“It was an evening to celebrate all of the work of the people who have served over the last 100 years with a view to the future,” said Michael Fullan, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “It was an opportunity for the Catholic community to celebrate. It was like a reunion.”
Fifty per cent of the proceeds from the event, attended by about 250 people, will go towards two annual scholarships that will be offered annually starting in 2014. The event raised more than $25,000.
Fr. Thomas Rosica, chief executive officer of Salt + Light Television, gave the keynote address.
“The mission of Catholic Charities is to create neighbours, brothers and sisters out of complete strangers,” he said. “We must do this with simple words, loving, patient gestures, tenderness and love as we kneel beside strangers who are hurting. Our stopping and stooping, our passing and kneeling down beside the suffering is never done out of curiosity, guilt, efficiency or productivity, but out of sheer love.”
Rosica noted that true charity consists of more than simply donating money and commended Catholic Charities for all they do for the community.
“Your wonderful network of 27 agencies addresses the physical, social, emotional and economic needs of this community,” he said. “You provide young people with support from neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. You look after the poor — providing quality day care for children from low-income families. Your clear stance for the dignity and sacredness of human life is manifested in the support and educational services offered to young, pregnant women, young parents and their children. You care for sick, elderly and disabled seniors, including members of the Francophone community.
“You give flesh and blood to what Pope Francis has been speaking about for the past two months: ‘You dare go to the frontiers of society which are not only the geographic frontiers but the frontiers of poverty, of exclusion and of those who are furthest from God.’ ”
The dinner was also used to recognize the contributions of three employees of Catholic Charities — Desire Paiva, Marion Barszczyk and Jo-Anne Sheehy — who combined have worked for the organization for 77 years.
In his closing remarks, Cardinal Thomas Collins thanked Catholic Charities for a century of service.
“This evening we think of these 100 years of glorious service of God’s people and of all of the people who have felt the tenderness of the love of God through Catholic Charities in so many different ways,” he said.
“The sign of God’s love on Earth is Catholic Charities. This is Christ among us.”