Catholic Community Services recognizes humanitarians

Intermountain Catholic

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Msgr. Terrance Moore (right) jokes with Bishop John C. Wester (center) during the Catholic Community Services awards dinner at which the bishop was honored as the Humanitarian of the Year. Aden Batar (left), CCS director of Immigration & Refugee Resettlement, presented Bishop Wester with a letter from Cardinal Francis George lauding him for his leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. Cardinal George is the outgoing USCCB president.

SALT LAKE CITY – Catholic Community Services celebrated its 65th birthday in style Nov. 10, with a star-studded event that included the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City; Gary and Jeanette Herbert, the Utah governor and first lady; Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Quorum of Twelve; and the Right Rev. Scott B. Hayashi, the newly ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, Phil and Sandy McCarthey and Tom and Mary McCarthey, among others.

"Think of tonight as a big birthday party," said Kevin Potts, president of the CCS Board of Trustees, pointing out that the night also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities USA, parent organization of CCS.

The party served as CCS’ annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner.

Bishop Wester was presented with the Humanitarian of the Year award for his work as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration.

The bishop "has a remarkable capacity to identify with … the people facing real challenges and has tremendous compassion for that and translates that compassion into action," said Michael Young, president the University of Utah, adding that Bishop Wester has the capacity to engage others in issues that he considers important.

During the ceremony, Bishop Wester was presented with a letter from outgoing USCCB President Cardinal Francis George. The letter thanked Bishop Wester for his "exceptional leadership" and read, in part, "At this moment in our country’s history when there is so much animosity directed toward certain immigrants among us, yours has been a voice of great compassion and reason. You have built effective bridges with legislators at the national and state level, have earned their admiration and support."

In his remarks, Bishop Wester thanked those present for their own humanitarian efforts. "You helped us to bring a home to people who don’t have one" through CCS’ numerous programs, including foster care, emergency assistance to low-income people, the St. Vincent de Paul dining room and the northern Utah food bank., he said."

"That is what Catholic Community Services is all about and what you are all about, bringing home to those who aren’t, in one way or another," Bishop Wester said. "Jesus Christ did that for his disciples. They were going to go back to Emmaus, but he intercepted them and he spent time with them, and they exclaimed that on hearing his word and on sharing his meal that their hearts were on fire. They were at home with the lord of the hearth and the lord of the heart. That’s what you and I are called to do and what you help to make possible tonight."

Also honored with Humanitarian awards were Maggie St. Claire, who served as CCS executive director from 2002 to 2008, and community activist Pamela J. Atkinson. Sister Julie Beck, general president of the LDS Relief Society, was named Community Partner. Ray and Sarah Osborn and their family were presented with the Unsung Hero award; they have three refugee foster children from Myanmar (formerly Burma.)

The CCS Employee of the Year is Buu Diep, coordinator of the refugee foster care program.