Sharing The Good News - Eriercd

Sharing theSpring 2017Good NewsFrom the Executive DirectorThree years ago this month,I became the executive directorof Catholic Charities andimmediately began to witnessGod’s grace in action through theamazing efforts of our affiliatesand agencies. Because of theirgood work, individuals andfamilies are given new hope —often in their darkest hours.Ann M. BadachBut these good works —providing food, clothing, shelter, childcare, transportation,counseling and case management services — could notoccur without the generosity of you, our donors.Although we do our best to thank you individually, I wantyou to know that we also pray for you during our staffmeeting, reciting together a prayer that was written justfor this purpose.Soon we’ll be gathering at the Catholic Charities Ball,our annual fundraiser, not only to celebrate ouraccomplishments, but to stand hopeful for your continuedsupport. I pray we can count on you in the same way thatour neighbors in our 13-county diocese count upon us.Yours in Charity,CameraAction!Lights, Camera, Action is the theme of this year’sCatholic Charities Ball set for Saturday, May 20at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. Enjoydelicious food stations and cocktails while dancingto fabulous music by The Chozen Few. This year’sHelping Hands Award will be presented to Dawnand Dan Schaaf for their faithful service to churchand community.Dawn and Dan Schaaf are the2017 Helping Hands Award recipients.Make your reservation by calling (814) 824-1250or online at www.ErieRCD.org. Tickets are 100;proceeds benefit persons/families of all faiths throughthe work of the Catholic Charities affiliated agencies.Bringing Faith, Hope and Charity to Life

Focus on.Mission and PurposeAgencies andServices:Good Samaritan CenterShelter for Temporarily Homeless Men;Food/Financial Referrals; Thrift StoreSt. Martin CenterEmergency Assistance; Early LearningCenter; Financial Counseling;Housing CounselingPrince of Peace CenterSoup Kitchen; Budget Counseling;Thrift Store; Food Distribution;Home Case Management & Life Skills;Transitional Housing for HomelessWomen and MenSt. Elizabeth CenterFood Pantry; Thrift StoreCounseling & Adoption ServicesProfessional Counseling; PregnancyCounseling; Problem GamblingCounseling; Anger ManagementGroups; Sexual Abstinence Program;Project Rachel; Adoption Services;Refugee ResettlementChrist the King ManorContinuing Care Retirement CommunityProviding Skilled Nursing Care,Personal Care, Alzheimer Units,Rehabilitation Services,Home Support and IndependentLiving CottagesSaint John XXIII HomeAssisted Living; Respite;Physical Therapy; Alzheimer Services;Long-Term Care; Occupational TherapyHarborcreek Youth ServicesCampus-Based Residential Facilities;Assessment/Diagnostic Services;Private Education; Drug and AlcoholCounseling; Community Service;Work Experience; Multi-systemicTherapy and Therapeutic Foster Care;Campus MinistryBetter Housing for Erie51 Units of Affordable HousingPASTORAL SERVICESFamily Life: Pre-Cana; EngagementEncounter; NOVA; Worldwide MarriageEncounter; “Families Always Matter”;Family Perspectives; Transitions;CDSG Divorce MinistryDisabilities: Deaf Ministry;Parish Advocacy; Spiritual Enrichment;Victorious Missionaries; Faith & LightParish Social Ministry:Parish Care & Concern; Bereavement;Elizabeth Ministry; Justice & Peace/Respect Life AdvocacyMission: Mission of Friendship;Propagation of the Faith; MissionEducation; Holy Childhood AssociationRural: Pastoral & Ecumenical Outreach;Spiritual Support; Parish Education;Retreats/Enrichment Day Programs;Faith Sharing GroupsRetreat to Re-energize and ServeCatholic Charities’ agency directors andpastoral ministry staff recently gatheredfor their annual 24-hour retreat atOlmstead Manor in Ludlow, Pa.Led by Father Mike DeMartinis,the group spent qualitytime together in prayer,discussion and service.This year, the leadershipteam prepared 18 large pans oflasagna which were given to localcommunity housing residents andshut-ins in nearby Kane, Pa. As part oftheir retreat experience, the participantsshopped together for ingredients atthe local supermarket, then peeled,chopped, cooked and assembled thehearty meals.Under the leadership of Father PhilPinczewski, former pastor of St. CallistusParish in Kane, delivery was arranged andcoordinated with the help of several parishvolunteers.“The efforts of these leaders remindedall of us of the importance of everyeffort that is made to lessen theburden of the poor,” said Ann Badach,executive director of Catholic Charities.“With so many cooks in the kitchen you’dthink there would have been chaos, butinstead, what we experienced was the joythat comes from being generous, and achance to share in the experience ofhands-on service.”Directors representing five agencies andfive rural and pastoral ministries from acrossthe Diocese of Erie were represented at thisyear’s retreat.

