Heart - Diocese of Erie

6featureAs director of Catholic Charities Counseling andAdoption Services, Joseph Haas, L.P.C., ispleased there are offices located all across thediocese offering hope for those in need.“We have offices in nine out of 13counties of the diocese,” he says. “Somelarger areas have more than one siteavailable, so you can find CCCAS allacross the diocese. CSA contributions are utilizedby every office in our agency.” Services in adoptionJoseph Haas, L.P.C.and counseling are offered at all locations. The onlyprograms limited to the Erie office are drug andalcohol counseling and refugee resettlement.“Some offices are only open one day a week,” says Haas, “but wecan expand the hours if there is a need.” In addition to Erie, CatholicCharities Counseling and Adoption Services offices are located inSharon, Bradford, Clearfield, DuBois, Greenville, Grove City,Meadville, Oil City, St. Marys, Warren and the recently openedClarion office.Traveling across the diocese shows why the availability of CCCAS isimportant. People are hurting, and having help close at hand is not onlynecessary, but often critical.Msgr. Jan Olowin meets with studentsat Clarion University.Family related issues are also commonat the Sharon office of CCCAS, which isright across the parking lot from St. JosephChurch, where Father Glenn Whitman ispastor. He, too, considers CCCAS a valuableresource for his parish.“We can supply the bandages or temporaryanswers for people, like a warm meal ora place to sleep for the night,” says FatherWhitman. “But there are usually bigger issuesthey need to deal with, and that’s whenwe refer them to CCCAS for assistance.”He puts it succinctly: “Having them availablehas been a blessing for us.”Spreading hopeacross the dioceseCatholic Charities Counselingand Adoption ServicesFather Leo Gallina, pastor of St.Bernard of Clairvaux Parish inBradford, is used to answering theknock on his door with a smile and“How can I help you?” Usually thestranger is in need of food or a safeplace to sleep; Father Gallina knows Father Leo Gallinahow to help. But when the visitor isdealing with issues beyond his area of expertise, FatherGallina relies on the nearby office of Catholic CharitiesCounseling and Adoption Services.Lisa McLaughlin is a licensed professionalcounselor who divides her timebetween the Bradford and WarrenCCCAS offices. The reasons peoplecome to her vary.“I see many pregnant or single motherswho are in need of diapers and babysupplies because they have fallen on Lisa McLaughlindifficult times,” she says. “I also counselindividuals, couples with marital problems and coupleswho want to get married but require counseling becausethere is a baby involved or one of the partners isunder the age of 19.” Finally, adoption issues are alsohandled through this office.Father Gallina depends on the services of CCCASas a resource for his parishioners.“When you live in the rural areas like we do, it can behard for people to drive to Erie or DuBois,” he says. “It’s sofar to go. I’m very happy this is available in our area.”In September 2009, a new CCCASoffice opened in Clarion, convenientlylocated right across the street fromClarion University. Students from theCampus Ministry Center are getting theword out that help is available for thosewho need it. They know Catholic CharitiesCounseling and Adoption Services offersa safe havenand qualified personnel.Msgr. Jan Olowin is the campus ministerat Clarion University. The office is activebecause the need is definitely there.“There are tremendous pressuresbecause of unemployment,” he says,“and that hurts the studentsas well as the ruralcommunity.”Now they are all being served by thenew Clarion office of Catholic CharitiesCounseling and Adoption Services.True to form across the diocese … ifthere is a need, there is a CCCAS officenearby to help.MeadvilleSharon ClearfieldDuBoisErieGrove CityWarrenBradfordClarionGreenvilleOil CitySt. Marys