Relationship is the Heart of Ministry

DV Sean Puzzo

Our first blog post from our 2018-19 Dominican Volunteers comes from second year volunteer Sean Puzzo. Sean serves at the St. Francis Center, a center for low-income families in Redwood City California. 

Thank you for your service Sean!

"At the Dominican Volunteers Opening Retreat we reflected on the phrase “relationship is at the heart of ministry.” It’s a phrase that I had heard before and certainly understood the concept, but have never seen it so clearly as I have in the past few weeks at Holy Family School and the Siena Youth Center, programs of the St. Francis Center.

I write this blog post as I have just finished my lesson planning for my second full week of school! Ahhhh!

For those who may not no, the St. Francis Center is non-profit organization focused on helping low-income families especially in the North Fair Oaks neighborhood of Redwood City, CA.

This is my second year as a Dominican Volunteer - last year I served with the Dominican Youth Movement USA. DYMUSA is a support organization which offers resources and programs to schools and institutions sponsored by Dominican Sisters and Friars. Its goal is to introduce youth and young adults to the ways in which they too can be preachers of the Good News through their God-given gifts and talents - a goal I hope to continue to share with the students this year.

This year at Holy Family School I work with the Fifth Grade cohort teaching Religion and Gym. I am so excited for this opportunity. The Fifth Grade textbook has a theme of “Come, Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). I am so looking forward to walking with my students on their faith journeys. I am think I am most looking forward them teaching me more about my faith.

A highlight of my week is working with the mothers of the second and fifth grade cohorts furthering their education. Whether it is tutoring ESL, helping with homework, or simply having a conversation about our lives. It has been an honor to begin to hear their stories and learn as much from them as they from me.

Finally, I assist with the afterschool program at the Siena Youth Center which is an education and recreation center for middle school ages students in the area which aims to produce “whole, happy, and healthy” students. This year I will be able to teach classes on art and self-expression. I look forward to sharing what I learned in college with students who may not get the chance otherwise.

So why I am talking about all of this? Relationship - the relationships that I have been able to create in the past few weeks and will create over the year bring be such joy and excitement. Relationship is truly at the heart of ministry!"

Sean, fellow DV Elizabeth Broussard, and the Redwood City community

"That's what volunteers do"

Our latest blog post comes from Dominican Sister and Dominican Volunteers USA Board Member, Sister Mary Kremer.

Sister Mary Kremer OP

Sister Mary shares a conversation with the 2017-18 Chicago volunteers that exemplified St. Dominic’s mission.

Thank you for your service and Dominican example Sister Mary.

"Several months ago, I invited myself for supper to the House of Connections in Chicago because I wanted volunteers to join me in making an appeal for financial support for the Program at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest IL. At the supper table, I described the project and asked if any one of the four volunteers might be interested in talking more about it.

Zach Moeller, sitting next to me, responded in a clear voice: “We’ll all help you.”

I was startled and looked right at Zach: “Are you saying ‘yes’”?

Without hesitation he replied, “Yes, of course. That’s what volunteers do.”

The other three looked right at me, saying nothing. Their broad grins said everything: “We too are ready.”

The annals of early Dominican life do not record St. Dominic speaking these same generous words, but I suspect that this great preacher and teacher spent his life generously giving to others whatever he had.

I have a short movie in my mind of four generous DVs, son and daughters of Dominic, Zach Moeller Elizabeth Drake, Madeleine Paulsen, and Sarah Pereira, that will carry me until I meet next year’s DVs.”

Zach, Elizabeth, Madeleine and Sarah

Be of Service – and Seek Justice – Wherever You Are

Two and a half months after they were commissioned at Orientation, the 2014-2015 Dominican Volunteers are fully immersed in their year of service. With time in ministry and living in community comes occasions of challenge and occasions of blessing. Living the Dominican motto “Laudare, Benedicare, Praedicare” (To Praise, To Bless, To Preach), this year’s volunteers are praising and praying together, blessing those with whom they serve, and preaching through their words and their lives.

The 2014-15 Dominican Volunteers at their Commissioning Ceremony

In addition to preaching through their ministries, one way in which the volunteers will preach this year is through sharing stories on this blog – stories of great challenges caused by injustices accompanied by great reasons for hope. Throughout the year, current volunteers as well as Dominican Volunteer alumni will share with us the injustices they encounter in their ministries, the hope they find in the face of such injustices, and how we can “preach” with them through educating ourselves and taking action.

"Praedicare," the main Dominican Motto, means "To Preach"

You can learn more about the 2014-2015 Dominican Volunteers on the DVUSA homepage or on our Facebook page: Dominican Volunteers USA.

If you are interested in applying to be a future Dominican Volunteer or if you are an alum who would like to submit a blog post, please email info@dvusa.org.