2017-2018 Volunteer Hector Avitia
Hector Avitia will serve in Chicago at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and will live in community at the Formation House in Hyde Park. He grew up in Los Lunas, New Mexico and graduated in 2010 from the University of Notre Dame. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Over the last seven years Hector has worked in the corporate world along with volunteering in his church community. He has committed to serving as a Precious Blood Volunteer for a full year.
- Why do you want to volunteer?
“I have always felt like I was called to service, but I didn’t know how I was supposed to live out that call. In the past, I have served by spending my free time in various ministries, especially youth ministry and social justice advocacy. These were great experiences that taught me a lot about giving back to the community, but I knew that there was still more that I could do to help the marginalized of our society. After much thought and prayer, full-time volunteering was the obvious next step in this journey of service.”
- Why do you want to volunteer with Precious Blood Volunteers?
“I interviewed with a few other organizations that all had many great things that made them amazing choices, but there was something special about Precious Blood. From my interview with Director Tim Deveney at a little Mexican restaurant in the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago to the Skype session with Fr. David Kelly, I immediately felt a connection with Precious Blood. I could already picture myself working alongside these awesome people, and that is a big deal. We are about to embark on a mission with many obstacles and challenges, and having that trust and openness with your leaders will help us overcome the tough times ahead. It will also make the positive moments that much more enjoyable.”
- What are you looking forward to about your volunteer experience?
“By working and living with the community I will be serving, I hope to grow in my faith and have a better understanding of the needs of south side Chicago. This volunteer experience is part of my discernment to see how I can further help those in need. The best way to know the needs of a community is to live alongside that community. I want to walk a mile in the shoes of our forgotten brothers and sisters, and I believe Precious Blood provides just that. I am also looking forward to hearing about the other volunteers’ journeys. I know that there is a lot that I can learn from all these people if I just take the time to listen.”