By Angy Hanon:
This summer, we are proud to spotlight one of our Catholic Community Connection 2026 Summer Fellows, Sean Sims, a senior at John Carroll University majoring in Communications. He served as the Marketing and Communications Intern with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Cleveland.
Sean first learned about the Fellows Program during John Carroll University’s Career Fair. While exploring internship opportunities, he was drawn to Catholic Community Connection because of its collaborative approach to serving the community. “I really appreciated the work that each organization connected with Catholic Community Connection was doing,” he shared.
Throughout his fellowship, Sean contributed to several projects designed to strengthen the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s outreach. He redesigned brochures with a more modern and accessible look, created social media content highlighting feast days and ministry stories, and developed a community resource guide that parish volunteers can distribute to neighbors in need.
One of Sean’s most memorable experiences came during his first parish conference meeting. Because the parish group was still new, he had the opportunity to listen as members discussed ways to expand their outreach and better serve thier neighbors in need. As he documented the meeting, Sean began thinking of ways to support the group’s efforts and later shared his ideas with his supervisor, Jack Bedell, who gave him the freedom to explore them further.
That encouragement continued throughout the fellowship. As Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Jack gave him the freedom to think creatively while providing guidance along the way. “He’s been incredibly encouraging with every idea I’ve brought forward,” Sean shared. “Even if something seemed ambitious, he’d always tell me to keep exploring it. He challenged me to think creatively while also helping me make those ideas practical.”
Throughout the summer, Sean also gained a greater appreciation for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s work. While many people recognize the organization for Blanket Sunday, an annual fundraiser that helps provide beds, blankets, and other assistance to those in need, he discovered that its ministries extend far beyond that. From neighborhood hunger centers to parish-based outreach programs, he witnessed firsthand the organization’s commitment to serving people with compassion and dignity. “I didn’t realize how much they do. It was inspiring to see the impact they have throughout the community,” he said.
Looking ahead, Sean hopes to carry forward both the professional and personal lessons he gained during the fellowship. “I’ve grown in my ambition and my ability to collaborate,” he reflected. “The thoughtful feedback and teamwork have challenged me to become a better communicator and designer. Those are skills I’ll continue building wherever my career takes me.”
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