Sisters of St. Joseph invite Women to Volunteer in New Orleans

The sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph are inviting women, ages 21-30, to become St. Joseph Workers in New Orleans. St. Joseph Workers commit to a year of service working in New Orleans’ diverse communities, serving the needs of poor and marginalized people through ministries in healthcare, education, advocacy, social services, spirituality or community organizing.

The first women to serve as St. Joseph Workers in New Orleans will complete their volunteer year in June; and the new group, yet to be selected, will begin in August and work through June 2011.

Tracy Salisbury, an international business and global studies graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., chose to serve with the lowernine.org, whose name references the area of New Orleans that the effects of Hurricane Katrina hit hardest. She spearheaded a formal training program for incoming lowernine.org volunteers.

“To me, the benefit of doing a service year is deliberately placing yourself in a situation that is “win-win,” Salisbury said. “I have been exposed to so much – diverse people, cultures and the needs that others truly have. In return, I have been able to learn valuable skills to help others return to their blighted homes, while enjoying new friendships with homeowners and fellow idealistic volunteers. “I feel that in most instances, I have received so much more than I gave … really,” she concluded.

The new St. Joseph Workers, like the current group, will live together in one house, creating an intentional community, and work with local agencies to become agents of change by providing direct services to local residents. In addition to working in their ministries, participants will benefit from training programs, retreat days and house meetings, and they will interact among themselves, with the sisters and associates of the congregation and with others they meet.

“We chose New Orleans as our first SJW site because the need for continued community rehabilitation is so great and because the sisters have a long history of service in this region,” explained Sister Jackie Schmitz, the local director of the St. Joseph Worker program.

Women who are interested in the program should contact Sister Jackie Schmitz at jschmitz@csjoseph.org for an application and more information.