Record Caritas Crowd Helps Kids
30th Luncheon Continues Tradition
A fashion show is a traditional part of the luncheon, sponsored annually by Caritas, the auxiliary of Catholic Charities of the Rockford Diocese. The 30th anniversary luncheon was held April 27 at Giovanni’s in Rockford. (Observer photo/Amanda Hudson)
Long time Caritas volunteers Jody Deery (speaking) and Marie Beck (seated) receive corsages at the 30th annual luncheon. Pat Winn, diocesan director of Catholic Charities, looks on. (Observer photo/Amanda Hudson)
Diana Cole (back left) and Sylvia Salmeron (right) guide the preschool singers from Rockford’s St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center in a song at the Caritas luncheon April 27. (Observer photo/Amanda Hudson)
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
May 5, 2016

ROCKFORD—A record crowd filled dining rooms at Giovanni’s, here, on April 27 for the 30th annual Caritas luncheon to benefit youth programs at St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center.

The event, sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Charities auxiliary, theme this year was “Children: Precious as Pearls.”

Youngsters from the St. Elizabeth preschool wore pearly necklaces as they sang for the crowd before the luncheon began.

Patrick Winn, diocesan director of Catholic Social Services, said this year’s event welcomed a record crowd.

During his remarks, Winn projected a slide of the Caritas board, thanking them, event sponsors and volunteers, founder Lisa Rubin Johnson, musicians Carl and Diana Cole, and the staff and children of St. Elizabeth Center.

“What’s the difference between St. E’s” and other social services providers, Winn asked. To answer, he spoke briefly of St. Elizabeth of Hungary’s assistance to the poor and pointed to “Catholic Community Center” as identifying the ministry as a faith-based center that “really belongs” to the larger community.

Although the center has its challenges, Winn added, “The sky is not falling” because it is “not very dependent on state funding.”

He outlined priorities and programs, challenges and the many volunteers — individuals and groups — who have, and continue to, help the center. He said also that Bishop David Malloy has been “all in with us.”

In his remarks, Bishop Malloy called the Caritas event “a great thing” that provides an opportunity to support the spiritual and corporal works of mercy through the center.

The Jubilee Year of Mercy, he said, encourages Catholics “to live more deliberately, more fully the spiritual works of mercy.”

He added that the corporal works of mercy are specific ways to “make Christ available” to all who come to St. Elizabeth’s.

The center, Bishop Malloy said, has a long-standing context to provide works of mercy, and it will have a long future “provided we are involved.”

He concluded with special thanks to Winn “for all the effort, for all the enthusiasm (and) the vision he puts into it.”

In addition to the children’s songs and the lunch, the event included a style show, silent auction and raffles — all to benefit the “precious as pearls” youngsters at St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center.