I wanted to experience the sacramental graces as a
full-fledged Roman Catholic. Nonetheless, I had to
wait until September until rcia classes began.
Although I could not partake in Holy Communion,
I grew closer to God in adoration every week. One
hot summer evening, still unsuccessful at finding
a good job, I prostrated myself on the floor of my
favorite adoration chapel and begged God to open
a door for me. I prayed over and over, “Spirit lead
me where my trust is without borders / Let me walk
upon the water / Wherever you would call me.”
I did not expect God to take my request so liter-
ally. The next morning I received an email from Tim
Deveney, the Director of Precious Blood Volunteers,
inviting me to apply to be a volunteer in Kansas City,
Missouri. I finally had an opportunity to grow “where
my trust is without borders.” After a quick Google
search to make sure Kansas City wasn’t totally lame, I
called back with a surge of joy. I applied, interviewed,
and was accepted into the volunteer program the
next month.
In September, I packed two suitcases and flew
to Kansas City to start my year of service with the
Precious Blood Volunteers. More than a few times
the thought crossed my mind, “What on earth am I
doing, picking up and moving to the middle of the
country where I don’t know a soul?” Despite mo-
mentary flashes of doubt, my overall feeling was a
deep sense of peace. Once I met Tim and my fellow
volunteers, I knew I was right where I belonged.
Community living with three great volunteers
and two amazing priests in an eight-bedroom Tudor
home is absolutely as fantastic as it sounds. But
even more perfect is my volunte er position at Legal
Aid of Western Missouri (lawmo). Having invested
three years of blood, sweat, and tears in law school,
this gave me the perfect opportunity to use the skills
I have and gain indispensable knowledge for my
future practice.
I consider myself so privileged to be the first
Precious Blood Volunteer placed at lawmo. My job
now is to assist the Domestic Team in obtaining full
orders of protection, child custody, and dissolu-
tion of marriage for domestic violence victims who
cannot afford a private attorney. This position has
given me a new sense of purpose in helping those
who have been victimized by society transform into
powerful survivors. Talk about redemption!
Sometimes being a volunteer isn’t easy. We do not
have a lot of spending money, but that has turned
into a blessing itself. Instead of buying things to be
happy, we share our time, talent, and stories—and
that is more than enough. Especially interacting with
the clients I serve, I have never been more apprecia-
tive of a home cooked meal, a roof over my head, and
knowing I live in a safe place. I also just celebrated
my ninth month of sobriety.
I am thrilled to be welcomed into full commu-
nion with the Catholic Church on Epiphany Sunday,
January 7, 2018. This day is especially meaningful to
me, not only as the day before my birthday, but also
as the day after the birthday of Saint Gaspar! There is
no better present than being welcomed home into the
church that awakened my soul.
Over the last year, the Lord has performed noth-
ing less than a miracle in my life. Through His
mercy, I went from hopeless to hopeful, purpose-
less to purpose-driven, from bondage to freedom. I
will continue to keep an open mind and heart as the
next chapter of God’s plan unfolds. Through Him all
things are possible.
Editor, continued from page 5
and the cross, where Jesus will become bread that is
broken: it is the direct thread of love which is given
and which saves us, which brings light to our lives,
and peace to our hearts. The shepherds grasped this
in that night. They were among the marginalized of
those times. But no one is marginalized in the sight of
God and it was precisely they who were invited to the
Nativity. Those who felt sure of themselves, self-suffi-
cient, were at home with their possessions; the shep-
herds instead ‘went with haste.’ Let us allow ourselves
also to be challenged and called tonight by Jesus. Let
us go to him with trust, from that area in us we feel
to be marginalized, from our own limitations. Let us
touch the tenderness which saves.”
As Advent was prefaced by the challenge of Jesus to
“see” the unseen, so our Christmas season ends with
the hope of a new birth and then the “showing” of
Jesus to all with the feasts of Epiphany and Baptism of
the Lord. With that we have no excuse to “not see.” No
one should be invisible.
January 2018 • The New Wine Press • 11