thursday night, come on March 25th or April 29th. Same time, same place.

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Eileen Heckman

2010-02-02T16:20:00.006-05:00

My name is Eileen Heckman, and I am part of an autonomous band of parishioners who, like “Charlie’s Angels,” go to parishioners in need. This is usually to bring Christ to the sick, to connect the ill person with Christ and the parish.

We meet the sick where they are, whether hospital, nursing home, or residence. I do it because I love to serve. I am a retired nurse, and I feel challenged to meet Christ in each person. I do it because I have been sick, and I like to bless other people as I was blessed when I was healing. I volunteer as often as I am needed. Right now there are about six parishioners who, with their families, have various needs. It is truly a continuum. Actual visits for me usually number about two or three per week.

I love to meet Christ in the people I serve. Sometimes I meet an anxious Christ, or a depressed Christ, or one who is open and ready to receive the message of the Mass liturgy in his/her life. Last week, I knew I had 30 minutes to visit Janie, and she spent 20 minutes with her group playing bingo, so my ministry was to gently rub her back, and we had a brief Communion service when back in her room.

I am rewarded with my ministry because I have the rare opportunity to bring Christ and to share Christ with the persons that I serve. Often, in the context of our prayer service in preparation for Communion, I ask the person to formulate prayers of petition. I find it rewarding then and later to remind the person how those prayers are being fulfilled. I love their gratitude, but that is not essential for the contact!

You can be a "mercy angel," too. To join Eileen in this ministry, contact her at 419-478-0577 or e-mail her at leeny7@buckeye-access.com.

Speak Up 4 Service: in her own words: Jessica Kelley

2010-01-27T11:45:00.006-05:00

Hello! My name is Jessica Kelley and I am a student at the University of Toledo, and a parishioner here at Corpus Christi. I am writing today to tell you of an amazing volunteer experience I had in June 2008. Through a friend of mine, the opportunity came about for me to travel to Kingston, Jamaica to assist with medical examinations for children who were to be entering the local school. Having no real medical experience, I was a bit leery, at first. However, I was assured that my talents would be put to use, and that any help was welcome. We traveled with a group of about ten, mostly consisting of young adults. We were in Jamaica for only a few days, but our time there was well spent. We were able to see many children and get them all checked-out and ready for school. Some nurses had traveled with us, so they were able to do the more technical parts of the examination, while the rest of us covered other tasks, like eye tests and paper work.

I have done service domestically for years, but traveling to Jamaica was a completely different experience. When you think of poverty in the United States, an image of the “bad part” of town comes to mind, where the houses aren’t the best and the streets aren’t the cleanest. This was what I was preparing myself to see in Kingston. However, that was not the case. The houses people are living in are really just small shacks, which, many times, aren’t even stable. Also, the bathrooms they use are small communal stalls, definitely not something you would see in Toledo.

You would think the people of Kingston would be quite downtrodden due to their surroundings. This was definitely not the case. Their spirit and outlook on life was probably the most positive I have ever experienced. It has made me re-evaluate my life and the things that I consider important. We can all get caught up in things like consumerism and instant gratification and cast aside what is truly important like our faith and relationships. I try to remind myself of this daily, and prioritize my life according to what God would want. As it says in Galatians 3:28, we are all “one in Christ Jesus.” We must look towards our brothers and sisters for guidance and help in our lives. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to travel to Kingston to help the children with their medical examinations. Really, though, I believe that they helped me more. They helped me to take a step back and look at the bigger picture of life, and truly realize what is important.

I hope that if you are ever given the opportunity to travel abroad for service that you will seize it. God has many lessons out there for us to learn, you just can’t be afraid to go and experience them.

Where are you being called? Where are we as a parish being called? Comment below and share your ideas or international experiences you have had.

