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.
July 2022
Love Lived in Service
Love, Lived in Service took on a whole new meaning for me, having been given the opportunity to be at St. Francis Inn, to live, [...]
June 2022
Ay Buddy!!
Working at St Francis Inn, you get to see a lot of diverse guests dine in. Some guests come every day and you get to [...]
May 2022
Making Connections
One of the most important parts of my year has been making connections. Whether that be with the staff or guests, I always feel like [...]
March 2022
Tapestry of Community
There were many good reasons to commit to spending a year as an FVM at St. Francis Inn, including serving those in need, opportunities for [...]
February 2022
My Neighbor
When I hear the words “My Neighbor,” the first things I think of are the kids next door who cry in the morning, the man who [...]
January 2022
Transformative Love
Hi my name is Ricky Ferrer. I arrived in Philly both excited and anxious because of the unknown that is before me. St. Francis Inn [...]
December 2021
The Light of Saint Francis
The light inside of each of us grows when we nurture it. The flames become bright and we are able to guide not only ourselves but [...]
November 2021
The Smile in Their Eyes
Starting my FVM experience during this Covid-19 pandemic has presented many new challenges. Despite living in a world with vaccines, we still take full precautions [...]
October 2021
New City, New Family
The moment my plane touched ground in Philly, my eyes opened up to a whole new reality. It was the first time moving out of [...]
September 2021
Peace & All Good: A Letter to the Incoming FVMs
Dear FVMs, You're headed to what I can only describe as a singular experience, and not just because Michael Duffy will take you on mystery [...]
August 2021
The Rumble of the El
I can still hear the whistle and the rumble of the El on the tracks. The echoing voices of the friars singing 'Salve Regina' in the [...]
If Only Briefly
. “Man, I’m glad to see you,” said a guy outside the gate, who was shaking, panicking, having an episode or on a substance, clearly [...]
July 2021
Strive for Spirit
“Don’t strive for perfection; you will always be disappointed. Strive for the Spirit; She’s always present.” ~ Michael Duffy, OFM My first few days of [...]
Loving and Living Outside our Comfort Zone
“What has your volunteer year taught you about love?” That was the question I asked a panel of former volunteers during my final semester at [...]
June 2021
Living in Community
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up the other; [...]
A Good Path
A few weeks ago, I was in a job interview and the interviewer asked me, "what's your five year plan? How does this job fit into [...]
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 [...]