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From the Desk of Tom Gawronski
Some might say that my journey to the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Diocese of Orlando came by way of the back door.
One of the worst questions to ask a person on the precipice of retirement is, “What are you going to do, now?” Similar to our Diocesan Council President, Joe Mazloom, when I retired in late 2019, I really had no idea how I was going to fill my time. All I knew was that I knew my parish, St. Margaret Mary in Winter Park, had many outreach opportunities, so I was confident I could find purpose.
Sure enough, the month I retired, I learned that our pastor, Fr Walsh, wanted to establish a ministry to serve families living long-term in extended stay hotels on Lee Road in Orlando. The ministry just needed someone to pick up the ball and run with it. Not only was God calling me, but my skills at building operations were a good fit for the project. So, the Lazarus Ministry was born to provide financial help to families ready to sustain more appropriate housing for their families.
I also signed up in late 2019 to participate in a Kairos spiritual retreat in prison to take place in May 2020. Of course, COVID put an end to that. Through my association with Kairos, I met Carlos Benitez who mentored me to be a facilitator with the St. Peter Claver Prison Ministry’s weekly program inside prison called Passport to Success. This program is designed to empower soon- to-be released inmates to be prepared to make the most out of their life when they are released.
Both of these opportunities to serve were a conversion for me. They taught me that Matthew 25:35-40 is not a mere checklist of things to do to pass through the “Pearly Gates”; rather it was Jesus telling us that if we want to experience him, serving the “least of his brethren” is the way. The first time I worked with families living in hotels and spoke to men in prison, I was humbled by how firmly they held to their faith as if it was the only thing they had left. Would that more of us lived this way.
After several years of working in the SPCPM program, Carlos asked me to be the CEO of the SPCPM Board. This was an honor I could not refuse. This was also the backdoor to becoming a Vincentian I referred to earlier. The CEO of SPCPM also serves in the Diocesan Council of Orlando Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a Board Member.
I have been a SVdP Board Member for only a year now, but I have been profoundly impacted by the attitude of Vincentians who always put serving poor above all else. Some organizations supporting the poor lose sight of their true mission and get lost in fund raising, administrative duties, and organizational considerations. While these are important aspects of any organization, keeping the purpose as job-one is critical.
Vincentians living their purpose inspires me to continue living mine.
Tom Gawronski
St. Peter Claver Prison Ministry
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