Jocelyn E. Collen, M. Div.
I am a Chaplain, Educator, Spiritual Director, and Marriage/Wedding Officiant! I am passionate about building community in our world to share hope, joy, love, and belief in ourselves and living our best lives.
I am a cisgender woman who uses she/her/hers pronouns.
Bio
Jocelyn E. Collen, M.Div.
I have been deepening my relationship with God whole life! I am Jesuit Educated, and I am a lover of nature.
I have had the privilege of traveling all over the world with my wonderful family. I started with two incredible parents, two sisters, and a brother. Now I have a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, and three adorable nieces! Traveling has taught me so much about my life and where I might fit in on this planet.
As an undergrad at Fairfield University, I had three pivotal moments:
1. A service Immersion trip to Duran, Ecuador.
2. Studying abroad in Florence, Italy
3. Attending and leading Kairos Retreats.
Each of these moments changed the way I view the world, see God, feel love, and it led me on the path to where I am now.
After college, I was a FrancisCorps volunteer for a year. I served in a Safe House for women and children in crisis, and lived in a faith-based community.
After FrancisCorps, I returned to Fairfield University where I was the Administrative Coordinator in the Centers for Catholic Studies and Social Impact (formerly known as Center for Faith & Public Life).
From there, I went to Boston College School of Theology & Ministry for a Master of Divinity. From there, I had the distinct joy of returning to Fairfield University for my third tour as a Campus Minister for International Immersion Trips and Social Justice. I had a blast!
After missing Boston, and the Boston Red Sox, I moved back to serve in grant writing for prison ministry with the Sisters of Saint Joseph Prison Ministry Initiative. From there, I worked part time at the Jesuit Parish, St. Ignatius of Loyola in Faith Formation.
On a whim, I heard about a job at the Kennedy Day School at Franciscan Children's, and I applied. I served there from 2016 to 2020 as a Religious Educator and Campus Minister until the pandemic and the position was cut. As a Religious Educator and Campus Minister for severe special needs students, I had the privilege of teaching about God's love without words, but with actions and tactile symbols, engaging as many senses as possible. Some of the students do not have access to all five of their senses, so I engaged their abilities so they might be able to feel God's love.
Today, I am the Associate Director of Life Together, and I am grateful to accompany our fellows as they live out our contemplative, communal, and prophetic core practices.
Since 2009, I have been serving as a volunteer chaplain at Suffolk County House of Correction. I even had the pleasure of bringing Fairfield University students to prison to lead retreats more than a few times. Most recently, I have been grateful to visit those in solitary confinement, speaking to our sisters and brothers, one at a time alone in their cell, on my knees through their meal slots.
In 2016, I completed my post-masters certificate in Spiritual Guidance and Spiritual Formation from the BC STM. This ministry is at the core of what I do. I am so grateful for all that I learned, the communities I have formed, and the ways that I have been able to accompany people in all phases of life, with all kinds of abilities.
I believe in miracles! Despite the restrictions of socializing in a pandemic, I was introduced to someone special! I am enjoying the delights that come with being in love and having someone else with me in my Covid bubble. Love actually is all around!
