Saint Mary’s Mission Leader Publishes in National Magazine

Saint Mary's Mission Leader, Stephanie Boccuzzi, M. Div., pens article for national publication, U.S. Catholic.

Stephanie Boccuzzi, M. Div., Mission Leader at Saint Mary’s Hospital, joined the organization in 2022. A newlywed, Stephanie and her husband moved to Connecticut for her new role. She brought a breath of fresh air, ambition and a lot of energy. However, within just a few months, she began to experience symptoms of what was to become a life altering illness.

With a background in education, Stephanie took pen to paper to share her views on the challenges she and her husband faced and now manage daily. Stephanie’s article, Wedding vows take a new meaning for those with chronic illness, appears in the July edition of U.S. Catholic. This is not the first article Stephanie has had published in U.S. Catholic, she has contributed articles with the magazine since 2022. She is also a coauthor of a book published in 2023.

Citing the fact that an estimated 129 million people in the U.S. have at least one major chronic disease, and that there are few platforms that embrace stories from those experiencing chronic pain, Stephanie said, “I chose to write this because often times those who are chronically ill are invisible.”

Two years into her diagnosis, Stephanie is able to reflect back more deeply on her experience and using her expertise in theology and ministry, to hopefully help others. “I hope to continue to write for U.S. Catholic in the future and also become a resource to colleagues at Trinity who are experiencing not only chronic illness, but any other life-altering illness,” she said. “I believe that the greatest healing comes from community, and we must fight the temptation to alienate and isolate ourselves from others.”

To read Stephanie’s article visit U.S. Catholic or to contact her at Trinity Health Of New England at Stephanie.Boccuzzi@trinity-health.org.