Last week you met our new volunteer team headed for Jamaica. This week meet the new team that will serve in Honduras!

Rosi Trichilo: Born in Springfield, MA, grew up in Enfield, CT; 2010 Graduate, Holy Cross, Worcester, B.S. Biology and Pre-med with concentration in Women’s and Gender Studies.  She is an avid reader with a keen interest in music and dance of different cultures. Extensive Volunteer experience in inner city Worcester; has traveled to visit family in Italy, language study in Spain and two immersion programs in Nicaragua; co-Chaired Students for Responsible Choices—a peer education campus group for educating about drugs and alcohol abuse.  Rosi’s immersion experiences in Nicaragua solidified her plan to volunteer internationally as she came to feel, “that I had not only a moral obligation to serve others but rather a responsibility to do so.  I would not describe this as a decision so much, but as a logical culmination to everything that I have learned and started at Holy Cross.

Brooke Lahr: Was raised in Indianapolis, IN; 2010 Graduate, Bellarlmine University, Louisville, B.S Biology with Minor in Psychology; immersion experience, Guatemala; member of THE EDGE OUTREACH for applying global education and assistance towards pure water and sanitation.  Interests are: people, social justice, biology and photography.  As Brooke looks ahead to serving with PVI, she reflects, “I realize that I cannot fix the problem of growing poverty that exists in the world, but I can do my part to work towards improvement.   However I don’t just want to help the suffering with service work and donations; I want to respect their culture, enjoy their traditions, feel their struggles, and acknowledge them “face to face.”  I want to come to know the people through solidarity and love.

Andrew Fitzpatrick: Grew up in Drexel Hill, PA; 2010 Graduate University of Scranton, B.A International Language and Business; enjoyed two studies abroad: Guadalajara, Mexico, and Beijing, China; Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Cookville, TN; Friends and family are his principal interests.  Andrew sees service as a way “to give back— for the people that may not have been in the same position I have been in my whole life.  After taking a plethora of courses that focus on Central and South America, and having studied Spanish for so long, I came to the conclusion that international service would not only benefit the people I help but also teach me first hand about what I’ve only read about.”  Andrew chose a faith-based volunteer program in order to “deepen my own connection with God not only through prayer at home and Mass but through action in the world.”

Chanel Marin: Born in San Antonio, TX; grew up in a “globe-trotting” military family. After father’s retirement family settled in Killeen, TX.  2010 Graduate, University of Maryland, B.A. Psychology. Spanish is her first language; Semester abroad, Universidad de Valencia, Spain.  By way of interests or hobbies Chanel enjoys reading, painting and photography; deep passion for diverse cooking.  She has long and extensive volunteer experience, particularly in sexual assault and rape crises centers where she is a certified trainer.  Chanel tells us that her original reason for volunteering abroad was “simply to help individuals in what I believed to be more dire conditions than those at home.  Through my community service in the United States I learned that suffering has no boundaries.  There are individuals in every city and country in the world who suffer.   She chose PVI because “it provides a Christian framework which will help me grow in my faith and teach me to live as Christ lived—helping others.  I want to change at least one person’s life for the better and I know that they will do the same for me.”

Melissa Eells: Born in New York City and raised there until her family moved to West Chester, PA; 2010 Graduate, University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Psychology and Latin American Studies; Studies Abroad: participant, Casa de la Solidaridad Inrernacional, University of Central America, El Salvador; two months study, Quito, Ecuador.  Four years volunteered with Crisis and Suicide Hotline, Pittsburgh; Board of Directors, Pitt’s Campus Women’s Organization.  Interested in politically-minded blogs, reading local history and running.  Attracted to Passionist Volunteers through PVI’s mission statement that she says, “really spoke to me and captures why I want to participate in this particular experience, ‘we extend our service…in a spirit of accompaniment.’ I think it’s really unique that accompaniment focuses on a mutual journey rather than roles of the helper or the helped, in the sense conveyed by Lilla Watson, ‘if you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you  have come because your liberation is bound up with mine then let us work together.’

Molly Beggy: Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH; 2010 Graduate, Miami University, Ohio, B.A. Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Minor in European Studies; semester abroad, Florence, Italy; Intern for Congressman Steve Driehaus (D. Ohio, 1st District).  Molly’s initial inspiration for international volunteer service was her sister’s volunteer year, 1998, with Fr. Rick Frechette in Haiti.  Interests include global politics; hobby is reading. Seeks personal and spiritual growth through serving with PVI.  With strong international interests Molly views “peace and justice as intangible aspects of our world that are important not only for today but for future generations.  I believe that justice is fairness and equality for all people but it is not achieved without peace.  For peace we must make a concerted effort in understanding people of different ethnicities, cultures and religions.  It is important that we embrace the similarities and respect the differences in order to work towards peace and justice.  I also believe the reverse is true—we cannot achieve justice without peace.”

These young people are generously giving a year of their lives in service to others. Please consider a donation to support their work! Please make checks payable to PASSIONIST MISSIONARIES.

Passionist Missionaries Inc.
526 Monastery Place
Union City NJ 07087-3398
Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org

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