STORIES FROM FRANCISCAN
VOLUNTEERS, ALUMNI, FRIARS, & FRIENDS
Franciscan Volunteers serve in the United States and live in solidarity with people who are marginalized. Members of our community are witnesses to the world and through their FVM experience learn to advocate for the poor through the Gospel message to express love in action.
May 2021
The FVM Poem
The 2020-2021 FVMs Live across the block from a guest named Hector And receive guidance from Katie Sullivan and Emma Edwards Because they’re the program [...]
A Sunday Reflection
Reflection by Kathryn Getek Soltis St. Thomas of Villanova Parish Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 24/25, 2020 Exod 22:20-26; 1 Thess 1:5c-10; Matt 22:34-40 [...]
April 2021
Friar Lessons
Like all of us, I’m still reeling from the untimely loss of our dear brother, Chris. Thinking about what to write here, I thought perhaps [...]
Faith is the Reason
I never could have imagined I would end up here today. And yet I could never imagine it any other way. Were it entirely up to [...]
March 2021
The Inn Crowd
I think there are a variety of identities we all assume in our personal lives. Some of my identities include being a son, brother, cousin, [...]
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
This blog post is an excerpt from A Lenten Journey: Reflections on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. When it was evening, there came a [...]
February 2021
Aquí Estoy
inspirada en la vida de Chris Posch, nuestro hermano inspired by the life of Chris Posch, our brother Here I am, aquí estoy, open [...]
Service During COVID-19
For most people, I’d be willing to bet that the past year or so has changed their general relationship with expectations or assumptions. I know [...]
January 2021
Not Just Any Job
My first days as an FVM at the St. Francis Inn are a blur. There was some nervousness, self-consciousness, and a little homesickness. These are [...]
The Importance of Names
It isn’t an easy year to do service. Because of social distancing requirements, guests aren’t allowed to come into the St. Francis Inn as they [...]
November 2020
Saints Right in Front of Me
God is good. All the time. A common saying among believers, and for my generation it is even used as a call and response. Where [...]
October 2020
Remembering Brother Chris
Franciscan Volunteer Ministry is a ministry of and rooted in the spirit, work and support of Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province. Each FVM community [...]
A Diamond in the Rough
Please try to forgive me for my naivety. However, I never expected to stumble upon a masterpiece of a mural in the pedestrian tunnel on [...]
September 2020
People Make a Difference
For those who practice service, moments of reflection can come from the most unexpected situations. I couldn’t have guessed it myself, but barreling down a Philadelphia [...]
The Gospel in Today’s World
Peace and Good everyone. To be honest, I had a very hard time trying to figure out what to send this week. There is a [...]
August 2020
Lovingly Arrive at His Feet
“Lovingly arrive at His feet.” – as seen on a Christian blog I latched on to this, knowing surrender was my weak spot and [...]
The Rhythm of the City
The music seemed to rise from the blades of grass. It moved in the sunlight that shone on Camden's streets and flooded our open windows [...]