For 18 years, Sister Luke Boiarski, has brought people together across cultures and communities through prayer, service and relationships. As she prepares to retire from the SCN Lay Mission Volunteer Program, Sister Luke reflects on the people, unexpected journeys, and shared experiences that shaped a ministry reaching around the world.

Seven volunteers, along with Luke Boiarski, SCN, recently traveled to Jackson, Kentucky, to help Sister Amy Westbrook, parish life director at Holy Cross Catholic.

Sylvia Jeffers, a supporter, past volunteer and recent Companion of Charity, is preparing to become an Associate. Each Wednesday, she serves with a London outreach providing food and clothing to rough sleepers in Victoria. Her call is clear in action, standing with people living on the streets.

Leah says her time in India brought daily encounters that challenged familiar routines and required constant adjustment. Through hospitality, teaching, and navigating a new culture and language, she learned to rely on presence, patience, and attentiveness in ways that reshaped how she moved through each day.

When Gayle Ramsey and Kathy Crosson arrived in India, they did not come as observers. They came ready to live daily life with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, to listen, to learn, and to share time in community. What followed was an immersion that stayed with them long after they returned home.

Leah Raidt is visiting Mokama, India, to spend time with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. She is volunteering alongside Sisters, sharing daily life, and supporting ministries at the motherhouse, Children’s Home, and Shalom Home. She also brings skills in meditation, reflection, and creative practice during her stay in Mokama.

Wendy Goodwin, SCNA, shares her woodworking skills and generous service with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. This Christmas, her handmade candles and reclaimed wood pieces are on display. She also serves on volunteer trips, helping where needed. As an Associate, she supports the Congregation’s mission through service and commitment.

Volunteers gathered at Nazareth to decorate the Motherhouse for Christmas, adding lights, greenery, and touches of color. They brought cheer to the Sisters, who thank the grounds department and all who helped. Sister Luke noted that each person’s care brightened the days of the Community as the season begins.

The Magruder Build brought volunteers to Las Flores, Belize, to construct a home for the Orellana family with support from Kathy and Larry Weatherford. Guided by Sisters and partners, the group worked through rain, shared prayer, and honored family ties. The Orellanas received a secure home filled with new promise.

In a year filled with many natural disasters, the Wayanad landslides of 2024 can be easy to overlook, yet their impact remains. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth helped families rebuild through food, shelter and practical tools such as a refrigerator, bike, and chain saw, offering steady support as recovery continues.

Students and faculty from Presentation Academy traveled to Las Flores, Belize, in October to help construct a home for a local woman and her son in honor of Sister Mary Assumpta Dwyer. Partnering with the San Miguel Arcangel Missions, the group spent a week working alongside community members to bring stability and support to a family in need.

Volunteers recently completed projects that brought safety and comfort to others: a repaired driveway preventing basement flooding, new steps for a grandmother and her grandson, and a shed built for a widower facing health challenges. Each effort began with someone noticing a need and taking action.

Join the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth for a 13-day volunteer journey in India, January 7–23, 2026. Serve in classrooms, join community celebrations, and experience India’s culture in Trichy and Bangalore. The $2,000 cost includes airfare, lodging, meals, and guided experiences. Only four spots are available. Apply by December 1, 2025.

Volunteers from St. John’s parish and school traveled to Belize City this October to construct the Manning and Marilyn McKay House for a local family in need. Guided by faith and inspired by the McKays’ legacy of service, the team joined Hand in Hand Ministries to bring safe housing and a sense of community to Ms. Eugenie, Mr. Mario, and their young son.

Recently, six remarkable women came together in Bardstown for an all-women build, a project that combined skill, laughter and a shared sense of purpose.