Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland and the diocese itself rolled out the welcome mat this week for nearly 550 delegates from Catholic Charities from across the country.
“Widening the welcome” was the theme of the 2023 edition Catholic Charities in the United States annual gathering. The events took place October 3-5 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.
The conference kicked off October 3 with learning labs, meetings, vendor exhibits and site visits to select Catholic Charities ministries, including the Fatima Family Center, the Hispanic Senior Center and Migration and Refugee Services, all in Cleveland.
(See photo gallery above.)
Bishop Edward Malesic delivered a welcoming speech to the participants on October 4, which he said was the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. The gathering should have been held in Cleveland a few years ago, but “a little thing called a pandemic put that on hold, as it did many other things,” the bishop said. “Luckily things went well this year and here we are. I am deeply grateful to Kerry Alys Robinson, your new CEO, as well as the entire leadership of Catholic Charities USA and Patrick Gareau of our Diocesan Catholic Charities and their staff for organizing the Catholic Charities Convention in this week.
The bishop said that when he thinks of Catholic charities, he thinks “of all the women and men who, for more than 100 years, have believed that the Church’s collective efforts to faithfully serve people in need could change the course of poverty in our nation. The work you do in the Lord’s vineyard is crucial, because without you, who could help people, regardless of their faith, who struggle with poverty and other complex issues?
He called Catholic Charities USA “an extraordinary organization that does its extremely important work without much fanfare or acclaim, which is clearly in line with St. Paul, who reminds us to “do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory; Rather, humbly consider others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for their own interests, but (also) for those of others.
Bishop Malesic said Catholic Charities USA makes a huge difference from coast to coast. He mentioned programs including advocacy and disaster relief, helping the poor and vulnerable, the lost and abandoned and those on the margins struggling to get by. Catholic charities draw their mission from the Gospel, in which Christ tells us to help the poor, heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, to help the disabled and not to neglect those who are weak in body or mind. He recalled that Pope Francis called Catholic charities “salt, leaven and light that bring a glimmer of hope to those in need.”
Catholic Charities works in the streets to invite and serve those who have been left behind to know and experience the love of God through Jesus Christ, the bishop said. “With joy, you build bridges of hope, mercy and justice toward creating a culture of community care responding to the cries of those who are poor. You carry the Eucharist from the altar, the presence of Jesus, into the world as tabernacles of the living God. Thank you for everything you do,” he added.
Speaking after the bishop, Gareau thanked attendees “for the countless ways you bring hope to those in need.”
The group also heard from Robinson, who began her role as president and CEO of CCUSA on August 23 after serving as executive associate of Leadership Roundtable, an influential organization of lay, religious and clergy working together to promote the best practices and responsibility in management. , finances, communications and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the United States. She is the second lay person to lead CCUSA.
Conference attendees could choose from a variety of breakout sessions focused on topics such as public social policy, how to provide services to 100,000 asylum seekers, promoting mental health care and well-being in rural parishes, the critical role of social service agencies in providing second chances, steps toward effective disaster response, communications, housing support services, seminar partnerships, food pantry solution multi-level, professional immigration legal clinics and social work case management, volunteer engagement and more.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost celebrated Mass on the evening of October 4 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist with Bishop Frank Dewane, Msgr. Michael Boland, CCUSA, Mgr. Kevin Sullivan, Catholic Charities of New York and Father Enrique Camacho, Catholic Charities Puerto Rico, as concelebrants.
In his homily, Bishop Woost told the congregation that if they remember nothing else, they should remember two phrases, just four words: rebuild and jump. He said in today’s readings – the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi – that these phrases are applicable.
He spoke about Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, a writer, journalist, politician, poet and philosopher, who was often at odds with his Greek Orthodox faith. A nine-time Nobel Prize nominee for literature, Kazantzakis wrote Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ as well as a fictionalized biography of St. Francis of Assisi, the favorite book of the famous author’s bishop.
He shared a passage from the book about how Francis asked the Lord to tell him what he wanted him to do and how he would know it. After spending a day in prayer and conversation with God, Francis finally realized what God wanted of him: to go to his hometown of Assisi “and jump.”
“God’s word to us today – the readings just proclaimed – challenge us both to rebuild and to leap forward,” the bishop said.
In the first reading, he stated that Nehemiah was “sad” in heart and living in exile with the Jewish community. Finally, inspired by God’s grace, he set about rebuilding his people’s hope, the covenant community, and their relationships with God and each other.
“Isn’t that the very essence of Catholic charities? » » asked Bishop Woost.
He said in the Gospel that Jesus challenges some future disciples to follow him, to step out into the kingdom and take a risk. “Isn’t that what Catholic Charities does?” We jump into the margins. We take risks and help those in need. We act to bring healing and hope, comfort and compassion, love and life. By accepting the challenge of Christ’s call, we strive to bring God’s kingdom to all people by embodying Jesus’ command to love and serve our neighbor. What you did for the youngest of your brothers and sisters, you did for me.
He said the word of God invites us to once again embrace the mission of Catholic Charities in two sentences – four words – to leap forward, to rebuild.
“May we experience the effects of God’s love and spread them everywhere to rebuild the lives of our people in faith, hope and charity,” added Bishop Woost.
Conference attendees were treated to a reception at the nearby Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum following the service.
The event concluded on October 5 with a half-day of workshops and opportunities to visit vendor tables.
The 2024 annual gathering will take place September 17-19 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.