A Good Volunteering Experience

What is good is you can be reminded of the value of volunteer work.

As part of Saint Susanna's Confirmation program, we went to the SS Francis and Therese Catholic Worker community in Worcester, founded 25 years ago.  The house is presently run by founding members, Claire and Scott Schaeffer-Duffy.  They had a day full of gardening in their “No Fighting Park” and baking bread planned for our confirmation class. 

The doors have no locks, none; the house is always open.  The house is old.  It almost has wrinkles like an old person’s face, but still smiling.  We walked in and we were greeted nicely and openly by Claire and Scott.  They were very excited to see us and to share their lives with ours.  The teens had smiles and some wonderment on their faces.  We split into two groups of four students and began our day.  

The gardeners tackled a garden that was two months behind on weeding, trimming, and transplanting.  Claire knew what she wanted and we all worked together to get it done.  During the labor, we all talked and shared stories about each other, not something that happens so well in a classroom.  This was great.  To add to this, the children from the neighborhood wanted to help out, so we got to hang with three local children as we worked together.  Claire and Scott get a lot of their food from this garden.

Around noon the bakers came back and we all had lunch as Scott gave a presentation an what their Catholic worker house was all about.  Powerful stuff.  The adults and teenagers were informed and challenged alike.  To give you a feel for how simple they make it, but how impactful they make it, here are a few quotes that sum it up:

Their stated object in founding the local community was to “offer shelter, food and love to the homeless, sick and dying who are the most beloved of God. We also believe that in this age of nuclear and conventional war, abortion, the death penalty, torture, oppression, sexism and racism, we must not only do our best to live non-violently, but also give public witness to the peace and justice that Jesus came to give us.”

- William T. Clew of The Catholic Free Press

Hangout with these two for a few hours and you begin to see volunteering melt or dissolve into something more meaningful: a way of life that puts the heart of Jesus’ message into every action made and word uttered.  It is so simply done, you cannot miss it, not at all, not even a little bit of it can be lost to your mind and senses. 

On the drive home, the students said they liked the day and that the day moved along better than they thought it would.  Specific questions about Scott’s presentation came out among all the discussion of their summer plans: Reflection was in place.  Wonderfully, the students answered their own questions. 

Information:

SS Francis & Therese Catholic Worker 
52 Mason St
Worcester MA 01610

Go and pay them a visit.  It may just change your life.