Annual Report
Dear Friends of Catholic Charities,
It is a pleasure for me to present the 2023 Annual Report for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. This coming March will mark my 25-year anniversary of service as the Executive Director of this blessed organization. It’s hard not to get a little nostalgic. While I have many stories and reflections, the greatest delight has been the people I have met along the way, across this diocese and beyond. There are so many wonderful communities throughout our 28 counties and so many incredible people who live in them. Our dedicated staff, volunteers, boards, and donors come from all over and band together to serve our brothers and sisters most in need with the love and mercy of our Savior. It has been such an unbelievable honor and privilege to have worked alongside so many compassionate and servant people.
In October of 2023, I attended the Eucharistic Congress sponsored by our diocese. Experiencing the joy of celebrating the Eucharist with 5000 fellow Catholics on this day was incredible! At the Catholic Marketplace, we hosted a booth to provide information about the long history and programs of Catholic Charities. I had the opportunity to see several old friends from various communities with whom I had worked over the years and a chance to talk to many people about our important ministry of the Church.
The most profound experience from working at the Catholic Charities booth was meeting several people who told me, unsolicited, what Catholic Charities meant to them in their lives. One woman tearfully retold the story of her own adoption through Catholic Charities. She said she could not have had more loving parents than the couple who adopted her. Another told me that her aunt often spoke fondly of her childhood growing up at the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton. Later, a man expressed how Catholic Charities was there for his cousin when he was “down and out,” helping him with food, rent, and utility assistance. Today his cousin is back on his feet, working and raising a family. These powerful testimonies reinvigorated and reinforced my belief in the Mission of Catholic Charities and the power of God’s love.
As you read this report, I ask you to remember that it’s not just about the total number of people we serve every year. Each number is a human person; a child of God with a story of their own about how Catholic Charities helped them in their time of need. Thank you for your support of our efforts.
Sincerely,
Steven E. Roach, M.S.
Executive Director
Catholic Charities
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois