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CONNECTIONS CSS VOL. 14, ISSUE 3 WINTER 2011 A NEWSLETTER OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES Notre Dame Mission Volunteers Give Year of Service CSS initiated a new partnership this year with Notre Dame Volunteers come from all over the U.S. and bring Mission Volunteers (NDMV), which works with the impressive academic credentials and work experience. Corporation for National Community Service to place over Maryland native Melanie Weyant, a graduate of 300 recent college graduates in yearlong “Americorps” service Elizabethtown College, works at De LaSalle in Towne, part commitments with nonprofit community organizations. We of the St. Gabriel’s System. She wanted to work with a program that shared her compassion and desire to change lives: “I see the fruits of my labor every day in the clients I work with at De La Salle in Towne. I am so thankful to dedicate a year of my life helping adjudicated youth and learning about the Family Court system.” Wagner College graduate Sophie Fonner, from Washington, VT, serves at Guardian Angel Mother-Baby Residence within St. Vincent Homes. She has experience in international human rights issues, cultural diversity, and tutoring experience and has worked with survivors of domestic violence. “At Guardian Angel Home I am the (Continued on page 8) IN THIS ISSUE • Deacons — Ministers of Charity • “Don Guanella” canonized a Saint • CSS Employees of the Year • Women’s Auxiliary Honors Denise Clofine • Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children • Mercy Hospice Transitioning Ceremony • Servant Leadership: CSS Style are pleased to have seven NDMV Americorps members • St. Gabriel System honored by LaSalle University working in our agency this year, thanks to the efforts of • Around and About CSS Estela Reyes-Bugg, Administrator of Volunteers, Community • In Memoriam Relations, and Training. Estela welcomes the “talent, energy, • Mother Bachman Center Acknowledged in Congress creative input, compassion and vision” that these young people bring to the agency. Clinton Drees, the NDMV Philadelphia Site Director, feels the new partnership with CSS “has provided an opportunity to diversify our program and expand the range of individuals we serve. NDMV placed with CSS are benefitting from both enriching service to those in need, and developing their social consciousness.” CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES ● A DIVISION OF CATHOLIC HUMAN SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA ● 222 N 17TH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103 PAGE 2 A Message from Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr. Secretary for Catholic Human Services While people of all ages take delight in of social circumstances and economic conditions beyond their this beautiful and joyous season of control, but not beyond our capacity to remedy through Christmas, it is a time that is works of charity on their behalf. That is what we do particularly special for children. We can throughout the five-county region for over 16,000 children all remember those special moments of and youth each year. Our Holy Father said recently that "A our early years when the anticipation of work of charity speaks of God, it announces a hope and induces us to ask Christmas grew with each questions. Such works passing day, heightened are born of the faith. by the appearance of They are works of the Christmas lights, Nativity Church, expressions of scenes, and holiday her concern for those decorations. Even as the who suffer most.” days grow darker and shorter, the faces of Consider the question of children light the way, as relatives at the birth of they write out their gift John the Baptist: 'What wish lists, bake cookies, will become of this child?' That question expresses and sing Christmas carols. The Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children assists CSS agencies for both hope and concern, It is a time tailor-made for children referenced below. If you would like to make a donation to the and could well be asked children, whose gleeful Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children please visit the website: as we behold the response to receiving and www.archbishopschristmasbenefit.org opening presents reminds wondrous potential of us what it means to be every child, especially filled with awe and wonder. those born into poor and unstable households. Our response to that question is visible in the corporal and spiritual works One of my favorite Christmas songs is “What Child is This?” of mercy carried out every day in places like St. Vincent which depicts the baby Jesus sleeping peacefully on his Homes, St. Francis-St. Joseph Homes for Children, Casa del mother Mary’s lap. That serene Nativity image took on new Carmen, St. Gabriel’s System, St. Edmonds Home for Children, meaning when I saw a contemporary painting of Mary with and 10 Out