2025 BVC members announced

This summer, the Benedictine Volunteer Corps (BVC), through Saint John’s Abbey, will send 11 Johnnies to monasteries worldwide with the goal of serving others.

Johnnies serving include Cole Brown (Kenya), Ethan Engh (Guatemala), Ethan Riddle (Spain), Jonathan Hill (Guatemala), Henry Braun (Italy), William Musser (Puerto Rico), Jack Scheck (Israel), Jacob Lipke (Israel), Joe Stoddart (Puerto Rico), Cameron Klick (Spain) and Andrew Jurek (Italy). These participants will spend a year helping maintain the monasteries, serving the people in their new communities and developing their own goals and identity.

At least two Johnnies, Jack Scheck and Jacob Lipke, have served with the BVC before.

“It was one of the only times in my life when time really felt like it slowed down, and the stress and clutter from day-to-day life just disappeared,” Lipke said.

Since its beginning in 2003, the BVC has sent 334 volunteers to monasteries around the world, spreading the desire to serve others and promote peace. Typically, each site has two service members who have minimal contact with SJU so that they can be fully immersed in this service project.

“It gave me confidence knowing that I went to Nairobi, Kenya, with one other Johnnie, and we were on our own. We were told to go, here is the address, get it done. We found a way to survive and thrive,” Lipke said.

The BVC encourages students to find what is important to them and develop new goals from the new experiences they have. Klick is a new service member and expressed excitement for the opportunity to gain a unique experience and a steppingstone for a future career.

“I’m joining the BVC with people I trust and a community I care about to participate in this life-changing experience,” Klick said.

Scheck reflected on prior experience with the BVC and hopes to find peace at his new worksite.

“The work was simple, and the idea was to be present,” Scheck said. “This year, you get to go do meaningful work and spend a year after college reflecting on what the first 22 years of life have been and what you want the rest of life to look like in this crazy new place, while benefiting from the rhythm of prayer and work that all Benedictines follow.”

The BVC may undergo some changes in the years to come, including allowing Bennies to attend these service immersion trips. Klick said that the program has something to offer for anyone looking to serve global communities.

“It is a great program for people who want to take a gap year and see the world and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life while participating in meaningful work,” Klick said.