As members of the Mary Immaculate church in Bellport together for 20 years, faith and belonging has always been essential to living a life and marriage filled with Christs blessings. Dennis a SCPD Captain, and myself a Registered Nurse in the emergency room is the perfect balance for serving in the community and the church. I started in SVDP first and remember my husband wondering why I was so involved? until I began helping him understand The Vincentian Way. For other couples considering the ministry, it is important to remember that each Vincentian discerns and says yes to the calling at different times. Dennis helped when he could and made a promise to be an official member after he retired.
When I was president of the conference, Dennis saw and heard about home visits, the importance of meetings, and the workings of the food pantry. He did not waste anytime attending Ozanam training. Couples going to Ozanam training together would be a wonderful beginning to celebrating the SVDP ministry together. Dennis is now president of the Mary Immaculate conference, runs the meetings and is 100% involved with our food pantry. The journey from asking why do you do it? to now I understand, has allowed us to serve together, and has enriched our experiences and relationship. As we know, serving others can be at times frustrating and seemingly impossible to fix the needs of others, but having a partner who understands, can help with love and prayer to make the best of a situation. Blessings have been bestowed upon our marriage each day while caring for our neighbors in need.
Charitable giving begins with our church and secret collections with our conference meetings. “Yours must be a work of love, of kindness, you must give your time, your talents, Yourselves!” …Blessed Frederic Ozanam