of School Time Programs — all supported by the her infant son as she flees the pursuit of Herod’s soldiers Archbishop’s Christmas Benefit for Children. trying to find and kill him. The image strikingly portrays Mary’s eyes and posture with the fierce resolve of a mother As we again celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ among us, we determined to protect her child from danger. She was an give thanks to God for our benefactors and volunteers, as instrument of God’s providential care for His Son, who together we make a difference in the lives of our most would later “lay down his life as a ransom for the many.” treasured and precious resource – our children. A joyous Christmas season to you and yours. I think that Mary’s maternal role aptly describes the mission God has entrusted to us as CSS. Unfortunately, the joy and peace of Christmas that I described earlier is not a universal CSS CONNECTIONS BOARD experience shared by all children. Some suffer violence and • Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr., Secretary for Catholic Human Services abuse, others are neglected and abandoned, and still others • James Amato, Deputy Secretary for Catholic Social Services live in family situations so difficult that Christmas gifts are • Edward Lis, Director of Catholic Mission Integration foregone in favor of basic survival needs. Such tragic realities • Dave Reid, Editor are not only in far-off underdeveloped countries – they occur CSS Connections is published three times a year. Questions, ideas or comments may be directed to Dave Reid at 484.475.2463, or [email protected] right here in our own hometowns, amidst neighborhoods ‘just around the corner.’ These children are innocent victims Please visit us at: www.catholicsocialservicesphilly.org PAGE 3 Permanent Deacons — Ministers of Charity This is the next in a continuing series that features some of the clergy and While they are clergy, deacons have jobs, families and religious men and women who currently serve in Catholic Social Services. homes. As Deacon Joe notes, deacons are like “bridges In this edition, we feature one of our staff who belongs to between those two parts of the Church, with an ability to the first rank of the clergy, the Order of Deacons. Joe relate to the life experience of both priests and laity. We Lonergan has been an immigration lawyer with CSS for ten need to have one foot solidly placed in each world” with years, and is also a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of support and understanding of each, “in order to live with Philadelphia. Born in Highland Park, he attended St. Charles comfort and peace.” Seminary for four years before discerning that God was not Deacon Joe sees his legal work with immigrants as an calling him to be a priest. He graduated from LaSalle College extension of his diaconal ministry of charity. He has helped and was drafted by the U.S. Army, serving from 1969-71. those applying for political asylum from places like Albania, During that time he married wife Kathleen; they have two Liberia, and Indonesia, and assists people applying for sons. After discharge, Joe attended Temple Law School and “green cards” to establish legal residence here. A lot of his worked at a law firm and private practice for nearly 30 time is spent in “family reunification” helping people to years. He joined CSS Immigration Services in 2001 for bring their relatives here, or keep a family started here “more rewarding work with people in real need.” together. For those who might ask why the Church is Teaching CCD classes in his parish, Mary Mother of the involved in this work, Deacon Joe references Leviticus 19, Redeemer, led to taking courses at St. Charles Seminary which “exhorts God’s people to take care of aliens in your again. By year’s end, he felt God calling him to be a deacon, land, because you once were aliens in land of Egypt; you shall and a priest friend encouraged him to pursue it. Ordained in love them as yourself. That line is very telling where 90% of 2006 and stationed at his home parish, he preaches and serves at mass, teaches children in religious prep and adults in the RCIA, and coordinates the Pre-Cana program for engaged couples. The wife of a married deacon candidate assents to and participated in the formation process. It is common to hear the phrase “deacon couples” because of the essential support and active involvement of wives in their husbands’ diaconal ministry.” Fraternity with fellow deacons is also extremely important, as Deacon Joe notes: “There is a rich fellowship among us as deacons, which helps us to carry out our ministry effectively. We are a true community of deacons.” Deacons have a threefold ministry of Sacrament, Word, and Charity. They serve at Mass, assisting at the altar during celebration of the Eucharist. They proclaim the Gospel and preach homilies. They perform baptisms of children, lead us who once were alien in this country.