As we celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Young Catholic Professionals, we reflect on the fruit of an apostolate built on relationships - friendships that bring joy, mentors who guide, careers and vocations that flourish, and spiritual connections that draw us closer to Christ. Maria Puccini’s story is a beautiful example of how these relationships can bear fruit, ultimately helping her launch and sustain the maternity home In My Shoes.

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“I came to Dallas with the intention of starting a maternity home. I knew one family here, so I didn't know anybody really in this great landscape of DFW.  Pretty early on I learned about YCP and I just saw the opportunity that it was on a few different levels. One, being able to build up my own community of like-minded Catholic young people. I developed a lot of friendships that way. But then also garnering support around the mission to start a maternity home. 

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I took the opportunity at pretty much every executive speaker series to talk to the speaker afterwards. I would tell them what I was doing, and just say, ‘what advice do you have?’ Through that, just very organically, I developed relationships with not just my peers, but also these executives, professionals who have continued to be an influence and continue to help with the organization.

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One person in particular I met at YCP became a mentor for me. This was really early days before In My Shoes was started, and I was just trying to figure things out. He would meet with me and talk through some of the struggles and such. And then another person I met through YCP has continued to be a supporter as well.

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YCP was an avenue for me to get to know people in Dallas very early on who were helpful in not only being excited about the mission and what we wanted to get started, but were willing to help and do really practical things to help us.”

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