How service can teach you about Jesuit values
St. Joe’s takes pride in the Jesuit value of service rooted in justice and love. From the Weekly Service program to Catholic Relief Services, St. Joe’s gives students numerous opportunities to serve our brothers and sisters in the Philadelphia community and beyond. The Appalachian Experience (APEX) is an opportunity for students to step back and leave their Hawk Hill home to serve others and immerse themselves in the Appalachian region of the U.S.
The Appalachian region is a portion of the U.S. that runs from southern New York to the tip of the Mississippi state. It is a community filled with all kinds of people: men and women, Black and white, rich and poor. No one Appalachian community is the same, but they all reflect the Jesuit value that all of us strive to live, serving people with hearts of love and souls for justice.
Two years ago, vans that carried our fellow Hawks had to put a stop on their immersion and return as covid-19 started to enter the U.S. Then last year, due to a spike of covid cases, an alternative program, CONNECT that served those in the Philadelphia community was canceled as well. But after two years of caution and social distancing due to the ongoing pandemic, St. Joe’s made a big comeback.
Approximately two-hundred of our fellow Hawks, myself included, made the choice to use our spring break and travel within the Appalachian region to learn more about what it means to love and serve one another.
As an APEX participant, I, as well as 14 other fellow Hawks, had the opportunity to learn our lesson of love with the people of Wilkesboro, North Carolina. A new experience for most of us and a new territory for us all. As a result, a mountain of feelings circled in our heads. For me, my first thought was a question of how can a community that is so different from us, teach us solidarity, justice and love?
From day one, I realized that this question does not need to be answered. Our Wilkesboro community was different from us, but they taught us about love the second we entered our service site.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that strives to build and create houses for the surrounding area they serve. The Wilkesboro ReStore is a part of the Habitat for Humanity program, selling furniture and appliances at an affordable price that makes the homes of Wilkesboro comfortable and special. As my group took part in moving furniture, organizing inventory and sorting out donations, we had the chance to see love and warmth through the small interactions we had from those who came to and from the Wilkesboro community.
As soon as we entered the ReStore, the store manager instantly welcomed us with enthusiasm and kindness. Her name was Miss Loretta, and she and her partner, Miss Maggie, created an atmosphere where the ReStore felt like home to us and made sure we were supported and safe for our entire trip. This included the meals that were given to us made by the community, and small treasures that we will all cherish for the rest of our lives.
One small but very memorable moment I had was with the ReStore’s electrician. As I was organizing the donations given that day, I was working at an incredibly fast pace, a habit that I developed due to fast-paced days at home. As I kept working, the handyman, Mr. Ed, questioned why I was working so quickly. As I heard this question, I asked myself the same thing and slowed down so that I could enjoy and truly immerse myself in my work.
While speed is important, rapid movement shouldn’t be a part of every second of every day. This small interaction that I had with Mr. Ed came out of a place of concern and care for another person.
These interactions, times and moments that we took part in with the Wilkesboro community showed all of us that the root of love comes from a place of recognizing every human beings’ worth, fostering a caring and nurturing environment, and giving love to us that we will hold in our hearts.