Mattapoisett Postal Worker Retiring to Pursue Ministry

If you've ever seen the yellow "Mattapoisett Is Special" bumper stickers, you may be wondering: what exactly makes Mattapoisett so special?

The answer is people like Dennis Proulx.

Proulx has been working at the Mattapoisett Post Office since shortly before September 11, 2001. For the past 24 years, he has only known one way to be with the general public: upbeat and chipper. Even on his worst days, Proulx is a ray of light in the Mattapoisett Post Office.

"I like the fact that the post office is part of the United States of America. It's vital to a small town like Mattapoisett, especially with the good people in that place and the surrounding areas," Proulx said.

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Earlier this year, Proulx made one of the most difficult decisions of his life. After 24 years, he decided to retire.

"I have been having a little problem with my legs, and I need surgery," he said.

Standing on his feet all day probably hasn’t helped.

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Once his legs are squared away, however, Proulx will continue on a journey he started 40 years ago. His goal is to become a Protestant minister.

"I'm taking courses in seminary right now, which is keeping me mentally busy. I'll eventually become a Protestant minister," he said. "I've always had the call; it's been 40 years in the making."

Proulx hopes to become a minister in the United Church of Christ.

"They are mainly liberal, while I'm a bit conservative," he said. "But I usually play life without politics."

He has about 18 more months of seminary left and hopes to find something not too far from Mattapoisett.

While April 30 is Proulx's official last day, he doesn’t think he’ll be at the post office, as he is currently out on leave.

"I'll be back in there for sure, though," he said. "Like a bad penny on the tide."