Speak Up 4 Service... in her own words: Diana Gabriel

2010-01-26T13:45:00.004-05:00

Hello, my name is Diana Gabriel and last semester, I volunteered at Notre Dame Jr. Academy where I helped coach their 7th Grade girls volleyball team two times a week plus games. I decided to coach because when I was in high school, I coached my sister’s volleyball team, and I love helping the younger generation become better at something they love. I experienced Christ in coaching last semester when the girls would get excited when they understood how to dig for the ball and when they would win the game because they work together as a team succeed in a sport they loved playing. The rewarding part of coaching was watching the girls get so excited for the wins and when they finally understood how to do different maneuvers, such as approaching the net and overhand serving. Knowing that I helped this group of 7 girls understand volleyball and become good at it was just an amazing feeling.

For more information on how to get involved in coaching at Notre Dame Junior Academy, contact Darcy Wagner at darcy.wagner@utoledo.edu.

CSP and TAM - a great match!

2010-01-19T16:29:00.002-05:00

Have you ever heard of Toledo Area Ministries (TAM)? TAM is an organized group of churches in the area dedicated to serving a wide variety of populations within our community – a mission just like our new Christian Service Program. In fact, they have been around longer than any other service group in the Toledo area.

A few of the CSP team members had an opportunity to join TAM for their most recent annual meeting held at Grace Church. While there, we learned a lot about what they already do – ministries to the homeless, hungry, forgotten, and neglected. They are dedicated to working within the community by coordinating efforts of dozens of participating churches. What they never have enough of though are volunteers.

Toledo Area Ministries has a great website at www.tamohio.org and are very welcoming to individuals and groups interested in serving. TAM is also coordinating a great leadership training program for those who would be interested in working with nonprofits here in Toledo and taking a leadership role one day!

CSP and TAM look to be a great match. Have you worked with TAM before? Share a thought or two by clicking the "comments" link at the end of this post.

Speak Up 4 Service...in his own words: Tim Dubois

2010-01-14T20:53:00.002-05:00

My name is Tim Dubois, and I volunteer as the Assistant Director for ToDAY Productions, a Christian based high school theater group. What I mainly work on with the kids are blocking and other 'random' things that need to be worked on two-three days a week, before their show performances in March. The show I am working with them on is called "Cotton Patch Gospel", which is a rendition of the Gospel of Matthew based in Georgia. This show is a tradition for this group to perform every four years, and this year is that "magical" year! All of the rehearsals and performances are down at the Collingwood Arts Center, 2 blocks away from Holy Rosary Cathedral.

The reason I work with this group as a volunteer actually goes back to this past summer when a good friend, Pat McCarty called me to audition for their summer show, which included adults. I auditioned for the summer show and ever since I have helped with the set-up and other needed work for that show and eventually got asked to assistant direct this winter's show.

The way I experience Christ through my service is my teaching of the show to some of the kids every rehearsal. Since this show is heavily based off of the Gospel of Matthew, some of the kids have not been raised in a Christian background or have had the experience to. When we started the rehearsals, we told them to ask questions if they didn't understand what was going on, or anything about it. This has help me grow as well since it is one of my first real experiences of working first hand with people who have not known Christ and his great works.

The most rewarding thing about my volunteering is the fact of knowing that this show will become something great that these high school students will never forget. Some of the alumni of this organization have told me that this show made an impact on them since high school. Unfortunately for me though, I will not be able to see any of the three performances since I will be heading with CSA to Miami for the Habitat for Humanity trip for Spring Break.

Would you like to get involved with ToDAY Productions? Contact Tim at timothy.dubois@rockets.utoledo.edu. Go on, break a leg for service!

Upcoming CSP Events

2010-01-07T18:48:00.002-05:00

Christian Service Program Information Night
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. [Meeting Room]

Theological Reflection Evenings facilitated by Mary Lynn and Brian Tittl
Join others in reflecting on our Gospel call to serve. Open to all parishioners and students engaged in service or preparing to volunteer. Share your experiences, learn from others and reflect on our shared call to Christian service. Come to one... come to all!

All gatherings will take place on the following Thursday nights from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Kirtland Classroom:

February 11
March 25
April 29

Kindly RSVP to Mary Lynn if you plan to attend.

