Mission in Action

We are a community of faith and action that responds to the Gospel call in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul. We are young adults, ages 21-30, who serve the elderly, homeless, developmentally disabled, troubled youth and those who are living in poverty. Our year-long program offers an opportunity for spiritual, emotional, professional growth, and a way of discerning and living one’s Christian vocation.

Colorado Vincentian Volunteers (CVV) began in 1994 by Bill and Mary Frances Jaster, after serving 20-plus years as youth ministers. During this time, two growing needs had been made very clear:

• Young adults were looking for concrete ways of serving those who are poor and reflecting on these experiences in terms of both faith and life choices.

• Local, nonprofit agencies that serve the marginalized were also having trouble finding and keeping qualified and affordable staff.

After consultation with Denver-area nonprofits and others, CVV was formed to respond to these needs by developing a program that offers:

• Structured, faith-centered opportunities that help young adults be open to and serve those who are poor.

• Reduced-cost staffing that helps local nonprofit agencies in their mission to those who are poor.

Each year, since 1994, CVV has recruited 12-20 young adults, from throughout the country, primarily recent college graduates, to take part in the program. They agree to spend a volunteer year in Denver, living in community, serving those who are poor in full-time service through local nonprofit agencies, and integrating their service experiences through a yearlong spiritual formation program which includes daily prayer, retreats, mentoring and regular theological reflection times. In 2010, CVV grew to include 2 communities of volunteers in service to those who are most in need.