The North American Vocation Team (NAVT) of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) invites young women ages 18-45 to a summer service week June 11-17, 2023. The week will include volunteer opportunities through Whole Kids Outreach (WKO), a nonprofit service organization located in Ellington, Missouri. Lodging and meals are provided; participants must provide their own transportation to Ellington or St. Louis, MO. More information is available at ssnd.org/events/summer23/. Registration is requested by May 1, 2023.
Participants in the summer service week will experience SSND community, ministry and prayer as they volunteer with WKO, which was founded in 1999 by Sister Anne Francioni, SSND, the current Executive Director. Serving 11 counties in rural, southeast Missouri, WKO offers programs and activities to educate and strengthen children, pregnant mothers, and families at risk in isolated, rural, low-income areas. “Being able to share the WKO mission with our volunteers always makes my heart smile!” said Sister Anne.
“The 2023 SSND Summer Service Week will provide an opportunity for young women to learn first-hand what it means to be the ‘hands and feet of Christ’ as they accompany others in need,” said Sister Bridget Waldorf of the NAVT. “Besides the volunteer experiences during the week, there will also be time to have fun, build community, pray and reflect on how God calls each of us to intentionally respond to our baptismal call through service.”
The NAVT accompanies young adults as they discern God’s call while informing them about religious life and especially the mission and charism of SSND, an international community of almost 2,000 women religious founded in Bavaria in 1833. The SSND mission is to proclaim the Good News, directing their entire lives toward that oneness for which Jesus Christ was sent. Continuing the sacred work of their foundress, Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, School Sisters of Notre Dame transform the world through education, giving special emphasis to women, young people and those who are poor. Learn more at ssnd.org.