Yap on a map? Cathleen can find it

Carol Cody can't remember exactly when her daughter Cathleen stopped caring about acquiring material things and began searching for ways to give of herself to those less fortunate.

"There was a time when, like most teens, Cathy was always talking about how much she needed this or just had to have that," recalled Mrs. Cody, administrative assistant of Sacred Heart School in Troy. "Then, some where along the way, the wants and needs became fewer and fewer, and the desire to serve others became greater and greater.

"I suppose you could say my daughter is proof that there's hope for all teenagers, that they really can go from being preoccupied with their hair to showing that they really care about bigger issues in the world around them."

Searching for justice

Mrs. Cody said her daughter's yearning to serve others "really began to blossom" after Cathleen, now 23, began spending summers working at Camp Colby, an environmental camp near Lake Placid that offered programs for disadvantaged kids from across the state.

"The camp was something Cathy did throughout her high school and college years, and she often spoke of how unjust it seemed that some kids had so little when others had so much," Mrs. Cody said.

Eventually, her daughter began talking about joining the Peace Corps so that she could make a positive difference in a Third World country. That country turned out to be one that few people have heard of: the Federated States of Micronesia.

Far away

Admitting she had reservations about watching her youngest child depart for service in an isolated part of the world, Mrs. Cody now draws comfort in knowing that Cathleen is helping others in a variety of ways, including teaching reading and enrichment classes to impoverished students in grades 7 and 8 on the Island of Waleye, which is part of Micronesia, an island chain in the Pacific.

The main source of income on the island, according to Mrs. Colby, is selling scrap metal from planes that were shot down during World War II. Micronesia was a take-off point for many American planes during the war.

When told The Evangelist would like to interview her daughter by mail, phone, fax or e-mail, Mrs. Cody chuckled. "If that were possible, I might not worry so much," she said. "The island where Cathy is staying is only four square miles and has no electricity, no running water -- no nothing. It is completely remote. Although Cathy and I write letters to each other every week, she only gets mail once a month, so there's no such thing as a quick or immediate response."

Out of contact

Mrs. Cody takes small comfort in knowing that Cathleen is able to communicate to a limited degree with another Peace Corps volunteer living on a neighboring island.

"The two of them can see one another, yell to one another, possibly even swim back and forth to visit one another, but they are both extremely isolated," said Mrs. Cody, noting that Cathleen also manages to communicate with other Peace Corps friends on some of the other Micronesian islands using a short wave radio.

Mrs. Colby and her husband John also have two sons, both of whom are graduates of LaSalle Institute in Troy. Kevin, 28, works in international finances in Japan while 30-year-old John is a police officer in New York City.

"I worry about them, too, from time-to-time. But at least they're only a phone call away," said Mrs. Colby. "It's hard when you can no longer hear your child's voice on the phone."

Catholic connections

Cathleen, who attended Sacred Heart School in Troy from her pre-K through grade 8 years, went on to graduate from Catholic Central High in Troy before being accepted at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire where she majored in elementary education and minored in Spanish and environmental science.

From her graduation from college in January until her Peace Corps departure in the spring, Cathleen worked as a substitute teacher at Sacred Heart. She is now eager to have students at the school become pen pals with her English students in Micronesia.

Cathleen left for Micronesia in May and subsequently trained on the islands of Paulau and YAP before moving to Waleye. She will remain there for 27 months.

Coming home

Upon her return next August, Cathleen is expected to resume her studies. "I know her future plans involve teaching, so I imagine she'll want to work on her master's degree," said Mrs. Colby.

She added it may take Cathleen a while to reacclimate herself to American life.

"Right now, I'm told she wears a lavava, a skirt made from a material that is woven out of grass, and she walks on her knees when a male enters a room because that is the custom and she doesn't want to offend anyone. If it's sounds like I'm having a hard time picturing this, it's because Cathy used to be the type to balk at doing the dishes because that was considered to be a female job."

Influences

Mrs. Colby said Cathleen often spoke of the influence her pastor, Rev. James Vaughan, and the late Sacred Heart principal, Sister Anne Queen, had on her desire to serve others.

"Sister Anne Queen was so committed to her service, but she was not your typical nun," Mrs. Colby said. "She had a wonderful sense of adventure and love of life. She showed Cathy that you could have a good time while serving others. As for Father Vaughan, he just has such a goodness and quiet kindness about him. It seems everyone he meets is touched by his Christ-like example."

(Those wishing to correspond with Cathleen Cody may do so c/o the following address: PO Box 190, Colonia YAP 96943.) [[In-content Ad]]