Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the living situation like for volunteers?
2. What is the transportation arrangement for the volunteers?
3. Do the volunteers have retreats?
4. What is the Spirituality (or "group prayer") like?
5. What is the vacation policy?
6. Is the 2 year commitment mandatory?
7. Is being an alumni/ae of a Jesuit school negotiable?
8. What are the financial arrangements? Will there be insurance?
9. How are the volunteers' jobs assigned?

1. What is the living situation like for volunteers?

Volunteers live in four flats 3-story apartment building directly across the street from the school in the Pilsen community of Chicago:
• There are four separate apartments that function as one large community apartment.
• Each Volunteer has his or her own room.
• The Volunteers share a large living room, kitchen/dining area and washer/dryer.
• Volunteers share all community responsibilities which includes cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning and planning spirituality nights and fun nights.
• Each week, there are 3-4 community dinners and one community night which rotates between mass, spirtuality, and fun night.
• The volunteer community is designed to foster a commitment to living simply and examining the sustainability of resources in our lives.

2. What is the transportation arrangement for the volunteers?

• The volunteer community has their own vehicle for personal use as well as access to other school-owned vehicles when needed.
• Volunteers are asked to arrange and finance all travel plans outside of Chicago.
• Downtown Chicago is easily accessible via public transportation
• Gas and insurance while driving school vehicles is provided.

3. Do the volunteers have retreats?

There are four scheduled retreats during the school year:
• An overnight Orientation Retreat at the beginning of each school year
• A second day-long reflective retreat during Advent
• A third overnight retreat during mid-winter
• A final day-long reflective retreat at the end of the school year
The Program Coordinator, Chaplain and the Volunteers collaborate to create the format, content and location of each retreat

4. What is the Spirituality (or "group prayer") like?

The community’s spiritual/personal development is a main component of the JAV experience. Each year the content and logistics of the spiritual component vary based on the needs and desires of the Volunteers. Here are some examples of what JAV communities have done in the past:
• Community spirituality nights, including reflections, group prayer and faith activities once every three weeks
• Mass at the JAV house with either Father Gartland or another Jesuit Priest once every three weeks
• Optional one-on-one spiritual meetings with a selected spiritual director.
JAV’s are also involved with the students’ spiritual formation at Cristo Rey through masses, retreats and classroom prayers.  JAVs are encouraged to explore/reflect upon their own spirituality/personal development in light of their experience of service, simple living, and community.

5. What is the vacation policy?

During the school year, Volunteers abide by the school’s vacation schedule which includes:
• 2 weeks vacation around Christmas
• 1 week vacation around Easter-time.
During the summer between the two years of service, Volunteers spend 3-weeks serving the school and then they have the remaining month to spend as they wish. During all vacation time, volunteers continue to receive their monthly stipend and are welcome to stay at the residence if they wish.

6. Is the 2 year commitment mandatory?

All Volunteers are asked to commit to a two year experience. This unique and challenging program is designed around a two year experience which serves the school and the volunteer’s formation more fully than a one year experience would.

Most volunteers reflect that the first year is spent learning the ropes and the second year makes their experience complete through forming stronger relationships with the school and its students and using the skills and resources they gained during their first year to make a lasting impact at the school.

7. Is being an alumni/ae of a Jesuit school negotiable?

Yes.  The JAV program recruits men and women who are aware of and wholly supportive of the Mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.  As Ignatian Spirituality is an integral part of that mission, we seek individuals who are open to experiencing and exploring the aspects of that perspective in their intentional community and in the larger school community. We look for applicants who have been touched deeply by their experiences in service, community, and spiritualty/personal development and wish to share those gifts with others.

8. What are the financial arrangements? Will there be insurance?

Volunteers each receive $300 a month for food and personal expenses. This stipend has been sufficient for volunteers to make a commitment to lived simplicity, while still providing for their personal needs. The school provides housing, utilities, dental and health insurance, car insurance for school vehicles and school lunches.

All volunteers are fully covered under the school’s health insurance plan. They receive the same coverage as other faculty and staff members, which includes a complete PPO plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. Volunteers also qualify to recieve the Segal AmeriCorps Educational Award of $4,725 per year of service.

9. How are the volunteers' jobs assigned?

Cristo Rey strives to find a balance between the needs of the school and the particular gifts of each volunteer. There are many needs at Cristo Rey and it doesn’t take long for a volunteer to find his or her niche within the school.

Most volunteers in the past have found that they serve the school in the classroom teaching subjects that span the curriculum. They have found their place on the field or on court coaching a wide range of athletic teams. Volunteers have led retreat programs and been heavily involved with campus ministry activities.

They have also worked in various offices around school, volunteered their time at fund-raising events, counseled, tutored and led many extra-curricular activities including student government, student plays, spring break service trips, self-esteem activities, etc.

Driving students to their corporate internship jobs is an essential need of the school and all volunteers are asked to drive once daily. All volunteer responsibilities are assigned or approved by the Program Coordinator who works in conjunction with members of the Leadership Team to fill the school’s needs with the volunteers best interests and gifts in mind.