| Gordon: |
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When
and why did you join
St Vincent de Paul Parish? |
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| Tracy:: |
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I joined St. Vincent’s at least 15
years ago. It’s been so long now, I barely remember. I feel
like it’s just part of my DNA at this point. I love it
there.
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| Gordon: |
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You are
the
Creative Director for
Geometry Global. What are your
primary responsibilities?
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| Tracy:: |
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I create ad campaigns that are used in-store,
on social channels and in ecommerce. I oversee a team of 6
people who represent both art and copy disciplines. It’s a
fun career. Every day holds something new. |
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| Gordon: |
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What
interested you in joining
St Vincent de Paul’s SPRED Ministry?
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Tracy::
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I had the gift of knowing people with special
needs in my childhood, and still count some of them as my
best friends to this day. When I saw the bulletin ad at
St. Vincent’s all those years ago, I had to join. It felt
like it was a direct call from God. I couldn’t believe
that I could combine both my love for God and friendship for
people with special needs. I knew it was something special
from the beginning |
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| Gordon: |
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Could
you share with our readers your call to
SPRED and why it is so important in your
life? |
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Tracy::
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SPRED means more to me than I can say. It has
impacted my life in ways I never could have imagined. I
joined in my young adulthood and it has seen me through
many years, including in recent years becoming a wife and
mother. One of the volunteers from my early years in
SPRED was my Maid of Honor and my son calls her “Aunt
Brooke.” So SPRED has seen me through a lot and I’ll
forever be grateful. |
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| Gordon: |
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How
do you locate volunteers and how long did it take to start
the SPRED ministry at St. Vincent de Paul? |
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Tracy::
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We normally
find volunteers from the bulletin, church website or word of mouth. It’s not
always easy to find the right people to join. Some years
we have a full team and others we depend on a skeleton crew. But ultimately the
Holy Spirit provides for us every time. I wish people could see the joy that
SPRED could bring into their lives. If they could, they would be beating down the door to get in.
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| Gordon: |
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Are all of your SPRED ministry members of St Vincent de
Paul’s? |
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| Tracy:: |
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We have parishioners from
several neighboring parishes. A few of us are from St.
Vincent’s. |
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| Gordon: |
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How many people with developmental and
intellectual disabilities do you assist? |
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| Tracy:: |
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In my group we work with children aged 6-10.
Over the years we’ve had as many as 6 (the maximum per group
allowed by SPRED) and as few as 2. Even if we were only
helping one child, it would be worth it. |
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| Gordon: |
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How has your participation in SPRED enhanced
your spiritual life? |
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Tracy::
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When I started SPRED, I would have assumed that I would have been
the one providing friendship and assistance. Boy was I wrong! My SPRED group has given me a deeper relationship
with God and an appreciation for Catholicism. The small faith group aspect of SPRED is unparalleled. I look forward
to my night with the kids every week and feel a sense of
renewal and gratitude as a result.
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| Gordon: |
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What advice would you give to parishes that do not have a SPRED ministry? |
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Tracy::
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The need is out there and it is real. If Jesus asked you to do
it, would you tell him you didn’t have time, space or volunteers. He’s asking through your parishioners, neighbors and friends, and there’s no
excuse in the world that will be good enough for him. So many
parents of these children are hungry for the church community they had prior to
their special needs children. They miss it and sadly their children may never
know that support. They need to know God. They often feel alone and without knowing God is there, what becomes of their faith over time? It’s a
dangerous proposition and one we can influence for the better. |
