Catholic Charities celebrate humility, service and lasting Impact at annual appreciation dinner

Laura Keener

Editor

Receptions in Erlanger was teeming with volunteers and supporters of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Covington, March 10, for the annual appreciation dinner. Bishop Iffert, Chris Goddard, executive director, and Deacon Barry Henry, director of Community Ministries and Outreach, welcomed and honored guests.

“The Gospel tells us in Christ’s own words, whatever you did for one of these least of mine, you did for me,” said Deacon Henry as he expressed gratitude to all the volunteers that make the many ministries at Catholic Charities thrive. “Look around tonight, you’ll see the face of Christ. You are the face of Christ to the poor, the marginalized when we serve with those around us.”

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of two awards, the Marcella Strategier Angel of Hope Award and the Community Partner Award.

This year’s Angel of Hope Award was awarded to Rose Schlosser. Jill Walch, director of Donor and Volunteer Engagement, introduced Mrs. Schlosser, highlighting her humility and dedication.

“When we approached Rose about receiving this award, she did something very characteristic. She cried and said, ‘Why me?’” said Ms. Walch. “The answer is simple. That humility is exactly why Rose is the perfect recipient of this award.”

Mrs. Schlosser is a “behind-the-scenes angel, quiet, steady, faithful and deeply compassionate woman,” said Ms. Walch. Mrs. Schlosser serves and prepares meals at Parish Kitchen and does whatever needs to be done. She and her husband also are prolific gardeners, sharing their produce with the Parish Kitchen so that guests have fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Rose is also deeply attentive to the people she serves,” said Ms. Walch. “She notices when guests are not present and she worries about them. Her concern is genuine, tender and rooted in love.”

As a member of the cooking team, Mrs. Schlosser also cooks for staff and board meetings. “Her meals nourish not only our bodies but also the sense of community and connection we share in our work,” said Ms. Walch.

CommonSpirit Health was the recipient of the Community Partner Award. For a decade, CommonSpirit Health has been a pillar of generosity and compassion for the families of St. Joseph Apartments, a supportive housing program serving formerly homeless families with disabilities. Brandy Medaugh, client care specialist and St. Joseph Apartment case manager, praised the partnership as one rooted in genuine service from the very first day. “They didn’t come seeking recognition,” she recalled. “They came with a genuine desire to give back and to strengthen our community.”

Over the years, CommonSpirit has provided everything from school supplies to holiday support, even maintaining their commitment through the pandemic. “Every time they returned with more than was expected — more items, more support, more blessings,” Ms. Medaugh said.

One of the most transformative moments was the redesign of the Christmas program, which empowered children to “earn” gifts through goal‑setting. “It wasn’t about giving less — it was about giving differently,” she explained. “It was about the blessing of giving, the dignity of working hard, and the joy of earning something meaningful.”

In the summer of 2025, Ms. Medaugh launched a literacy program at St. Joseph Apartments, and CommonSpirit immediately jumped in, providing tutors who worked weekly with children. They created homework stations and built a literacy library.

“When I met with the schools before the holidays, they shared that reading scores for several of the children in the program had improved,” said Ms. Medaugh. “That was huge, a direct result of the dedication, consistency and unwavering support of this partnership.”

Ms. Medaugh concluded with gratitude: “Because of you, families are stronger, children are learning, and communities are brighter.”

In his remarks, Mr. Goddard reflected on the importance of service, gratitude, and spiritual encounter. Calling the evening’s event his “favorite day as part of Catholic Charities,” Mr. Goddard said the gathering allows staff and volunteers to pause from daily responsibilities to “stop, reflect, rejoice and acknowledge all the great work.”

He emphasized that their mission extends beyond operations to meaningful human connection, noting that Catholic Charities strives to “encounter them in a deeper way” through intentional practices like prayer groups and Bible studies.  Inspired by the Gospel story of the woman at the well — his “absolute favorite Bible story” — Mr. Goddard highlighted encounter as the heart of transformation for both volunteers and those they serve.

“And as Bishop Iffert reminds us so beautifully, it’s through that encounter that we’re often we’re the ones that are transformed. It’s in growing in that relationship with Christ as a volunteer that we grow ourselves,” Mr. Goddard said.

Bishop Iffert ended the evening saying to those present, “You are like God. You remind me of God,” as an awesome silence fell over the room. “I think we forget that we are supposed to desire to be like God.” Not in an all-powerful, cosmic superhero kind of way, but “we are called to aspire to be like the essential character of God … to be merciful in the way God is merciful … in his capacity for compassion, for mercy, for love.”

“What you’re doing is you’re sharing in the divine work of God to be merciful to those who need him and then to participate in his divine creativity, to spread that goodness around the world,” Bishop Iffert said. “That’s what you do. That’s why we’re so grateful. That’s why this room is such a joy to be part of.”