"Learning English is not easy," reflected Erin Kelso, "but [the students] keep coming back to class day after day." Erin, a Benedictine Women Service Corps volunteer, knows how difficult it can be to learn a new language. She studied abroad to learn new languages and now shares her time teaching English at two language centers in Chicago that serve immigrants.
One of the Centers where Erin serves during her volunteer year, the Indo-American Center of Chicago, recently featured her at their Annual Gala. Her picture and story as a volunteer were shared on "table tents" that were placed throughout the event. She is pictured above holding one of the displays.
She volunteers at the Indo-American Center three times a week, teaching adults and tutoring children. Additionally, she helps English-learners at the Holy Spirit Learning Center in the Rogers Park neighborhood, near where the monastery is located.
This year Erin is also a student herself. She is learning Spanish so she can connect better with her students at the Holy Spirit Learning Center.
In between her volunteer work, she still makes time each day to pray with the sisters. Benedictines call this rhythm of prayer and work, "ora et labora." We are so proud of Erin and her commitment to living the Benedictine spirit in the world!