San Pedro Retreat, Catholic Volunteers in Florida

I have left home and family, for one year, to follow God's calling to serve.  I am living in a group home for developmentally disabled adults in Jacksonville, Florida.  The name of the community is L'Arche, a world-wide movement begun by Jean Vanier in France in 1964.  Until he brought three men into his home, they had been, literally, 'disposed' of in jails and mental institutions of the worst sort.  That was the genesis of a concept that has brought peace and dignity to many.

I shall begin this blog, however, with CVIF's retreat in Orlando.  We were twelve men and women, mostly recently graduated college students, together for four days of workshops, team building, lectures on living in community, personality types, discernment, social justice, spiritual and personal growth, etc.
 
Because I am nearly a century older than all the attendees, I figured I had most of the answers.  I was astounded by the collective wisdom of these twenty year olds.  And they were so much FUN, besides!  A married couple, of just three months, will be returning to the Dominican Republic, living on a mountaintop with no running water or electricity.  They will be working with school children.  Another alumni of CVIF is going with them, but she will serve in the city.  Two of our Jacksonville friends are reporting to Jewish Family Services to work with foster children.  Others will be serving in Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne.  Some wish to go on to graduate school after this year; others are still discerning.

The grounds of San Pedro are lovely.  Our first assignment was a scavenger hunt to get to know one another.  Told to find landmarks on the property, we took pictures of ourselves at the labyrinth and on the hiking path, etc.  A statue of Mary was on the list, and my how she treats her friends!  As I stepped away from her, I took with me a hoard of red ants biting into my feet and legs.  Days later, I still have ugly, red welts all over my lower extremities.

I am just getting to know the "core members" of  L'Arche and will report on life here later.