Speak Up 4 Service... in his own words: Kyle Marie

2010-01-07T18:30:00.005-05:00

My name is Kyle Marie, and I volunteer with an autistic child from our parish. I help him grow in his social skills with people by interacting with him in his play room for 2 hours at a time. I have been doing this for 1 ½ months, and it has been one of the best experiences I have ever had. Pam sent out an e-mail saying that a family in the parish needed help with their autistic son. When I heard about this, I knew this was something that I was being called to do. I am a nursing student and my heart is in pediatric nursing and helping children grow and learn. When I read this e-mail from Pam, I knew right away that God was telling me that He wanted me to do this.

Working with Gavin has been rewarding on so many levels. I have been able to see his severity of autism decrease just in the small amount of time that I have worked with him. I get to do something that I want to do in my future career, and I absolutely love working with him and his family.

For more information on volunteering with Gavin, contact Mary Lynn at mldelfino@ccup.org.

This will be the first of many stories we hear from students and permanent community who are volunteering. Share your story here by e-mailing Mary Lynn.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-07T18:19:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year, friends! The new year is often a time when we recommit ourselves to some new work, whether that is service, prayer or some other kind of self-improvement.

One of my goals is to research options for starting an additional domestic service trip over Fall Break 2010 or at the end of Spring 2011. I'm also exploring possibilities for CCUP to sponsor an international immersion experience in Latin America or the Caribbean sometime in the 2010-2011 school year.

What New Year's resolutions or goals have you set for serving in the community this year? Share your resolutions by posting a comment here. This is a good way for us to share our desires and to build a strong, supportive community that serves in the name of the Body of Christ.

The 4-1-1 on the Christian Service Program

2009-10-16T11:41:00.004-04:00

Many people have been in touch with us at the parish office asking how they can get involved with service in the Toledo area and beyond. Interest spiked after the orientation session in September, which was attended by nearly 50 permanent community members and students! What an awesome start!

Here is the information we distributed at that meeting in PDF format:

CSP Interest Form
Service Opportunities
Reflection Materials by Diana Gaillardetz
- See pg. 14 for the Speak Up 4 Service form! Let us know the great things you are already doing! We might even publish your compelling stories on this blog.

"I'm already serving. Now what?"
Soon we will announce the date for our first Theological Reflection night. This will provide CSP participants with the chance to do some intentional faith sharing with others who are engaged in service like you. Watch the bulletin (and this blog!) for more details.

Also, please let us know what service you're already doing! Make a comment here or e-mail Mary Lynn Delfino at mldelfino@ccup.org. Your example may encourage others, so don't be shy: Speak Up 4 Service!

"I'm not doing anything right now. Help!"
Getting connected to one of the above-listed organizations can seem pretty daunting. Or maybe you're not sure where your gifts would be of the best service. Any member of the parish staff is more than willing to help you discern where and how you may share your gifts. We have some good contacts in the community. Feel free to e-mail us to ask any specific questions you have about agencies or organizations.

A Warm Welcome to All

2009-10-01T11:47:00.002-04:00

Corpus Christi University Parish, a community nourished by the Eucharist and committed to the works of charity and justice, carries out its mission to be a sign and instrument of God's reign in the world through its Christian Service Program that facilitates mutually enriching relationships between its members and persons in need, while seeking to humanize social structures.
-Christian Service Program Mission Statement

Welcome to the Christian Service Program at Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo, Ohio! We hope that this blog will serve as a portal to share information, reflections and opportunities about this new endeavor for our parish community. Think of this blog as a dynamic way to interact and support students and permanent community members who have embraced this call to serve.

There will be places for us to post information that you need to know, such as meeting times for communal theological reflection; new service opportunities; and important links as well as places for you to post your own thoughts and experiences.

We hope that this blog is a welcoming place for all! Keep checking back for more updates as our program and this site continue to develop.

In Peace,

Fr. James Bacik, Pastor
Mary Lynn Delfino, Pastoral Associate & Director of the Christian Service Program