Tau House in Cincinnati is Franciscan Ministries’ volunteer experience program for youth and young adults. Originally the inspiration of Sr. Marie Clement Edrich, SFP, we are now in our 29th official year of empowering our participants to experience service, simplicity, and spirituality while living in community. Groups have joined us from the other side of the country as well as the other side of the city. Typically arriving on a Sunday night, our guests are greeted with a warm welcome and a hot meal. During the week, participants work with a variety of agencies with which we partner – they help at summer camps and food pantries, with home rehab and gardening – wherever the need is greatest. They learn about the challenges and experience of homelessness, the value of having a voice and using it, the importance of volunteering and philanthropy, and the simple truth that many hands make light work. By the end of their stay on Friday, they have worked hard, played hard, and loved hard. They are happily exhausted and ready to do it all again, and again, and again.
But don’t take our word for it:
- After I returned from my week at Tau House, I found myself wanting to share as often as possible with family and friends all of the positive aspects of my experience that week. The week was one of the highlights of my summer and very meaningful for all of us. I came home with a new desire and commitment to do even more in my community by volunteering to help others in need. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to participate in this fantastic program.
- I was only expecting doing some volunteer work, but God had something else planned – this trip helped me grow in my faith, helped me to see more than just helping a little bit and forgetting about it. Being in the Tau House taught me how to live with others in harmony, serve others with a smile on my face all the time and learn from others. It taught me how important is to treat everybody equally and with love because you never know what they have been though or what they are going through. I will never forget my experience at the Tau House and all of the love, happiness and humility I saw and learned there. R.
- I am very blessed to have experienced the Tau House this summer. I was moved, grateful and changed from my experience. It was so rewarding to be able to help others in need. Our time spent giving was of our talents, energy, and ability to help in any way possible. The girls felt so good about the trip and talked about their experience during all the way home. They mentioned continuing their service for others, appreciating what they have and how they made a difference. They are proud and all our thanks to the Tau House and their wonderful staff. ~ M.J.
- I just want to say that mission trip this past two years has really helped me to strengthen my faith, and to open my eyes more to the world around me. L.
- I met so many different people and listened to their various stories which inspired me. In going to the different places and seeing the different things people do every day I learned the different ways we can help those in need. The people that I helped also helped me in the process. I was able to see things in a different light and make an impact on someone’s life. M.
- I spent one week there over spring break and I will just say it was the most influential spring break I ever had. We helped many people and hearing their stories really brought their experiences to reality. I really understood how powerful our decision to help one another are. I realized how such a small act of kindness can mean the world to someone. Learning about poverty and the community issues in Cincinnati also really woke me up and made me also realize that we as people have a voice. T.
