Catholic Charities celebrates

50 years of service to the poor

True to its heritage, Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi was handing out sandwiches to the homeless at the entrance to its celebration recognizing 50 years of ministry to the poor of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. The evening of celebration on Sept. 10 was held at the organization's outdoor rose garden, which was made possible by the hundreds of supporters who came out to celebrate the occasion.

"I want to personally thank you for being such an important part of our community and loving those who feel that they cannot be loved and caring for those who so many have given up on," Mayor Nelda Martinez said to those gathered for the occasion.

The mayor told Bishop Michael Mulvey and the many supporters of Catholic Charities she appreciated their commitment and leadership. She then read a proclamation making Sept. 10 Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi Day.

Catholic Charities got its start in the fall of 1965 when a young associate pastor at the Corpus Christi Cathedral, Father Richard Shirley, began handing out bologna sandwiches to the homeless. Msgr. Shirley recalled that he was in the rectory counseling a young couple that was preparing for marriage when there was a knock on the door.

"Someone asked if we had something to eat. I told him to wait a minute and went inside to prepare a sandwich but I dropped the jar of mayonnaise and it broke," Msgr. Shirley recalled. From that time on he directed the housekeeper to have 50 sandwiches in the freezer, which they would heat up in the microwave and put in a bag along with an apple when someone came knocking.

"At that time we and the Greek Orthodox Church were the only ones living downtown, all the rest hightailed to the south side after services," Msgr. Shirley said.

On Sundays, after the noon Mass, they would have some 75 people come by for sandwiches so the parish decided to rent a storefront on Leopard St. and purchased some used restaurant equipment. They named the place Loaves and Fishes but as they were getting ready to open Metro Ministries came into town and asked if they could take it over. The Cathedral Parish agreed provided they would offer at least two meals daily.

From those modest beginnings, Catholic Charities grew to where today they provide a variety of services to some 200,000 people annually. They operate programs on emergency aid, representative payee services, disabilities, counseling, housing, immigration and refugee services and community wellness. Their sister agency, the Mother Teresa Shelter, provides meals and other activities for the homeless as well as transitional housing for men.

"May all of us who help each other know that we are all brothers and sisters in the same Father," Bishop Mulvey said in his blessing.

Catholic Charities board members and staff were on hand to oversee the celebration. Board members Sammie Grunwald and Caryl Devlin served as event co-chairs, Mike McLellan gave special thanks on behalf of the board and Father Richard Libby provided the opening blessing. McLellan thanked all the contributors to the Rose Garden, and singled out the John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation, CITGO Refinery and Terri and Michael Schmidt for their generous support as "archangels."

Dave and Lauren Moore provided musical entertainment for the evening.