Vocare: to call or to draw forth

This week in our blog, we share how our sponsored high school, Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) instills the Salvatorian Mission. Read excerpts from a reflection written by DSHA senior Jordyn G., after Day 1 of her two-week VOCARE service experience:

It is 2 a.m. I woke up to get some water and couldn’t go back to sleep because so many thoughts were running through my mind about my experience on Vocare today. I should start off saying that to be honest, I wasn’t necessarily excited to begin Vocare, but I also wasn’t dreading it. I was somewhere in between.

Today I worked at the front desk at Central City Churches Outreach. I was in charge of a lot of paperwork to check people in to receive their groceries at the pantry. I called a number and a man walked up. I proceeded to take all the information from him that I needed. He told me he was new and someone had told him he could get food there once a month. I asked him if there was anyone else living with him and he kept saying no, he was alone. I had to ask him his monthly income and he told me, “Circle whatever the lowest possible number is because I don’t even make as much as what is on that sheet.” He told me that he worked part time as a bus driver and he wasn’t getting very many hours. He took off his glasses and started rubbing his face and the look he gave me didn’t really register with me until this morning. He gave me a look that told me he was embarassed, ashamed even, to come into a food pantry and receive food.

Unfortunately I didn’t even realize that he was asking me to take a second to talk to him. I was caught up with thoughts about an argument with my mom that I had had. None of what he said registered with me until right now. I wish I could go back and talk to him, really listen and let his words sink in. The beautiful thing about Vocare, though, is that I have another week and four days to do that for someone else.

I’ve always thought I was more sensitized to suffering since I have always felt that I had so much of it in my life. I never really realized that it could be so much worse. I have a house with a family that cares about me, food, and a school that has given me much more than I can offer back. I guess it wasn’t until right now that I truly realized how rich my family is and how blessed we truly are. . . I didn’t think that Vocare would change me; I was naive enough to think that I didn’t need any changing. Not that I thought I wouldn’t get anything out of the Vocare experience, because I knew I would. I just didn’t think it would have a profound impact on my life. It has already though, and that is after only one person shared their story with me. I wish I could have given him the attention he needed; I regret that. However, I would like to thank you.

Thank you for giving me my first choice service site. Thank you for making Vocare possible for all of us seniors. We as a class, appreciate how much time and effort you put into making this happen every year. For assigning us to life-changing service that alters our perception of the world. . . I just want to say that even after this first day, I don’t think I will ever see the world the same again.

Guest post by DSHA senior Jordyn G.

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