THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH’S Week of Service wound to a close at a brightly painted blue-and-white home in the heart of Orange. L’Arche Wavecrest opened its doors to nine volunteers who were there not so much to pitch in but to give back – and be present for the adults with intellectual disabilities.
Damaris Molena-Morales is the program coordinator for the St. Joseph Justice Center, which organized this year’s Week of Service, Sept. 19-26.
“The weeklong event is a great experience to work alongside new volunteers and returning volunteers,” she shared. “Partnering with the different organizations is very fulfilling as we meet folks who are dedicated to meeting the many needs in our community.”
The official purpose of the visit was to help make Christmas decorations, but Damaris said it was much more than that. Being present for residents means really seeing them, listening, and connecting heart to heart as children of God. Jacob Austin, who has been an Assistant at L’Arche for five years, said, “We do everything we can to make living in the home feel like family. The residents take part in various programs, while staff provide practical support, cooking and help them to remain active in the broader
community.”
On this day, the volunteer service project centered on preparations for the upcoming St. Joseph’s Christmas festival. The decorations will be part of a lively gathering featuring a Christmas market and music that benefits hospital-bound children at CHOC Children’s Hospital. The event also hosts an Annual Festival of Lights hosted by L’Arche Wavecrest. One longtime volunteer, Ned Bradley, is a retired civil attorney whose association with the Sisters of St. Joseph goes back at least a generation. His father was an attorney for the sisters while Ned and his wife regularly attend Mass at the Sacred Heart Chapel on the Sisters of St. Joseph campus.
“I really enjoy participating every year in the Day of Service,” said Ned. “It’s always different. Last year we cleaned up the garden at the Tustin L’Arche residence, trimming trees and shrubs and generally sprucing up the yard. I like to meet the people living here; they are a lively bunch.” This year, the volunteers helped cut Christmas-themed fabric to make garland chains to decorate not only trees, but also to drape over coat racks to make the whole house festive.
L’Arche was founded in Northern France in 1964 as an alternative to the cold and institutional housing conditions for adults with intellectual disabilities. The goal is to provide a home experience in a neighborhood, with support to help residents live within the community at large. The name L’Arche is French for ‘ark,’ invoking the image of Noah’s Ark and a place of safety and community..
Since its founding, L’Arche has expanded to nearly 40 countries and, in 1972, opened the first home, Abraham House, in Orange and later a second home in Tustin.
For more volunteer opportunities, visit csjorange.org/how-we-serve