Hearing the Call from God

Sinead O'Doherty

The Conventual Franciscan friars’ FrancisCorps volunteer program gives young university graduates a chance to volunteer for one year with vulnerable people in Syracuse, New York and San Jose, Costa Rica. Sinead O’Doherty participated in the FrancisCorps program several years ago.  

Many people wondered why Sinead would work for about $4 a day right after having spent $150,000 on her university education. Her answer to this question is very similar to Francis of Assisi’s. God called Sinead to serve the vulnerable. And FrancisCorps was a vehicle for this service.  

Vincent House, Syracuse, New York

Sinead admits that during her years as an undergraduate student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina she focused mostly on getting into graduate school. Yet then the young woman went on a service mission to Costa Rica where she painted schools and met local children. Playing with one particular little girl, Sinead realized that she had to commit herself to helping the poor after her graduation. This was something that “just felt right” as Sinead put it. The Poor Clares of Columbus, New Jersey whom Sinead met during FrancisCorps orientation pointed out that feeling that an action is the right thing to do is often a sign that God is guiding us to take the next step in life.

Sinead spent her FrancisCorps year as a volunteer at Vincent House in Syracuse, New York.  Vincent House is a neighborhood community center that offers recreational as well as educational programs for children. The staff at Vincent House also provides assistance to families.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: FrancisCorps.)