Sisters of Charity Volunteers

There may be volunteer opportunities in your area. Most Sisters work in ministry with others, whether that be other religious, people of other faiths, individuals or organizations. Sisters, too, sometimes need assistance themselves. For instance, volunteers play a key role in the comfort and care of Sisters in retirement centres in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact communications@schalifax.ca with details about your particular areas of interest.


Volunteer Profile: Sally Hunt
from the 2004-05 Annual Report

Sally Hunt has "been nomadic, travelling and working through North America and Europe" since she completed an environmental science degree three years ago. A native of Australia, Sally found her way to Vancouver Island this past summer, and her journey took on a somewhat unexpected element.

Sally has been volunteering with Sisters Gertie Jocksch and Maureen Wild, at Glenairley - Centre for Earth and Spirit, which provides programming and retreats in areas such as earth literacy, sustainability and spirituality, and cosmology. Sally assists with the organic produce garden, a wetlands restoration project and a native plant garden. She also helps oversee other volunteers and youth workers.

"Gertie and Maureen in their own ways are very beautiful, intelligent and strong spirits," Sally says. "Being able to work with them has taught me a lot about gratitude and joy, and I've grown a lot in my understanding of myself and other people."

Sister Gertie works as the Centre's office administrator and with Sally in the garden. "I really feel hopeful when I see young people like Sally who are committed to service," she says, adding that Sally has an openness to learning. "I love that in Sally, she questions."

Through these questions can come new insights for both parties. "It's really important for us to listen to the young people today, to hear their concerns and how they see things," Sister Gertie says.

For Sally, her journey of learning continues to focus on environmental and sustainability issues. Her future plans include possible postgraduate study in ecopsychology.

But she won't forget her first experience of women religious. "To be honest, I had never met a Catholic nun until now and I'm happy to say that after meeting these women and the other Sisters who come through here, nuns get a pretty high rating on the cool scale! I have a very deep respect for the life choices they make."