When people ask why our family volunteers, I never quite know where to begin.

Our family has always been involved in service through the various Catholic Churches we have attended. Looking back, I think it all comes down to one simple belief: faith is not something that only happens on Sunday. It is something we are called to live out every day in the way we treat others. Over the years, that has taken many forms. The activities may vary, but the purpose is always the same: to recognize the dignity of every person we encounter and respond with compassion.

Our connection to A Faith That Does Justice (AFTDJ) began through the late Fr. Peter Gyves, SJ, MD. We were always inspired by his homilies and the way he spoke about immigrants, refugees, and people living on the margins of society. He didn’t just talk about the challenges people face, he challenged all of us to respond.

As a family, we had previously hosted a refugee family from Afghanistan in one of our homes. Through that experience, we came to better understand some of the obstacles families face when they are forced to leave everything behind and start over. When Fr. Gyves spoke about solidarity and accompaniment, his message resonated deeply with us.

During one of the sermons, my 92-year-old father heard him speak about the Grab and Go Food Program and immediately thought we should help. Unfortunately, Fr. Gyves passed away before we had the opportunity to connect with him personally. But his message stayed with us. In many ways, every sandwich prepared, every sandwich shared, and every act of kindness offered through AFTDJ feels like a continuation of the invitation he extended to all of us: if the message resonates, do something.

Service is not simply about providing something that another person lacks. It is about taking the time to see the person in front of us. Every individual has a story. Every individual has value.

The passage from Matthew 25 has always guided our family: “Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.”

For us, that means trying to find Jesus in our everyday activities. Sometimes that is through organized volunteer opportunities. Other times it is helping someone get over a snowbank outside the Boston Public Library or buying a meal for a stranger. Those moments may seem small, but they have taught us that faith is often lived out in the ordinary interactions of daily life.

If there is one thing we have learned through the years, it is that faith in action does not have to be complicated.

You do not need special skills, extra time, or a perfect plan to get involved. You simply need an open heart.

Say hello to someone. Listen to a story. Volunteer for an hour. Prepare a meal. Offer a kind word.

We often think we need to do something extraordinary to make a difference, but that simply is not true. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to remind someone that they are seen, valued, and cared for.

The needs in our communities can feel overwhelming at times, and none of us can solve every problem. But each of us can do something. If everyone chose to help just one person, to show compassion to one neighbor, or to extend dignity to one stranger, the impact would be extraordinary. That is what brought us to A Faith That Does Justice and that inspires us to live a life of faith in action.