Harry Bellew, first vice president of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Western Kentucky, belongs to St. Stephen Cathedral. COURTESY OF HARRY BELLEW
When much is given: A Vincentian journey
BY BELINDA ABELL, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
After 51 years working in the financial world of credit unions, serving in many financial positions, the last as president of Telco Credit Union for 21 years, Harry Bellew retired and returned to his hometown of Owensboro, Ky. Upon returning, he and his wife Peggy joined St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro and began looking for ways to become involved in their parish and in their community. Harry has served on several local boards, St. Joseph Peace Mission, and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. It was during St. Stephen’s annual Time, Talent and Treasure campaign that he joined St. Stephen’s St. Vincent de Paul conference.
“I had always believed in St. Vincent de Paul and the work they do; I thought they were a good fit. My wife Peg and I joined at the same time,” said Harry.
Harry and his wife have been SVdP members for about 14 years. He has served as a member and as president of the St. Stephen’s conference and is currently first vice president of the SVdP Diocesan Council serving 32 western Kentucky counties. SVdP-Diocesan Council CEO, Richard Remp-Morris, says, “Harry’s financial expertise has been an invaluable resource to us. His guidance has moved us into a better financial position. In my career I have been blessed to have many mentors along the way and Harry is certainly at the top of the list.”
When asked what he found most rewarding as a Vincentian, Harry had this to say, “I think doing home visits when I was still a part of the St. Stephen conference. That’s really powerful when you go into somebody’s home and you sit and talk with them, and you observe their needs: that’s powerful and you know, just sitting in the office taking walk-ins and listening to people’s difficulties and their financial hardships and all that. It’s kind of moving; it hits you where you live.”
Kentucky’s poverty rate ranks 15.6%, which is higher than the national poverty rate of 10.6%.
We asked Harry, “Do you see SVdP as vital in assistance to our Neighbors in Need?”
He said, “The numbers, especially here in Kentucky are high. You know we’ve got a lot of poor. We’ve got a lot of broken families, single parent families that they are always going to need financial help and St. Vincent de Paul really helps fill that need and I see us doing that quite well.”
“I really believe that to whom much is given much is expected,” he added. “And much has been given to us and so I expect to give and I have, and I will.”
To learn more about or make a financial contribution to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s vital work, contact your parish SVDP conference or svdpwky.org
Originally printed in the October 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
