Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland and the diocese itself rolled out the welcome mat this week for nearly 550 delegates from Catholic Charities organizations around the country.
“Widening the Welcome” was the theme of the 2023 Catholic Charities USA annual gathering. Events took place Oct. 3-5 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.
The conference began Oct. 3 with learning labs, meetings, vendor exhibits and site visits to some Catholic Charities ministries including the Fatima Family Center, Hispanic Senior Center and Migration and Refugee Services, all in Cleveland.
(See photo gallery above.)
Bishop Edward Malesic delivered a welcome address to attendees on Oct. 4, which he noted was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The gathering should have taken place in Cleveland a few years ago, but “a little thing called a pandemic put that on hold, as it did so many other things,” the bishop said. “Fortunately, things worked out this year and here we are. I am deeply grateful to Kerry Alys Robinson, your newly appointed CEO, and the entire leadership of Catholic Charities USA and Patrick Gareau of our diocesan Catholic Charities and their staffs for organizing this week’s Catholic Charities convention.”
The bishop said when he thinks of Catholic Charities, he thinks “of all the women and men who for over 100 years believed that the collective efforts of the Church to faithfully serve people in need could change the course of poverty in our nation. The work you do in the vineyard of the Lord is crucial, for without you, who would help people, regardless of their faith, who are struggling with poverty and other complex issues?
He called Catholic Charities USA “an extraordinary organization that does its extremely important work with little fanfare, little acclaim, which is clearly in keeping with St. Paul, who reminds us to “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) those of others.”
Bishop Malesic said Catholic Charities USA is making a tremendous difference from one coast to the other. He mentioned programs including advocacy and disaster relief, help for the poor and vulnerable, the lost and abandoned and those on the margins who are struggling to get by. Catholic Charities takes its 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, aid the disabled and not disregard those who are weak in body or mind. He recalled that Pope Francis called Catholic Charities “the salt, leaven and light that provides a beacon of hope to those in need.”
Catholic Charities labors in the streets inviting and serving those who were left out so that they will know and experience the love of God through Jesus Christ, the bishop said. “With joy, you build bridges of hope, mercy and justice toward the creation of a culture of communal care responsive to the cries of those who are poor. You take the Eucharist from the altar, the presence of Jesus, into the world as tabernacles of the living God. Thank you for all 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 president and CEO of CCUSA on Aug. 23 after serving as an executive partner of Leadership Roundtable, an influential organization of laity, religious and clergy working together to promote best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications and human resource development of the Catholic Church in the United States. She is the second layperson to lead CCUSA.
Conference attendees could select from various breakout sessions focusing on topics like social public policy, how to provide services to 100,000 asylum seekers, promoting mental health care and wellness in rural parishes, the critical role of human services agencies in unlocking second chances, steps towards an effective disaster response, communications, housing supportive services, seminary partnerships, multi-tier food pantry solution, immigration legal pro e clinics and social work case management, volunteer engagement and more.
Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost celebrated Mass the evening of Oct. 4 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist with Venice, Florida Bishop Frank Dewane, Msgr. Michael Boland, CCUSA, Msgr. 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 if they remembered nothing else, they should remember two phrases, just four words: to rebuild and to leap. He said in the readings for the day -- the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi -- these phrases are applicable.
He talked about Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, writer, journalist, politician, poet and philosopher who often was at odds with his Greek Orthodox faith. A nine-time Nobel Prize in Literature nominee, Kazantzakis wrote Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ as well as a fictionalized biography of St. Francis of Assisi, the bishop’s favorite book by the renowned author.
He shared a passage from the book about how Francis asked the Lord to tell him what he wished him to do and how he would know. 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 leap.”
“God’s word to us today – the readings just proclaimed – challenge us both to rebuild and to leap,” the bishop said.
In the first reading, he said Nehemiah was “sad at heart” living in exile with the Jewish community. Finally, inspired by God’s grace, he moved to rebuild the hope of his people, the covenant community and their relationships with God and one another.
“Isn’t that what Catholic Charities is all about?” Bishop Woost asked.
He said in the Gospel, Jesus challenges some would-be disciples to follow him, to leap into the kingdom and take a risk. “Isn’t that what Catholic Charities does? We leap into the margins. We take risks and leap to help those in need. We leap to bring healing and hope, comfort and compassion, love and life. Accepting the challenge of Christ’s call, we leap to bring the kingdom of God to all people by incarnating Jesus’ command to love and serve our neighbor. What you have done for the least of your brothers and sisters, you have done for me.”
He said God’s word invites us to once again embrace the mission of Catholic Charities in two phrases – four words – to leap, to rebuild.
“May we experience the effects of God’s love and spread them everywhere to rebuild the lives of our people in faith, in hope and in charity,” Bishop Woost added.
Conference attendees enjoyed a reception at the nearby Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum after Mass.
The event concluded Oct. 5 with a half-day of workshops and opportunities to visit vendor tables.
The 2024 annual gathering will be Sept. 17-19 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.