FRANCISCANS IN ACTION
May 25-29, 2009 - Hawaii
July 18-25, 2009 - Kentucky
Women between the ages of 18 and 45 are invited to participate in Franciscans in Action with the people of Appalachia in Martin, KY.  Sponsored by the Franciscan sisters in Philadelphia, Millvale, and Whitehall, PA; Hastings-on-Hudson, Syracuse and Williamsville, NY, this week-long summer experience gives women an opportunity to live and work together, while deepening their spirituality.  The fee to attend is $145, with limited scholarship funding available on a first-come-first serve basis. 

For more information or to register for Franciscans in Action, please contact Sister Kathy Adamski at guidance@nauticom.net or call (412) 215-7708.

Franciscans in Action, July 2007:
On July 15th Sisters Jeanne Karp and Peggy Wetzel along with two volunteers, Margaret Wills and Rachel Puma drove to David, Kentucky for our annual Franciscans In Action experience. Sister Kathy Adamski and seven other women from Pittsburgh were also part of our group. Franciscans in Action is sponsored by the Neumann Bachman Heritage communities from New York and Pennsylvania and is held the last full week of July. Women age 18 to 35 are invited to join us as we minister to and with the people in Appalachia. wonderful spirit of prayer, community and service was evident in each of the participants as they shared with us their reason for being part of this experience during the opening prayer and commissioning service on Sunday evening.

Our work site was in Martin, Kentucky for the Carroll family who were living in a trailer home. The father held two jobs to support his wife and three teenage daughters. Four young girls belonging to relatives of this family recently became homeless. The Carroll family accepted responsibility for their care thus resulting in overcrowded conditions in their small trailer home.

In an effort to assist them a group of volunteers added an addition that consisted of two bedrooms, a full bathroom and a new living room. Our job was to finish the work that wasn’t completed by previous groups.

Under the able leadership of Sister Jeanne Karp and our overseer, Elmer, we tackled the situation. Our tasks consisted of laying rugs, finishing the baseboard and trim for the doorways, completing the needed plumbing, cutting through the walls of the trailer to open it up to the new addition, hanging the doors and siding the new structure. Our last job was to build a deck out the back door. It needed stairs, railings and a roof.

During our reflection period one evening, the woman mentioned that there was little food in the house and the children and animals were hungry. Next day we brought food from the St. Vincent mission pantry and the women purchased food for the cats and dogs. To say the least there was a great feast for all on Thursday.

As participants come to Appalachia the impressions they carry away with them depends upon a combination of personal experiences. At first one may be overwhelmed by the beauty of soft green mountains and rushing water. But as we traveled through the back roads, we become aware of the poverty of the area as we viewed the unpainted shanties and dilapidated mobile homes dotting the countryside. But when we took the time to work with this family and get to know the children, we discovered the love and concern that is present in this area. And it is this love and simplicity of the Appalachian area that keeps calling us back each year.