alumni feature, jvc magazine

Scranton Native Brings JVC’s Values Back to His Hometown

By JVC Staff

(Washington, DC 1979-80)

After helping Mother Teresa open an AIDS clinic nearly three decades ago, Pennsylvania lawyer Pat Brier starts an Esperanza immigration clinic in Scranton

PATRICK BRIER CONTINUES TO LIVE OUT THE MISSION AND VALUES OF THE JESUIT VOLUNTEER CORPS as a leader committed to justice within his native Scranton. As a volunteer with the newly-formed Jesuit Volunteer Corps East, Brier served alongside Jesuit priest Horace McKenna accompanying persons experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C.

“We worked out of the basement of the Saint Aloysius Church on North Capitol Street at an organization called The Line. Every day, a large group of people who were homeless would line up outside of our doors, and we would give them whatever we had.”

Brier poses in front of Saint Aloysius with Father McKenna
and colleagues. — Brier poses in front of Saint Aloysius with Father McKenna and colleagues.

JVC continues to place volunteers at the Father McKenna Center, a social service agency serving men struggling with homelessness and very low-income families in Ward 6 of Washington D.C.

Mother Teresa’s thank you letter to Former Jesuit Volunteer Patrick Brier.

After attending law school at Catholic University, Brier returned to Northeastern Pennsylvania to work for justice in his home community, representing clients that included Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity.

“The Missionaries of Charity were working diligently to get a Pediatric AIDS home opened in Philadelphia, despite a number of delays and pushback. We were able to complete the project successfully and get the AIDS home opened.”

In 2017, Brier, now a healthcare lawyer, started an Esperanza immigration clinic in Scranton to support DACA recipients and others who require assistance navigating the immigration process.

“There is such a large need here, especially among this group that has been terrified by recent events. We are now hoping to expand the clinic and add additional services for this vastly underserved population.”

Brier and his wife Kate have raised five children in Scranton, two of whom have gone on to become Jesuit Volunteers themselves. He thanks JVC for inspiring him to build care for the poor and marginalized into his personal and professional life.

“JVC was a cathartic experience because it was the first time where my eyes were really opened to all the opportunities for remaining involved in social ministry.”

alumni feature, vocational journey, ministry

"My journey to reconnecting in a personal, deep way with my Catholic faith starts with my introduction to the life and death of Óscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador from 1977-1980. This introduction was the catalyst for a (long) journey -- one influenced heavily by my year as a Jesuit Volunteer -- to my current graduate studies in theology and ministry at Boston College."

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTHONY'S SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO ÓSCAR ROMERO
alumni feature, jvc magazine, public policy

“As a JV, I saw the law can be impactful on individuals, on families, and folks who don’t have a voice. There’s power in the law and in our justice system when we have people who fight to make sure that folks have their rights protected.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT DANNY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE
alumni feature, jesuit sj, jvc magazine, vocational journey

“I don’t think I could be a Jesuit if it weren’t for my JVC experience. Through JVC I began to hear more deeply the call to live a life of simplicity, justice, community, and faith, which allowed me to finally say ‘yes’ to my call.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL BECOMING A JESUIT SCHOLASTIC
alumni feature, immigration and refugee services

"JVC’s values continue to provide an integral guide for me to navigate the tumultuous waters of immigration detention and asylum law."

LEARN MORE ABOUT SHANNON'S WORK IN IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY
alumni feature, immigration and refugee services

I learned from JVC that spirituality and social justice go hand in hand: I see my work not simply as a job, but rather as my faith in action.

LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHANIE'S WORK WITH UNACCOMPANIED MINORS

Scranton Native Brings JVC’s Values Back to His Hometown

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