My faith journey started early on, when I was growing up in a home I now live in with my family on the South Side of Chicago. My parents guided us with their faith, and my grandmother, who was from Northern Ireland, shared her grit and commitment to serving the community.
But it was when I performed as a disciple in a play at my Catholic grammar school that I discovered my true passion in life.
There’s a phrase that the Jesus character said, written by our director, Father Burke, that stuck in my head, and it’s still there today: “How can I show you how beautiful you are? How can I make you understand?”
That phrase colored the rest of my journey. I realized what drives me most is just helping or walking with people and trying to show them how much they’re loved. That led me to the University of Notre Dame to study theology then go on to earn a master’s of divinity to pursue parish ministry.
After 17 years in parish ministry at Old St. Pat’s Church, I felt the Holy Spirit tugging at me, saying, “You need to grow in ways you can’t yet imagine.”
In 2023, I discovered a wonderful opportunity to join Catholic Charities. I remember my dad saying, “You know, there are a couple of things you can always be proud of as a Catholic, and one of them is Catholic Charities.”
In my role at Catholic Charities, it is incredibly powerful to have day-in and day-out interactions with our clients. I discovered how we’re being called to listen on so many different fronts and to be present, but also to train our volunteers so they are not just doing a task but doing it with the right spirit and the right energy.
Across Catholic Charities, service begins by meeting immediate needs and grows into something more lasting: dignity, stability and human connection. Diapers can ease the strain on a parent choosing between essentials. A stocked pantry helps a family prepare meals for the week, while a freshly made sandwich or a warm meal offers nourishment and reminds someone that they are seen, welcomed and supported.
Volunteering makes this work possible by turning compassion into action.
We offer opportunities serving meals, working in food pantries and distributing items to meet basic needs at our community centers in downtown Chicago, Summit, Waukegan and Round Lake. Our basic needs rooms offer hygiene and household products for free that nutrition assistance programs don’t cover.
The connection extends from meeting basic needs to sharing community around the table.
Each Wednesday, warm meals are provided at our four locations, including two community centers and St. Francis of Rome Parish in Cicero and Lord of Mercy Parish in Harvey. Those serving help set tables, pour beverages, deliver meals, clear dishes and, most importantly, spend time with guests. A simple conversation, a warm welcome or a few minutes of listening can turn a meal into a moment of belonging.
In Lake County, we offer senior congregate meals monthly, but we also deliver hot meals to homebound seniors on weekdays, and we’re always in need of drivers.
This is a really powerful service opportunity because it connects one-on-one with people. You’re not only bringing a meal to that senior’s home, but you’re also checking in on their well-being and asking about their family. That is a beautiful testament to someone’s desire to support a neighbor.
Our volunteers are, in so many ways, the face of kindness and compassion to those who come to our doors for help, and they widen and deepen the impact of our work.
Through our training and guidance, I watch our volunteers get comfortable, feel invited, then quickly fall in love with our clients, and that’s the best feeling in the world.
For volunteer opportunities and sign-up, visit
catholiccharities.net/volunteer.