Q&A With Catholic Charities Volunteer Mary Dunlavey

As part of Catholic Charities Boston’s (CCAB) 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Week, Mary Dunlavey, a dedicated volunteer recognized in 2025 for her years of service, shares her experiences and insights working with the agency to support refugee families.

Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Q. How did you first start volunteering with CCAB?

A. I started volunteering in 2018. It began when my husband and I joined St. Susanna Church in Dedham. We were looking for a parish that was committed to social justice action. During a Mass, there was an announcement that Catholic Charities was asking communities to consider volunteering to welcome refugees entering the country. I thought, maybe this is the calling I have been looking for and something that I could contribute to.

Q. What are some of the ways you have supported area refugees as a CCAB volunteer?

A. I have my real estate license and have put that to use to help refugees find places to start their lives here. We secure leases and furnish apartments in the hope that our newcomers can feel at home. I’ve helped register refugee children for school, sat with a mother while her daughter was being treated at Boston Children’s Hospital, and later today, I am bringing three children to soccer practice. It is support that is without limits as to what it can turn into.

Q. What does volunteering mean to you?

A. Being able to make a difference in a person’s life, hopefully for the good, is something that is time well spent doing. I feel blessed to be in the health and situation that I can continue to offer support. My mantra is “You can’t change the whole world, but if we can help individuals and families to become whole, it is work worth doing.” Anyone with a talent or energy can make a difference.

Click here to learn more about CCAB’s volunteer opportunities.