What GSV has meant to me: Influence, Impact, Relationships made

Mary Helldorfer-Cooney (GSV Staff 2003-2006)

When I think back of the years that I spent at GSV, as the Domestic and then as the International Coordinator, I remember the people most; dedicated, caring, full of zeal. I loved meeting prospective volunteers and being able to shepherd new volunteers into the program. Orientation was such a wonderful experience-bringing alumni and new volunteers together to explore the tenets of Community, Spirituality, Social Justice and Simplicity. As the volunteer year went on, you could really see the growth happening in each community and they began to understand more deeply what they were committed to, and how their experiences were shaping them and their work.  

Good Shepherd Volunteers represented a time of growth for me as well. As a recent volunteer myself, I was pivoting into more of a leadership role, recruiting volunteers and helping to lead them through their year or two of service. The relationships that I was able to build with the Sisters, the volunteers and alumni as well as the site managers gave me confidence, and empowered me to step out of my comfort zone. I have a lot of fond memories; driving round trip from New York City to Georgia for the School of Americas/Western Hemispheric Institute for Security and Cooperation protest (and driving the wrong way down a one-way in Times Square on the way back!), celebrating Mass in Nyack, visiting El Pino in Peru and meeting all of the uber-friendly kids with the volunteers in Peru in Paraguay, hearing stories from the women and children living at the shelter in Los Angeles, doing site visits in NY, NJ, LA, and DC, I could go on and on. Everyone that I met was welcoming, generous, and kind. I always knew that GSV was special, but it really was transformative as my first “real” place of employment.  

Many of the people that I met through GSV are still my friends today. We may live in different states, but they are the kinds of friends that I could call on years later, and pick up just where we left off. When you experience deep, real connections, as those made through a program such as GSV, they are hard to forget. I was also lucky enough to work with Sr. Maureen, who is the epitome of joy and energy. Her love for the program brought so much richness and motivation and created an organization that has impacted so many of us. I am very grateful to her for hiring me (thank you, Sr. Maureen!) and for trusting me to be a part of GSV.  

Mary Helldorfer-Cooney

GSV Domestic Coordinator | GSV International Coordinator

2003-2006