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“The joy and the love are tangible here,” said Jen Bishop, recent Clelian Center volunteer and graduate of Boston University’s master’s program in public health program management and child health. From a mission trip to the L’ache Community to work with disabled residents to advocating for children with special health care needs at Boston Children’s Hospital, it’s no wonder that Jen Bishop found herself at Clelian Heights to volunteer her time. Miss Bishop explained, “I came here out of curiosity at first. Public health is so broad a topic and I am trying to figure out who I am called to be.”

Jen’s curiosity with Clelian Heights began during her schooling at Sacred Heart Academy in Connecticut where she met Sr. Deborah, the current Clelian Heights executive director.  As a student, she began to experience the great works that the Sisters of the Sacred Heart have accomplished. She explained, “What I loved about the Sacred Heart Academy was that they truly are apostles of the Sacred Heart, when you are served or serve with them, you feel how much they deeply care about you as a person and the work that you do.” In that same vein, she wanted to come and experience all that Clelian Heights has to offer.

Jen was interested in the Clelian Center and working with the adult clients in the workshop. She explained that, “they love to share their work with me, they love talking to me.” It is “so much fun to see what everyone loves to do” at break time, from “singing the Beetles to listing sports facts.” Everyone had something they wanted to share. Even if what they had to share was just a smile, “we all smile in the same language.” We all can share in that happy joyful feeling. “I saw how much joy the clients have in each moment,” Jen said.

Jen was able to witness the loving and welcoming community of Clelian Heights that was started in 1961 – a community built upon the idea that exceptional children deserve an education and deserve a place to grow and learn. “If you want to know what community is, the Clelian community lives it and shows it every day. They care so deeply in such a simple way, they live it so passionately.”

Clelian Heights and Jen’s experiences here helped her to “refocus on what’s important in life,” to find joy in the moment.  “When you are here, you know what compassion is, what friendship is, what love is.”