Catholic Charities Commission Subcommittee focuses on the role of Catholic Charities in the community

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Over the summer months, the Diocese of Covington has participated in a new strategic planning process, focusing on key areas of growth for the Diocese in Catholic Charities, a foundation and Diocesan schools, with commissions being formed to focus on each. Each of these commissions consists of subcommittees which help inform the commissions overall recommendations to Bishop Iffert at the conclusion of the information gathering process. For many involved, these subcommittees served as a space for conversation, education and involvement in the overall direction of the Diocese. Mary Paula Schuh, Catholic Charities board member and co-chair of the Catholic Charities Commission’s Parish and Community Partnerships subcommittee, said that her experience on the subcommittee has been an exciting opportunity.

“We had lots of good discussion, we had lots of great ideas as a result of the meeting,” said Mrs. Schuh. Primarily, she said, the discussion revolved around volunteer engagement, brand identity and serving those in rural as well as urban areas. Mrs. Schuh said her co-chair role was an “opportunity to envision more broadly a role for Catholic Charities in our community through partnership with other organizations.”

“We’ve also talked about expanding services in the rural counties. The Diocese consists of 14 counties, and we want to have a Catholic Charities presence in all those counties,” she said. Her hope is that the work of the Catholic Charities Commission and Parish and Community Partnerships Subcommittee builds a “better understanding across the Diocese of what Catholic Charities does, and I hope that as a result of that, that people are more willing to support, both volunteer their time and financially support Catholic Charitie’s efforts to lift up our community.”

Throughout the process, she said, the members of her sub-committee have been engaged and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. “My biggest takeaway, personally, has just been the passion that people bring to the discussion and the commitment that people have to helping others. It’s heartwarming to see,” she said.

The work has been “gratifying,” she said. “I didn’t expect for as many people to be involved as we’ve had. I mean we had a room full of people, many people, come out and be willing to spend their time on multiple occasions to engage and listen and speak up and share ideas, so that’s been gratifying to me.”

As the work of the first three commissions concludes, the work of the fourth is just beginning. To register for the Diocese of Covington’s Governance Commission and for the opportunity to inform the future of the Diocese, go to covdioplanning.org.