A Celebration of Charity

The building at Oliver Court was decorated and buzzing with people checking out Catholic Charities' different ministries. The hall that serves as a warehouse and food pantry was transformed into a gala dinner location. People enjoyed each other’s company, drinks, and delicious food.
 
Executive Director Dr. Michele Johnston thanked everyone for their support for this fundraiser. “We are truly blessed to have such a compassionate and dedicated community,” she said. “May tonight inspire all of us to continue working towards a brighter future for all those we serve.”
 
The guest Speaker was Fr. Jim Sichko, a Papal Missionary of Mercy and motivational speaker. He is a priest from the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, and when his secretary told him that there was a phone call from Pope Francis for him, he thought it was a prank and hung up. But indeed, it was the real Pope Francis who called him back and told him that he was chosen as one of 100 priests in the U.S. – and 700 worldwide – to be a Papal Missionary of Mercy. He shared not only how he got a selfie with Pope Francis at 4:30 am but also how he witnesses every day that “God is alive, and he provides.”
 
He travels 300 days a year for his ministry without a salary. On one trip to Australia – he usually travels without his priestly attire – he wanted to pray quietly the rosary when the woman beside him tapped him on the arm repeatedly, asking him what he was doing and if he could pray for her. It turned out to be Olivia Newton-John, who at that time was battling cancer for the second time. He gave her one of the crosses he had received from Pope Francis, and after his talk that evening, he saw her and her husband in the cathedral kneeling and praying, although neither was Catholic.
 
That was the beginning of their friendship that led her to enter the Catholic Church closely before her death. In another encounter, he was filling in for a pastor in rural Texas when the father of a family of eleven died suddenly. He wanted to help the family and participated in an FFA auction of two children’s cattle. Not knowing that the bids are per pound – and the steers weighed each around 1,200 pounds – he jumpstarted the bidding from 5 cents to $5, just to be confronted a few days later by his diocese why he paid $20,000 for two cows! However, he had just met a company president who offered him help and eventually covered the auction bill. With those stories, he conveyed the hopeful message that “God is very much alive, and you are blessed.”
 
The 2024 Legacy Medal of Honor was awarded to the late Stephanie Bottom, a passionate advocate for charity, for her hands-on involvement with the Mother Teresa Shelter and Catholic Charities. “She was truly one of the most beloved persons,” always offering a listening ear and a comforting hug for those in need.
 
Special thanks went to the 2024 supporters Fulton-Coastcon, Mike and Ann Lippincott Family in memory of Stephanie Bottom, Frost Bank, Kathy and Rob Black, Facility Solutions Group, Michael and Carolyn Colwell and L&F Distributors.