Few look forward to doing their taxes, especially if they struggle to navigate the process. On Chicago’s north side, Viatorians recently completed their ninth year of free tax assistance for neighbors in need.
Br. Michael Rice, CSV and Associate Jackie Dupon (first two on left) enjoy an appreciation breakfast from Associate John Dussman with some of the other parish volunteers.
Associate John Dussman coordinates Viatorian Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers who schedule appointments, organize documents, and train as certified tax preparers. This team includes Associates Ivy Vera, Susana Tellez, and Jackie Dupon and Br. Michael Rice, CSV, as well as several parishioners of Sts. Viator and Wenceslaus Parish in Chicago, which hosts the program.
VITA has gone from helping 35 clients in its first year, 2017, to assisting 120 clients this year. For 2025, they secured $11,000 in child tax credits, $25,000 in earned income credits, and $111,000 in total refunds. And their volunteer work saved filers over $48,000 in preparation fees.
John’s background is mostly in marketing and ad sales for newspapers, but his faith and Viatorian identity drew him to this project. “Our whole focus as Viatorians is to try to help people who are being marginalized. This is a ministry to me,” John said. “And for those who come without legal status, I thought and hope having a log of taxes prepared and paid could help put them first in line on a pathway to citizenship if it became available,” John added, crediting Br. Michael Gosch, CSV with modeling accompaniment for people in immigration.
Associate Jackie Dupon is a retired physical therapist, but she’s always been her own accountant. “My original college major was math. I’ve always done my own taxes, and I handled my father’s estate and trusts myself. I even double-check my TurboTax filing numbers on my own Microsoft Excel spreadsheet,” Jackie said. “Going to a tax preparer is expensive. Even with online programs, you have to organize everything independently. We can help people work through it all and find credits and refunds that they may not notice on their own.”
Br. Michael Rice, CSV, a retired teacher and administrator, has joined in the last two years. Bits of experience from his religious life came in handy, from being treasurer for Colegio San Viator in Bogotá to moderating a yearbook club! “Yearbook at Griffin High School was run almost as a small business, because students had to sell ads, canvass for donations from parents and alumni, and make a good product, so I count that as related experience for this, too,” Br. Michael said.
In the spirit of the “Viatorian nudge” – our gentle way of encouraging others to minister and serve – Br. Michael credits Jackie for getting him started, back at the 2022 Provincial Assembly. “I happened to be at the same table with Jackie, and she’s the one who planted the seed of this idea in my mind and connected me to John. She deserves the credit for having extended the invitation.”
Associate John Dussman (center) with the early VITA team, including Associate Jackie Dupon (right of John), which started at then-St. Viator Parish in 2017 with support from pastor Fr. Patrick Render, CSV and Viatorian social justice grants.
Additionally, John credits Susana with being a tireless translator for Spanish-speaking clients and Ivy with mastering the art of making, keeping, and rescheduling appointments for a growing, busy clientele. He also admires each tax preparer who puts in up to 80 hours of studies to earn recertification before each tax season.
For Viatorians, the opportunity to encounter someone in need and walk with them is profoundly worthwhile. Jackie attributes all the credit to John, and Br. Michael admires his positive attitude: “He’s always in a positive mood. John always has a smile on his face, and his positivity toward this work and these neighbors is real.”