The Parish Internship program started two years ago through the Franciscan Center for Social Concern according to Fr. Jud Weiksnar O.F.M.

Mike Williams, Interim Director of the Journey Project also works with the Parish Internship program.

The Franciscan Center for Social Concern, or the FCSC, serves as a place for students who are interested in social justice, peace and the environment to learn and get involved and educated about the causes that concern them. The seven principals of Catholic Social Teaching serve as the basis of the internship program. In the spring of 2002, Deacon Mike Gonola, of St. John’s Parish in Olean saw a need for social justice education at parishes in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.

“We formed the program because we wanted to fit together resources and needs,” said Fr. Weiksnar. He explained that the resources were the students and a grant they had to help the poor within 100 miles of St. Bonaventure.

Originally, the FCSC sent students to help at three parishes. They did education and advocacy projects around social and earth justice. “What happened was, students had fun, parishes loved the students, and we received more donations to keep the program going. Now we have eleven students and a twelfth student will be added soon,” said Fr. Weiksnar. Students work at their parishes on average once a week, with a reflection session once every other week. “The most common comment from students is that they are learning and receiving much more then they are teaching and giving,” Fr. Weiksnar added. Students are at the following parishes: Sacred Heart in Portville, St. Patrick's in Limestone, St. Mary's in Cattaraugus, and St. John's in Olean.

Students in the program also learn through reflection sessions sponsored through the Journey Project. During these sessions they talk about their internship experience and how it affects their vocation and faith.

If students are interested they should contact Mike Williams in the Journey Project offices in the Thomas Merton Center, and Fr. Jud Weiksnar in the FCSC in 128 Robinson Hall.

Click here for more information on the Parish Internship program.