Lifelong Social Worker Finds Calling at Cathedral Community Cares

Tatjana Bourgeois has dedicated her life to serving others, even in retirement.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Tatjana Bourgeois, a retired social worker, has found a new calling volunteering at Cathedral Community Cares, a program through the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, New York. Bourgeois has spent her career helping others and continues this passion by distributing meals, providing clothing, and connecting clients to community resources at the cathedral.

Why it matters

Bourgeois' story highlights the lasting impact that social workers can have on their communities, even after retirement. Her lifelong commitment to serving others demonstrates the power of giving back and the fulfillment that can come from dedicating oneself to helping those in need.

The details

Bourgeois, who spent over 30 years as a social worker and social work director, now volunteers at Cathedral Community Cares, where she helps with the community closet, food pantry service, and connecting clients to resources. She believes that giving back is a calling, not just a job, and that social workers have the ability to change lives and remove stressors from people's lives.

  • Bourgeois has been volunteering at Cathedral Community Cares for the past six and a half years.
  • She has been dedicated to helping others since she was a child, as evidenced by a newspaper clipping showing her raising money for a children's hospital in Rego Park.

The players

Tatjana Bourgeois

A retired social worker who has dedicated her life to serving others, and now volunteers at Cathedral Community Cares.

Cathedral Community Cares

A program through the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights, New York, where Bourgeois volunteers.

Tobias Wingate

A former intern of Bourgeois' who credits her with giving him the tools he needs to succeed as a social worker.

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What they’re saying

“Social workers can change lives, that I still have the capacity to intervene and remove some of the stressors from people's lives.”

— Tatjana Bourgeois, Volunteer, Cathedral Community Cares (ny1.com)

“She's able to give us the tools that we need to succeed and do things the right way as a social worker. So for that, I'll say she's a gem and she's my heart.”

— Tobias Wingate, Former Intern (ny1.com)

What’s next

Bourgeois plans to continue her volunteer work at Cathedral Community Cares, where she can continue to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

The takeaway

Bourgeois' story demonstrates the lasting impact that social workers can have on their communities, even in retirement. Her lifelong commitment to serving others is an inspiration, and shows that giving back can be a deeply fulfilling calling.