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