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Holy Trinity Center had its birth under Holy Trinity pastor, Jerome Calcagno, C.M. and Sr. Veronica Busch, D.C. in 1975. The Daughters of Charity who served in the school from the early 1900's had always visited the homes of the children in the school. However, by 1975, Fr. Jerome was aware that there was a large number of low income/poor families with children in the parish. He wanted to do a concerted outreach to this population.
Sister Veronica began visiting the families each afternoon and talking with them about how the church might reach out and be of assistance. Slowly the needs of the people became apparent and with the endorsement of Fr. Jerome, Seton House was born.
The ministry continued under the Seton House name until 1981 when George Weber, C.M., the pastor, wanted to make the tie between the parish and the ministry more obvious. During the next seven years under the name of Holy Trinity Ministry, the needy from all over the city of Dallas were served.
The parish leadership, in 1988, decided to refocus the ministry on helping people living in the six zip codes that are included within the parish boundaries and any parishioner regardless of where they lived. In September 1989, Daughter of Charity Sr. Jean Thomas Dwyer was asked to become the Director of the Center and implement the refocused vision for the ministry. It was Fr. Lou Arceneaux, C.M., pastor, with the Ministry's Advisory Committee who renamed the Center for St. Vincent de Paul. The renaming ceremony was held on September 27, 1990.
In January 2003, the Center discontinued operations for a period of ten months during the construction of a new Parish Community Life Center. which The Center opened for client services in November of 2003 and operated under the direction of the president of the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul conference, Wick Allison, as a part of the new vision, under Pastor John P. Cawley, C.M. to combine the ministry of the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul conference with that of the St. Vincent Center. On June 1, 2004, Anthony Levatino succeeded Wick Allison as President of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Managing Director of the St. Vincent Center. In June of 2006, the Parish decided to separate the two ministries. Management continued under the Holy Trinity Parish St. Vincent Center Operating Board; with Mr. Levatino continuing as Volunteer Managing Director.
On January 1, 2008 the Operating Board decided to change the name to Holy Trinity Center to avoid any confusion the public might have with the center’s affiliation.
Although the name has changed, the mission remains the same as it has been for the past 33 years; a ministry for those in need. The Holy Trinity Center is truly a blessing to the community it serves and we welcome and thank you for your continued support.