NATCHEZ — For Dan Miller, volunteering is a way of life.

The Iowa native made volunteering in his new community a priority as soon as he moved to Natchez in August.

“I’ve always done some kind of volunteer work for as long as I can remember,” Miller said.

Most of the volunteer work Miller and his wife, Roxian, do is through St. Mary Basilica.

Miller and Roxian are Eucharistic ministers who visit the sick, and Miller travels to Natchez Regional Medical Center and Natchez Community Hospital on Wednesdays to offer Communion to patients.

Miller is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and he and Roxian help with dinners at St. Mary.

The couple also volunteers their time to clean the church’s family life center.

St. Mary is actually what drew the Millers to Natchez.

The couple, who lived in Des Moines, were looking to move closer to their son in Walker, La.

Miller began research on Catholic churches in the South because he said it was important the couple live in a community with a Catholic church.

“I stumbled across St. Mary and thought, ‘Man, this is a beautiful church,’” he said. “Then I did a search on Natchez and started researching all the benefits of living here.”

It was a three-year process, but the Millers decided to move to Natchez.

“We sold our house on Saturday, got in the car on Monday to come down here, and by Wednesday we had a place to live,” Miller said.

The Millers quickly became involved in the community and say a giving spirit is important to both of them.

“And giving back gets me out among people and keeps me busy,” Roxian said.

Volunteer work has always been important to Miller, who said spending his time serving others brings him great joy.

“It’s just very important to me that I give back to this community,” he said.