By Abbey DiSano

Good Morning! I wanted to take this opportunity to share a little bit of what I was privileged to experience over spring break.  I spent the week at Nazareth farm, a Catholic community that transforms lives though service-retreat experiences in rural West Virginia.  The farm focuses on four “cornerstones” that guide the community: prayer, service, community, and simplicity.  Along with other members of the Butler Catholic Community, we were joined by 40 other students from different universities at the farm where we performed service through home repair to the local people of Appalachia. While we were invited into the homes of the homeowners, we were able to build personal relationships with these people and better understand the culture and diversity of the Appalachian community. 
 

The relationships between all the volunteers deepened as we prayed and worshiped together each day, looking for the divine in the work were taking part in.  Living together in community on this retreat was often lighthearted and a lot of fun, but also lead to deep connections and life-long friendships. This love helped bring new meaning into our own lives and also gave us the desire to better know the people in Appalachia.

A core belief at Nazareth farm is that our faith calls us to action through social justice.  One aspect of Catholic social teaching that I was able to develop a deeper understanding of is dignity of work.  God calls each and every one of us to a different vocation.  While the physical labor of home repair may not be my own personal calling in life, I found the dignity in this work and an appreciation for the people who do perform this work in their daily lives.  I was also reminded that Jesus himself, was a carpenter. 

In light of dignity of work, I want to leave you with this scripture that reminds us that every person is blessed with a vocation that possesses value in its own special way.

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever.”

1 Peter 4: 8-11

Have a blessed day, and I ask that you keep the people of Appalachia in your prayers today!