ABOUT US
Cap Corps is a year long Catholic Volunteer Program for young adults to live in intentional community while serving those in need. The program was founded in 1993 by the Capuchin Franciscan Friars to extend their ministry to the poor and share the Capuchin charism. Cap Corps pairs the gifts and interests each volunteer with service opportunities in the areas of healthcare, social services, and education. To date, over 250 young adults have served as Cap Corps Volunteers.
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Cap Corps is centered around four pillars: Community + Service + Simplicity + Prayer.
The spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and fellowship with the Capuchin Friars are
central to this experience of community and service.
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Our program is located in the cities of Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, PA.
COMMUNITY
Volunteers commit to living in intentional Christ-centered community with one another in the Franciscan spirit of mutuality and simplicity. Volunteers energize and support one another in their call to live the Gospel by sharing the joys and sorrows of their daily life experiences, as well as the necessary house chores such as shopping, cooking, and cleaning.
SERVICE
Cap Corps Volunteers work full-time, 40 hours a week, for one year at various non-profit social service agencies and organizations. They work with people in need, learning first hand the injustices of the poor.
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Areas of Ministry include:
-- Education
-- Health Care
-- Social Services
-- Homeless Outreach
-- Immigration & Refugee Resettlement
SIMPLICITY
Cap Corps Volunteers live on a small monthly stipend in urban neighborhoods to become more aware of the daily realities of those with whom they serve. Living simply helps volunteers define a lifestyle in common with the mission of the Capuchin Franciscan friars and shape their decisions on how to spend their resources. Each volunteer receives a personal stipend and commute costs; the house receives a community stipend that's used to pay for groceries and household needs.
PRAYER
Cap Corps Volunteers commit to communal Christ-centered prayer with each other five days a week, taking turns leading prayer. This commitment is a way they deepen their faith life and support one another in service. The year includes retreats, spiritual direction, and interaction with the friars who support and encourage the faith life of the volunteers.
FRANCISCAN SPIRIT
The Capuchin Franciscan Friars are an integral part of the Cap Corps Volunteer Year. Each house has a friar serving as the Local House Director who comes over once a week for Community Night with the volunteer community. The House Director serves as a support person for the volunteers both in faith formation and learning about Franciscan Spirituality as well as getting acclimated to a new city, job, and community. Additionally, the House Director helps the volunteers get to know the other friars in their city of service.
OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Kyra Koons has been serving as the leader of Cap Corps since June 2024. She oversees all aspects of the program while working remote from her home outside of Philadelphia, PA. Kyra has the joy of closely accompaning the volunteers throughout the year. This begins with the discernment and application process for Cap Corps, working with applicants to select a service placement, leading orientation and the three retreats during the year, visiting with each community, providing formation opportunities and supporting with post-Cap Corps planning. She is very present and available to the volunteers by way of phone, email, text, zoom or in-person visits when appropriate.
Kyra is a proud alumna of Cap Corps, serving and living within the DC Community in 2015-2016. She brings knowledge of the lived experience of a Cap Corps volunteer, as well as years of friendship with the Capuchin Friars, experience with youth and young adult ministries, women's ministry and seven years working in the field of mental health. Kyra is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Pennsylvania and has been formed into a leader who is sensitive to and passionate about mental health, healing and upholding the dignity of all.
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Kyra has been married to her husband Joe since April 2021 and welcomed their son Joey in 2023 (pictured here helping mom recruit at Notre Dame in Fall 2024).