Focus on.Affiliate Agency ImpactBetter Housing for ErieHooray!Tasha Miller, a resident ofBetter Housing for Erie,was accepted intoGannon University’sNursing Program.Oh no!As a first-generation college studendream andt, thisopportunitywas overwhefor Tasha evlmingen before classes begaapplicationn.Thefees and process, financaid forms, inialformation packets andpayments redownquired for enrollment wthan she coere moreuld handleon her own.Thank goodness.Makenzie Hanlin, a service coordinatorat Better Housing, a Catholic Charitiesaffiliate, knew Tasha and was availableto help her with the process.Thank you. d supplies, printers, anThe computerscommunityBetter Housingethinleblaaiavere madeances like this wstmurccirfornts.centelic Charities’ graohatCybleibpossCatholicRuralyrtsiniMAfter 24 years your position has been cutImagine working for a company for 24 years,living check to check and discovering yourposition has been cut. Always having worked,you do not know the social service network.Then you receive a bank repossession noticeof the only home you have ever known.Now imagine the relief and gratitude you feelwhen receiving assistance from the Sisters ofCatholic Rural Ministry which allows you tostay in your home. And through the sisters, youlearn how the social service networks functionin your community for food, unemploymentbenefits, budgeting assistance and supportgroups for the unemployed.t came froumnd.ahterehweraroMooften revolvesf life”The “business oplicationstions, online apinternet connecis just one ofdence. Tasha’snopesrrcodementansonal life managerpfoesriostmanyarities’by Catholic Chmade possibleencies.affiliates and agFor more information aboutCatholic Rural Ministry, visitwww.ErieRCD.org/rural.htm.

BOARD OFDIRECTORSMaureen Dunn,Board ChairBill DeLucaDale DeMarcoSr. Kathleen Dietz, FSONon-Profit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDErie, PAPermit No. 285Bringing Faith, Hope and Charity to Life429 East Grandview Blvd. Erie, PA 16504814/824.1250Toll Free: 800.374.3723www.ErieRCD.orgor www.ErieRCD.org/charities.htmJoseph KloeckerAnn RutkowskiEvelyn SeyboldtFather Christopher SingerAtty. Colleen StumpfAtty. James B. TooheyAnn Badach,Executive DirectorMISSION STATEMENTAs Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie, we are witnesses and servants of Jesus Christ.Consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church, we provide health care, social andpastoral services for those in need, regardless of faith. Catholic Charities is committed tothe sacredness of human life and the betterment of society.SERVING PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHSAction!The 2017 Catholic Charities Ball Committeehas planned a great night of fun! Picturedleft to right are: Kathy Grisier, Julia Cooney,Allison Hodas, Meg Britton, Brady Louis andLeslie Hooven. Ruth Alberstadt, ChristineToohey and Annie Rutkowski are also onthe committee.Join us onMay 20

