A Franciscan Common Venture - Volunteer Service Program
“We desire to put forward our best efforts to that portion of
God’s children who are as yet unprovided for.”
Mother Xavier, Foundress of the Dubuque Franciscans Franciscan Common Venture provides the opportunity for women and men to contribute their talents, time and commitment in service among people who are poor. Franciscan Common Venture volunteers join with the Sisters of St. Francis and other local people in this service. Together, we give expression to Franciscan values of community, prayer, peacemaking, simplicity and conversion.
JOPLIN, MO (click on Joblin, MO)
to read about the 13 Common Venture volunteers who traveled there to serve in home reconstruction following the May 22 tornado that destroyed the town. They were in Joplin from December 10 thru 17, 2011.
A new brochure listing seven sites for potential long-term (three months to a year) volunteers is available-click on the link below.
40th Anniversary of Common Venture...
October 16, 2011
…pictured below is Nancy Oberbroeckling Diehm, 1974 common venture team member from San Antonio, Texas. She is holding the common venture brochures dated 1971 and 2012, and a listing of names of all who participated in common venture the past forty years.
“We need to have more dreams than memories…”
These words were Sister Nancy Schreck’s challenge in the homily at the celebration of Common Venture’s 40th anniversary on Sunday at Mount St. Francis Center. Franciscan Sisters and 117 volunteers from all over Iowa, as well as from many other states and as far away as Belgium, gathered for liturgy, brunch and a day filled with reminiscing, fun, inspiration, bonding, music, food, prayer and sharing.
The theme: “What you have received, give as a gift!” began with a festive liturgy with music led by the Common Venture Troubadours (pictured above). Common Venture Coordinator Sr. Marie Therese Kalb said, “The day itself was a gift! The spirit of joy and enthusiasm was powerfully alive and smiles were everywhere.” During the Prayers of the Faithful volunteers who have already been called home by God were named. The 1971 and 2012 Common Venture brochures and a list of all who served in that time period were offered along with the bread and wine.
After brunch Sisters and Common Venture volunteers gathered in Clare House conference room where games and fun stories were shared. They talked about what a difference Common Venture had made in each of their lives. Theresa Bries from Davenport, Iowa who was a Common Venture volunteer in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1980’s said, “Thank you for bringing us together to reflect and celebrate! It was a wonderful afternoon of reflection, camaraderie and surprises. The gifts were many.”
St. Lucia
In what areas can I volunteer?
Common Venture Team - 1985 in Olive Hill, KY
Pictured above (left) Shelly Meyers
(center) Sr. Verna Gaul
(right, top to bottom) Nancy Knipper, Adele Lenane and Annette Schmidt
- Community: Volunteers make a commitment to a shared way of life that supports, encourages and challenges each person to grow.
- Simple Living: FCV invites volunteers to live a simple lifestyle and to be reflective about the use of money, time and material possessions.
- Prayer: Faith sharing, reflection on the day’s experience and group prayer are a regular part of the shared life.
- Service among people who are poor: FCV provides volunteers an opportunity to live out this value while serving in a variety of social service and church agencies.
- Social Justice: FCV Volunteers, motivated by faith, take an active part in the healing of a hurting and troubled world. Challenged by the causes of injustice, volunteers search for creative solutions and faith-filled responses.
For more information about the Common Venture program contact:
Sr. Marie Therese Kalb, OSF
Common Venture Director
3390 Windsor Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
Phone 563-583-9786
kalbm@osfdbq.org
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