by Katie Patrick
For the past 27 years, Catholic Social Services has hosted the CSS Memorial Golf Classic and Auction in memory of one of our own. We have recognized former volunteers, donors, staff and community members who have impacted our mission by performing the Works of Mercy in response to the call of God.
This year—today, in fact—we are happy to hold the 27th annual CSS Memorial Golf Classic & Auction in honor of Jose Quintero. Our good friend Jose passed away June 16, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their children, Katie and Matthew.
In 2002, Jose began volunteering in the food pantry of Catholic Social Services in Lincoln, located at the time in the John XXIII Center. Jose had a deep passion for the mission of Catholic Social Services, and for feeding the hungry. He developed relationships with local food sources, including three Panera Bread locations, setting up weekly donations from these businesses.
Jose convinced the former Ideal Grocery store to provide dairy, potatoes, and cheese at a price just above cost. He identified local areas of need and made food deliveries to them three times a week. He made sure that everyone receiving assistance was aware that it came from Catholic Social Services in the hopes of attracting interest in the Faith he so loved.
Jose continued to volunteer after the CSS Lincoln offices moved to 23rd and O streets. He added teaching English once weekly at our Guadalupe Center at the CSS O Street location.
It was around this time that I started to volunteer at CSS as a student from Pius X High School. I remember the calm, patient, and respectful manner in which Jose interacted with the students. We welcomed and taught adult students from Afghanistan, Iraq, Central America and various African countries. I consider Jose my first teacher who taught me how to connect with and instruct English as a second language—a skill and a passion that I pursued for years to come. (If I wasn’t an executive director, I would certainly be in an ESL classroom!) With Jose at the helm, he showed me how to listen, how to speak slowly and clearly, and how to practice reflective listening with each and every student.
On one particular occasion, I brought in a dozen or so menus from The Garden Cafe, where I worked part-time, and we had the students practice ordering off menus. The students were so enamored with the exercise and the various American dishes, that for the following class we hosted a potluck. Every student, myself included, brought in traditional homemade food. We had so many varieties and spent the entire time learning the names of the entrees and repeating them over and over. My kolaches were a hit!
There is nothing quite like sharing one’s culture through food that brings people together. Jose knew this, and I will always look back at that day and all the other days we spent together teaching English with gratitude—gratitude for the life lessons that he taught me, too.
May his soul rest in the glory of God our Father for all eternity.
You can support the golf tourney and auction by going to csshope.org/cssgolfauction to browse our items, bid online or to make a donation! Bidding will close Friday evening!
