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Since graduating from high school, Genevieve Henel has been studying engineering and living the life of a typical college student. But this year, she's a case manager at Bethesda House in Schenectady, helping homeless people find housing.

Miss Henel is one of three women participating in a volunteer program offered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The trio are living in community while working at various non-profit agencies.

They are the first in the Albany Diocese to participate in the St. Joseph Worker program, a one-year volunteer experience for women who are passionate about social change.

St. Joseph Workers (SJWs) commit to a year of service during which they delve into the core values of justice, leadership, spirituality and living simply in an intentional community, according to Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CSJ, director of the program for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The program, she said, started eight years ago with the religious order's Minnesota province. It is part of the Catholic Volunteer Network. The program's four tenets are community, spirit, leadership and service.

Women who participate are provided room and board, health insurance and a stipend.

Giving back
"This program gives young women the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and solidify their spirituality," Sister Betsy said. "This experience will help them shape their life."

For Miss Henel, the decision to participate in the program was supported by her parents, but caused concern and shock from peers and her brothers.

"In college, people can be selfish," she said. "This is especially true in engineering, where students want to get a job and make a lot of money."

Miss Henel said she saw herself preparing for a life that was about making money, having 2.5 children and acquiring material items. But "I had to change something," she said.

Upon learning of her plans to join the St. Joseph Workers, "my one brother took me aside and said that this didn't make sense," she said. "My other brothers were afraid I was entering the convent."

While she plans to complete her engineering studies, Miss Henel said she is enjoying working at Bethesda House. In her placement, she does everything from filling out paperwork to securing housing to serving meals.

Jesus in line
"Jesus said, 'Whatever you do for the least of my people, you do for me.' I get to see Christ in others," she noted. "It's incredible. I see Jesus at the soup kitchen. These people have nothing; but the little they have, they are willing to give."

She added: "I love the program. It's a chance for women to stand up and live a Christian lifestyle. Being a Christian is not just about going to church on the weekends."

Amanda Roark, another local SJW, is a 25-year-old from Kansas. This year, she is working at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, assisting with marketing and grant writing.

Prior to becoming a St. Joseph Worker, she was employed by an international company that owns gas stations and grocery stores. The recent convert to Catholicism said being in the program has been a positive experience.

"I love it," she said. "I don't think I want to go back."

Lutheran volunteer
Liz Gravelle, 21, graduated in May from The College of Saint Rose in Albany with a degree in elementary education. The Poughkeepsie native is spending her SJW year as a teaching assistant at St. Helen's School in Niskayuna.

This year of service is giving Miss Gravelle the opportunity to get teaching experience while fulfilling her desire to volunteer.

"I originally wanted to go to Africa," she explained. "My family is happy that I didn't go far away."

Miss Gravelle attends Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Niskayuna. Being a Lutheran living in a Catholic community has been a positive experience, she said: "We both believe that Jesus is our savior."

Sister Betsy said that it is the Sisters of St. Joseph's hope that the program expands.

"This year, we have three participants. Next year, we plan to have five," she said. "We're planning on continuing to grow."

(For more information about becoming a St. Joseph Worker, contact Sister Betsy at 346-6137.)

(10/14/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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