All-Faith Focus on.Thank You, Donors! (October 1, 2016 - February 28, 2017)Abbey of the GeneseeAtty. Jay and Mrs. Ruth A. AlberstadtAnonymousMr. Lee C. and Mrs. Mary Beth S. AnthonyMr. Gregory T. and Mrs. Ann M. BadachAnonymousDr. Edward BajorekBaldwin Brothers, Inc.Mr. Joseph A. BartekDr. Warren and Mrs. Christine R. BeaverBenedictine Sisters of ErieMr. Arnold E. and Mrs. Marilyn R. BergquistBianchi HondaMr. James L. and Mrs. Cynthia J. BogniakMs. Sally A. BojarskiMr. Brian W. BolashBonded Services Corp.Borowy Insurance Agency, LLCBoyd Watterson Asset ManagementMrs. Kathleen A. BrooksMr. Carl T. and Mrs. Marlene K. BruggerMrs. Mary Ann BruggerBrugger Funeral HomesBuilding Systems, IncorporatedBurton Funeral HomesCathedral Preparatory SchoolMr. and Mrs. Matthew P. ClarkMr. Daniel S. ClarkAnonymousDahlkemper Landscaping/Architecture &ConstructionDan Dewey PaintingMr. Dale R. DeMarcoMr. Robert D. and Mrs. Sandra DevlinDoleski/Wolford OrthodonticsMr. Christopher and Mrs. Maria EhrmanMr. S.E. and Mrs. B.L. EllsworthMr. Thomas F. and Ms. Kathleen R. ElsonErie BankErie Insurance GroupAtty. R. Edward FerraroMr. Stephen A. and Mrs. Mary M. ForgenieFuhrman’s Cider Mill - Bakery /General StoreGannon UniversityMr. Gary L. and Mrs. Jill M. GluntMs. Valerie Jean GorniakMs. Jo-Ann A. GrandeFather James G. Gutting, V.F.Ms. Jennifer HartHighmarkHome Instead Senior CareMs. Leslie M. HoovenSister Martha Howick, SSJHudson Group, Inc.Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Linda JohnsonMs. Mary C. JohnsonRev. Msgr. Charles A. KazaKelly Family Charitable Foundation, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Warren B. KingMr. William KingKoldrock Waters, Inc.Father Thaddeus T. KondzielskiMr. Frederick R. and Mrs. Janice M.KruegerMrs. Joyce Ravnikar-KulykLake Erie College of OsteopathicMedicineMr. Leo T. and Mrs. Clara M. LiszkaMr. Thomas J. and Mrs. Mary H. LoftusMrs. Hazel L. LuchiniM Café LLCMacDonald, Illig, Jones and BrittonAnonymousMarquette Savings BankMr. Richard J. and Mrs. Mary C. MartinMr. Arthur R. and Mrs. Helen MartinucciAnonymousMcQuillen Chevrolet, Buick, GMCTruck, Inc.Mercyhurst UniversityMs. Rebecca MerwinMr. David M. and Mrs. Ruth A. MillerMiller Welding & Machine Co.Mr. David J. MurphyNational FuelMs. LouAnn OatmanMr. Donald and Mrs. Karen OchsFather Mark A. O’HernDeacon Richard and Mrs. TammeraO’PolkaMs. Kathryn W. ParksFather Gregory P. PassauerMr. and Mrs. John B. PellegrinoPennsylvania State University,The Behrend CollegeMr. Gerald M. and Mrs. Maureen PetersMs. Karin PfingstlerPresque Isle Downs & CasinoMr. Thomas A. and Mrs. SandraQuiggleReddog Industries, Inc.Mr. William M. and Ms. Katie M.RobertsMr. Kenneth and Mrs. Donna RobesonAnonymousSaint Mary’s Home of ErieSaint Thomas the ApostleRev. Msgr. James E. SannerMr. and Mrs. Daniel J. SchaafSiebenbuerger Ladies AuxiliaryFather Christopher J. SingerSisters of Mercy of the AmericasNew York, Pennsylvania, Pacific WestSisters of St. Joseph of NorthwesternPennsylvaniaSlovak National ClubMr. Gregory B. SoltysMr. James and Ms. Elaine SpizarnyBill and Joy Steger Charitable FundMr. John J. and Mrs. Dolores L.SuminskiRev. Msgr. John W. SwogerGerard T. Uht, Sr. Family Fund of theErie Community FoundationThe McCormick FamilyThe Reason For Our Hope FoundationAnonymousMs. Jean Ann VerdecchiaMr. James W. and Mrs. Mary LouiseWagnerMr. Marshal D. WallaceWeissEarley Landscape Design &Contracting LLCMr. Timothy F. and Mrs. Ann M.WidomskiMr. Thomas S. and Mrs. Deborah E.YuchaZippo Manufacturing CompanyYou can have an everlasting influence on the lives of families in needthroughout our diocese with a planned gift to Catholic Charities.Simply ask your attorney to include a bequest for Catholic Charities in your will.Contact Lisa Louis at (814) 824-1237or LLouis@ErieRCD.org to learn more.