Another beautiful sunny day in Wyoming County…Today after Mass and a wonderful lunch of leftovers, the community set off for community. We decided to go and visit the town of Matewan, which is about a 45 minute drive from the school. We had gone to Matewan about 12 years ago for community day and decided it was time for a return trip. The drive was absolutely gorgeous. A new road had been put in since the last time we visited that had spectacular views of the West Virginia mountains, as the road ran along the ridge line. Once we got to Matewan we spent quite a bit of time in the museum. Matewan is has a very interesting history as a railroad and coal town. There was an infamous shootout at the train station in 1920 between coal miners who were trying to unionize and the security guards hired by the coal company. This story was told in the John Sayles movie Matewan, which we highly recommend watching if you get a chance. While in Matewan we also walked along the flood wall which was built to keep the Tug River at bay.

After our day of sightseeing, we came back to the school for a cookout, reorientation and finally commissioning for all those came in this weekend. We look forward to another fruitful week ahead.

Enjoy a sampling of pictures from the first week…

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo


Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo


Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo



Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.