Christ’s Presence

Serving at the food pantry and soup kitchen for the year will always be a part of me. There are little moments throughout my day that will bring me back for a minute. Sometimes, it is looking at my watch and if it’s between the hours of 11:30 A.M. – 1 P.M., I will think about the lunch window and wonder what was cooked up today. Or sometimes, I will see a stranger that reminds me of a client and I will wonder how they are doing. Or when I’m cooking dinner and I’m slicing a carrot, I will think about how many carrots I sliced at the soup kitchen and the fruitful conversations I had with the volunteers while we prepared the lunch meal.

The Assumption Church Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen showed me that God can be found in every place, every person, and every moment. On the harder days, I often reflected on quotes from Dorothy Day, such as, “the mystery of the poor is this, that they are Jesus.” Getting to encounter the face of Jesus in those who came to receive food almost every day was a true gift. From the person who spoke a different language, to the mother bringing several children to get dinner, to the man who lives in a tent, to the person who just lost their job, and to the kids who came by themselves, they reminded me why I was there. I can only hope they know how much they taught me about God’s endless mercy and love for His children.

I really had no idea where I would end up after FrancisCorps! All I knew was I wanted to be back up in the Manchester/Boston regional area, which is where I went to college. I ended up getting a job as the Academic and Study Abroad Support Coordinator at my alma mater, Saint Anselm College! My role is in both the Academic Resource Office and Office of International Programs. I started the position just four days after moving out of FrancisCorps and I have been really enjoying it so far! My supervisors are awesome and it is so great to be back on Saint A’s beautiful campus. The summer is so quiet without students so I really cannot wait to welcome them back to campus! The ceramic cross I made during FrancisCorps and notes from my community members are already up in my office.

One way I plan to bring what I have learned during FrancisCorps into this new chapter of my life is by seeing the face of Christ in each student that I am supporting, whether it be through academic coaching or helping them decide where to study abroad. Even during the busiest times of the year like midterms and finals, I want to be sure to carve out time for prayer and to pray especially for the students. I am still uncovering the lessons I have learned this past year, and I cannot wait to see how my time in FrancisCorps continues to impact my life.

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