Celebration of Caring 2013

Details: 01 February 2013

I am excited to announce that our 26th annual Celebration of Caring Banquet is scheduled on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. The social hour begins at 4:30 p.m., with the dinner program starting at 6 p.m. We have a lot to celebrate because of the grace of God and the love and generosity of the faithful of southern Nebraska and beyond.

We will be eternally grateful to Bishop Louis Kucera who started CSS in the midst of the Great Depression. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to start a Catholic Social Service organization in the midst of such a severe economic downturn. Now 81 years later, CSS still is helping needy individuals and families regardless of race, religion and ethnicity as outlined in the 25th chapter of Matthew, verses 31 to 46.

Much has changed over the decades. The biggest news to report is how much we have grown and expanded over the last several years. In addition to having four permanent, fixed sites – St. Francis Center in Auburn, St. Joseph Center in Lincoln, St. John Vianney Center in Hastings, and the St. Isidore Center in Imperial, CSS has expanded its mobile food pantries to 19 communities across southern Nebraska: Falls City, Tecumseh, Pawnee City, Ashland, Seward, Crete, Wahoo, David City, Shelby, Fairbury, Hebron, Geneva, Harvard, Clay Center, Sutton, Superior, Minden, Orleans, and Imperial.

In addition to our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center, CSS now has expanded its counseling services which incorporate the Catholic faith to 13 satellite office sites: Falls City, Auburn, Nebraska City, Beatrice, Plattsmouth, Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, Newman Center, Wahoo, David City, York, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook.

Now our highly-trained mental health professionals are able to provide over a greater area than ever before, counseling to individuals and families young and old for most psychological difficulties including anxiety, depression, marital difficulties, behavioral problems, addiction, eating disorders, parenting, bipolar, personality disorders, and post-abortion counseling.

In addition, we answer the Project Rachel/post-abortion counseling hotline for the entire state of Nebraska. Not only do we accept most insurance plans and Medicare, we also have a grant system that supplements payments for individuals who are un-insured or under-insured, thanks to the generous support of the people of southern Nebraska.

This year, for the first time, CSS will have a small number of silent auction items, along with one live auction item - a dinner for four couples with our new bishop, Bishop James Conley, prepared by a gourmet chef.

Lastly, I am elated to announce that John and Stella Sinclair will be receiving the CSS 2013 Cor Christi award for what they have done and how they have served the mystical body of Christ over many years. Their story is inspiring.

I hope many of you are able to join us at the Cornhusker Hotel Sunday, Feb. 24 as we thank Almighty God for what He has done through us and those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith over the 81 years of our existence. Please pray for us and be assured of our prayers for you, your families and intentions.