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June 2008 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 31A Word With Father BolandThe Voice of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of ChicagoReverend Michael M. BolandAdministrator, Prersident and CEO CatholicCharities of the Archdiocese of ChicagoJUNIOR BOARD: Bridge to the Future of Catholic Charities“Signs of Hope”using American money. JB accountantsIn April, I had the privilege of beingin Washington during the historic about budgeting, how to cash or writeand bankers taught the newcomersfirst visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the a check, and opened checking accountsUnited States, which was appropriatelytitled: “Christ Our Hope.”Junior Board Manager Michaelfor them on the spot.Everywhere he went, Pope Benedictproclaimed by his words and his has never turned down any of CatholicMcDonnell points out that the grouppresence that the good news of the Charities’ 160 programs that haveGospel “makes things happen and asked for assistance, concentratingis life-changing,” because “the one on those that have crucial needs andwho has hope lives differently; the do not receive funding from outsideone who hopes has been granted the sources. Although the JB membersgift of a new life.”are young graduates and professionalsThis month, as American families just starting their careers in business,celebrate Father’s Day, we remember medicine, law, etc., they’re never tooand honor those men who lived—and busy to grab a paintbrush on a Saturdaymorning to paint a childcaretaught us to live—the virtues of faith,hope and love in lives of service to center, or serve a hot meal to 130God, family and neighbor.homeless men and women at CatholicAt Catholic Charities, I see the Charities’ Tuesday Night Suppers.truth of the Holy Father’s words For instance, lawyers from theevery day in our volunteers and Junior Board volunteer once a monthstaff: “people of hope” who create with the Catholic Charities’ Legal Assistanceand Referral Center (LARC)new life for others by serving themin love. These “signs of hope” were to offer legal advice, referrals andeverywhere recently when Catholic occasional pro bono services to ourCharities’ Junior Board, consisting of Tuesday Evening Supper guests.250 energetic young adult volunteers Currently, the exciting new Liferangingin age from 21 to 45, declared Goals Initiative program for thethe month of May “Service Month.” recently homeless men and women inDuring just one May weekend, Catholic Charities’ “Streets-to-Home”these young men and women fromChicago and suburbs:• served a Sunday dinner to 40veterans in recovery at CatholicCharities’ Cooke’s Manor on theHines VA campus;• spent bi-weekly quality time sharingconversation with the elderly “seasonedcitizens” at our Ozanam Manoron Chicago’s Near Northwest side;• joined the multi-talented JB“Michaelangelo Corps” to paint ourCordi-Marian Child Center, (they alsodo landscaping at our child centers);• and set up and served food atCatholic Charities’ annual AdoptiveFamily Night celebration.• They also worked at 11 more CatholicCharities programs in May!In fact, in the first three monthsof this year, JB members worked theequivalent of 137 full-time days forCatholic Charities in dozens of ways,pitching in to package food for the hungryand homeless at our EmergencyAssistance Center at St. Vincent Centerdowntown; and holding workshops forrecent refugee families from Burmaand Africa to teach them the basics ofprogram is kickingoff under thedirection of DeborahSakelaris ofRodas Coaching,who is generouslydonating her trainingservices. EachJunior Board volunteermentor willmeet monthly for ahalf-hour to provide job readinesscoaching to two clients and their casemanagers. After the six-month jobpreparation process is completed, theformerly homeless individuals willbe ready to take their next steps toemployment and self-sufficiency.In addition, the JB Faith andSocial committees enable the volunteersto form networks to enrichand celebrate their faith, and to plansocial activities that raise funds fortheir works of charity.In a world that seems torn apart,the Junior Board is a beacon anda bridge of hope—to the future ofCatholic Charities’ and the Church’slay leadership and service to the poorin the Archdiocese of Chicago.In the last three years, 10 JuniorBoard members have been appointedby Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I.,Archbishop of Chicago, to the ranksof Catholic Charities’ Board of Advisors.Many others are active membersof the Division Advisory Boards thatoversee our programs for families,seniors, children, teens and the homelessand hungry—or support CatholicCharities’ Regional Board and fundraisersin the South, Southwest, West,North and Northwest suburbs.Our Junior Board is already amodel for other dioceses. With ourhelp, the Archdiocese of New Yorkhas just initiated its own Junior Board,and the Archdioceses of New Orleansand San Francisco are laying thegroundwork for their boards.The young men and women of theJunior Board are truly “signs of hope”in our world—following Christ’sexample and “creating new lives” forGod’s people in need.To them, and especially to allthe fathers and grandfathers, unclesand role models who constantlyshare “the gift of new life” in theirloving care for their families andtheir neighbors in need, I offer mycongratulations and thanks, and wishyou a “Happy Father’s Day!”To join or to learn more aboutCatholic Charities Junior Board,visit www.catholiccharities.net/juniorboard, or call MichaelMcDonnell at (312) 655-7768.LOTS FOR SALEWith Plans & PermitsTo Build Three UnitBuilding For $130,000Southeast AndSouthwest SidesCall Bud312-287-5813