My name is Cormac O’Connor, and I am a recent graduate of Saint John’s University. With my time in Collegeville officially wrapped up, I am preparing to step into a completely new chapter. I will be spending the next year serving as a volunteer with the Saint John’s Benedictine Volunteer Corps (BVC) as part of the 2026–2027 cohort.
This upcoming year, my service takes me to Hanga, Tanzania.
The Benedictine Volunteer Corps is built on the pillars of community, prayer, and hospitality—taking the core values of the monastic tradition and living them out through international service. While I am definitely not a monk, this year is an opportunity to slow down, listen deeply, and hit the ground running to support the local community in whatever capacity is needed most.
I built this blog as a way to share honest dispatches, stories, and photographs from the field as I navigate the daily realities of life in Tanzania. Whether you are family, a friend, a fellow Johnnie, or just someone interested in the adventure, thank you for following along on this mile.
TheBenedictineBrief 