Story by Reagan Scott
HASTINGS (SNR) — On Sunday Sept. 15, Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska hosted its annual “Bountiful Harvest Banquet” in Hastings. Proceeds from the event will support Catholic Social Services’ charitable work in Hastings and throughout Adams County.
Sunday’s event was also special for another reason: it was there that CSS unveiled its new logo and branding.
John McDermott is the director of marketing and development for CSS and designer of the new brand. He took on the position in January 1996, and is also responsible for the fundraising, publications and events for the agency.
McDermott said that Catholic Social Services’ current logo, a green leaf, was rolled out in 1994 or 1995. This logo was accompanied by the slogan, “Sowing Seeds of Hope,” which isn’t used very much by the organization anymore.
“We felt that it was time to freshen things up and show that we are diocesan-wide,” McDermott said.
This inspiration came from the realization that many people did not know how far the reach of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska extended. McDermott said that it felt fitting to unveil this new logo, which reflects the work of CSS in the entirety of the diocese, at an event in the south-central part of the state.
The new logo is full of symbolism intended to convey the fact that CSS really does serve the entirety of the Lincoln Diocese which includes everything south of the Platte River, from Nebraska’s eastern border with Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, to the one with Colorado on the west.
Encompassed in a circle designed to represent the Eucharist, a symbol of the Catholic Faith which unites the diocese, there can be found both a road and fields symbolizing the rural and urban parts of the diocese. A blue line above them represents the Platte.
Now, Catholic Social Services will begin the transition of putting its new logo on all of its signage, letter heads, publications, trucks and transportation vehicles.
CSS employees really had the opportunity to “own” the new brand as they voted internally on which design they preferred.
Father Justin Fulton, the executive director of CCS said, “We felt it was important for our employees to vote and choose the brand.
“This way we empower the laity who do the majority of the work we provide,” he continued. “It gives all people a sense of ownership and pride in doing God’s work in the Heartland.”
CSS’s old slogan will be replaced with “Hope in the Good Life,” which will be used on Catholic Social Services’ social media in conjunction with its other well-used hashtag, #cssisus.
Now that the logo and slogan have been rolled out, McDermott said one of the main goals for CSS in regard to the branding is, “Letting folks know what the image is, what that means and what it conveys.”
This also includes highlighting the work of Catholic Social Services in other parts of the state.
Hastings is home to both the Saint John Vianney Center, the town’s CSS office, and Saint Joseph Gift and Thrift. Proceeds from the Bountiful Harvest Banquet will help support the food pantry, emergency services and sack lunch program in the area in addition to Saint Gianna’s efforts in the western part of the state.
CSS also operates Saint Isidore Gift and Thrift in Imperial, St. Francis Gift & Thrift in Auburn, and works locally with different parishes to assist where they can.
CSS’s Lincoln work is primarily conducted at the St. Joseph Center, 2241 O St., the site of St. Louise Gift & Thrift as well as Gianna’s Java and Gelato, and at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center, 3700 Sheridan Blvd.
McDermott said, “Our hope is that when people look at our logo, they will know that those we serve and those who help us serve are across the entire diocese. Also that they can help us bring hope to those we serve.”
