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catholic charities in the diocese reorganizes under the coaltiion umbrella

By LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

After a brief life and then a questionable future, Catholic Charities of Southern Illinois has returned, implementing recommendations from a task force appointed in 2006 by Bishop Edward K. Braxton.

The Catholic Charities model was introduced in the diocese in 1999 when then-Bishop Wilton Gregory started a conversation with the various diocesan outreach agencies.

Eventually, a director was appointed, the agencies were brought under the Catholic Charities umbrella and moved forward.

In 2006 the money to fund the director’s and secretary’s positions ran out, and the “drawing board” was brought out again. Given the present economic circumstances and the cutbacks that agencies have been forced to accept, reappointing a paid director didn’t seem feasible.

The question: Should the diocese continue to try to support a Catholic Charities entity in a diocese that already had a number of agencies ministering to a variety of groups of people in all parts of the diocese?

Bishop Braxton’s task force began meeting in 2006 and, after 18 months of meetings, presented a report with a number of recommendations to him that are presently being implemented.

Looking at the history of ministry in the diocese, the task force realized services were being offered by a number of agencies, some that were established in the diocese, like Catholic Social Services, and some that grew from needs, like Daystar, which was established in Cairo by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, and is now operated by the diocese.

Because, as task force chairman, Ray Heinen, said, these agencies often had charismatic and/or dedicated leaders, a Catholic Charities model could not usurp their power and fold them into some other agency.

Most people recognize Joe Hubbard and Gerry Hasenstab, not only because of their leadership of Catholic Urban Programs but also because they are genuinely and selflessly committed to the poor, the neglected and the marginalized.

To bring diocesan agencies once more under a Catholic Charities umbrella, coalitions were formed to group the types of ministries that are offered in the diocese.

The Christian Ministry Coalition contains CUP, St. Vincent de Paul, CSS, Daystar, Poverty Services and Catholic Campaign for Human Development; Pastoral Ministry Coalition contains Ministry to Sick and Aged, Prison Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Respect Life and Rural Life Ministry. The third coalition, Elder Service Coalition contains the Hincke-Sense Residence (for retired priests), Fox River — Assisted Living (under CSS) and Senior Employment Program (under CSS).

Two representatives from each coalition have been appointed to the Catholic Charities board, with Mike Schuette of Poverty Services serving as board chairman.

Five members at large are presently being appointed.

Right now Catholic Charities has no director because, according to the task force, the director should be a volunteer position and has not as yet been filled.

Much of the board’s work, according to some of its members, is to serve as a networking tool for the various agencies, especially those within the coalitions.

The need to move forward with a Catholic Charities model, according to Schuette, exists in part, to coordinate activities of agencies, to increase inter-agency communications and awareness, and to make sure all geographic locations of the diocese are covered.

Because the Catholic Charities model is recognized nation-wide, it would also make it easier for the diocese to utilize training and expertise from the national organization and open up the possibility to apply for and receive grants, board members said.

The coalition model maintains each agency’s autonomy while still promoting interagency networking, Father Gene Neff, task force and coalition member, said.

Future challenges, Father Neff said, include being “truly collaborative without trying to exert power and control over other individuals or other ministries and agencies and to leave personal agendas ‘at the collaborative door,’ because money will always be a contentious issue.”

Accepting those challenges, the present board, includes Schuette, Hubbard, Sue Neuharth, Father Neff, Laurie Edwards, Gary Huelsmann and at-large members Father Ken York, Sister Mildred Gross, ASC, Mark Moran and Steve Stone.

Other at-large members are expected to be appointed.

Sister Cecilia Hellmann, ASC, a task force member, and coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, looks to the future of Catholic Charities with an eye on ministry.

“We all simply need to continue to serve the people of the diocese through our pastoral and/or social outreach,” she said.