Episode 034 – Faith in Action: Service, Discernment, and Community with Greg Carpinello

In this engaging episode, Christopher Wesley reconnects with longtime friend Greg Carpinello, Executive Director of Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest (JVC Northwest). From his roots in Cincinnati to years of campus ministry at Xavier and Boston College, Greg shares the journey that led him to guide nearly 100 young adults each year in faith-driven service across the Northwest.

Greg unpacks the four core values of JVC Northwest—spirituality and reflection, simple living, intentional community, and social and ecological justice—and why they remain essential for a meaningful life of faith. Together, they explore how service deepens one’s relationship with Christ, the importance of discernment in choosing missionary work, and what it really means to accompany rather than “fix” marginalized communities.

This conversation offers both inspiration and practical insight for anyone discerning a path of service, leadership, or authentic accompaniment in the Church today.

Key Takeaways

• A Jesuit Foundation: Greg reflects on how Xavier University shaped his call to ministry and set him on a lifelong path of service.
  
  
• Four Core Values: Spirituality, justice, simplicity, and community are not just program pillars—they’re a roadmap to a Gospel-centered life.
  
  
• Faith and Justice Intertwined: You can’t separate missionary work from discipleship; real faith calls us into the suffering of the world.
  
  
• Discernment at the Core: JVC Northwest emphasizes intentional decision-making, ensuring the program is a fit for both volunteers and partner organizations.
  
  
• Support for Volunteers: Program coordinators, site mentors, and spiritual directors walk alongside volunteers through challenges of community life and demanding placements.
  
  
• 70 Years Strong: As JVC Northwest approaches its 70th anniversary, it continues to adapt by listening to the signs of the times and avoiding a savior mentality in favor of accompaniment.
  
  
• A Hopeful Future: Greg’s greatest hope is that more young people will say “yes” to the transformative call of service, even when it feels risky.
  
  

What Greg Recommends

• Go-To Resource: Regular accountability—through a spiritual director, therapist, or coach—has been invaluable in his personal and professional life.
  
  
• What He’s Reading: The novels of Fredrik Backman, particularly the Beartown series, which explore the complexities of human life with humor and depth.
  
  

Connect with Greg and JVC Northwest
🌐 becomeajv.org – Learn more about JVC Northwest, explore resources, and apply to serve.

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Recorded on Riverside - HERE

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