By Dubravka Cortese | Correspondent

The Medford Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul recognized Msgr. James H. Dubell, beloved longtime pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, for his staunch support of the society by renaming its Caring Center in his honor. A celebration and dedication of the Monsignor James H. Dubell Caring Center, located at 1 Jones Rd., was held April 18.

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“I am deeply moved, humbled and honored by the recognition,” Msgr. Dubell told the family members, friends and supporters who gathered on a sunny afternoon in front of the Caring Center for the renaming ceremony.

“Today is a stupendous day,” said John Kallelis, immediate past president of the St. Mary of the Lakes conference. “We are here to celebrate a very, very important person. Msgr. Dubell, with his words and actions, epitomizes the role of a pastor to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He has united the parish as a whole to the society. This is why the board unanimously agreed to rename the center in honor of Msgr. Dubell.”

Calling it “one of the most notable recognitions” he’s received in his 50 years as a priest, Msgr. Dubell thanked the society for the honor, but even more so the efforts of the Caring Center’s many volunteers.

“This naming ceremony gives us an opportunity to recognize and express our gratitude to all of the wonderful volunteers,” Msgr. Dubell said. “The work of the Vincentians brings all the different aspects of our community together as one powerful witness to the faith of our entire community. The society reaches out into the community to provide food, shelter, clothing, counseling and spiritual direction. No one is ever turned away.”

Current conference president Dr. James Dwyer presented Msgr. Dubell with a remembrance plaque, and expressed sadness at Msgr. Dubell’s upcoming retirement. “His support has allowed us to serve people beyond what we could normally do. Because of him, the parish has been amazingly generous in its support of our efforts.

“Parishioners are the heart and soul of what we do,” Dwyer added. “We became increasingly aware of the needs that existed in our surrounding communities. We reached out further into the community, and people stepped up to help. As a result, we have been able to continue to grow and service further.” 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of men and women seeking spiritual growth and offering one-to-one service to those in poverty, in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

The Medford Conference has been part of the St. Mary of the Lakes Parish since 1980 and has expanded its service area to include Medford, Medford Lakes, Browns Mills, Pemberton Township and Moorestown. The center served more than 5,900 people in 2014 by providing food, clothing, financial assistance and spiritual support. The building doubled to 8,000 square feet after a $1 million renovation completed in 2012 and now has private rooms for consultations, a conference room and an adjoining food pantry and thrift store.

Past society president Bob Mitkus pointed out how Msgr. Dubell and the parish finance committee readily offered a loan toward the construction of the center, how Msgr. Dubell frequently references and praises the center during sermons and how he gifted a statue of St. Vincent on behalf of the parish to the society.

Msgr. Dubell, displaying characteristic humility, deflected the praise to the society’s volunteers. “These ladies and gentlemen, they are the movers and the shakers, the leaders, the salt of the earth, the heart and soul of the society,” he told the crowd. “The work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul strikes at the very heart of the Gospel message. They follow their spiritual exercises and put it into practice, serving the needs of those less fortunate.”