Answering God’s call: Recent college graduates serve low-income individuals

Three Providence Volunteer Ministers are giving a year of service at St. Ann Clinic in Terre Haute. Arrianne Whittaker, from left, Kate Sullivan and Nancy Morales pose for a picture with Providence Sister Lawrence Ann Liston, clinic administrator, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. (Submitted photo)

(Editor’s note: “Spreading Hope In Neighborhoods Everywhere” (SHINE) is a social ministry renewal that will be launched on Oct. 1, 2009, by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The following story is part of a series that highlights how the ministry of charity is taking place in parishes, schools, agencies and other institutions throughout the archdiocese. Catholic Charities is leading the planning. To learn more about SHINE, and how you and your parish can become involved, log on to the Web site www.SpreadingHopeEverywhere.com.)

By Cheryl Casselman (Special to The Criterion)

TERRE HAUTE—There’s an old multistory building next to the Catholic Charities office in the Terre Haute Deanery where children used to learn and play.

What was formerly St. Ann School is now St. Ann Clinic, a place where low-income individuals and families go for health care services.

The services wouldn’t be possible without donations and volunteers.

Doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners volunteer. Pharmacy students volunteer in its pharmacy, working with donated medicine, and, thanks to Providence Volunteer Ministry, three Providence Volunteer Ministers are among the other volunteers currently giving service and learning there.

Kate Sullivan, Arrianne Whittaker and Nancy Morales live with the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and minister at St. Ann Clinic under the direction of Providence Sister Lawrence Ann Liston, administrator.

“We have 700 to 800 visits a month,” Sister Lawrence Ann said. “What these recent college graduates do here may seem like little things, but they’re big things because it helps the next person do their job. The interaction is good for them.”

Sullivan is a recent graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and minored in biomedical studies. She hopes to be a physician assistant someday. She appreciates the support that a faith-based volunteer program provides, and being able to talk to others about God and explore her faith.

“It’s really something that God is calling me to do at this time in my life,” Sullivan said, “so I think this is the perfect thing to do.”

Whittaker is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where she earned a degree in biomedical sciences.

Morales is a graduate of California State University Northridge, where she earned a degree in health education. She is also currently working toward her master’s degree in public health at the California university.

These three Providence Volunteer Ministers traveled to Indiana to serve in the archdiocese while other volunteers in the program are serving in Chicago and Taiwan this year.

“Watching these young adults live out Catholic social teaching through providing direct service to the poor and medically uninsured in this western corner of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis brings me great hope for our Church today,” said Julie Szolek-Van Valkenburgh, director of Providence Volunteer Ministry.

(For more information, log on to www.p-v-m.org or contact Julie Szolek-Van Valkenburgh at 317-695-4634 or e-mail pvm@spsmw.org.) †