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Stories of Hope

Two bi-partisan pieces of legislation are calling for the abolishment of the death penalty in Ohio - Senate Bill 101 and House Bill 259. Deacon Ed Irelan, Catholic Charities Jail & Prison Ministry Coordinator; Fr. Neil Kookoothe, Pastor of St. Clearance Parish in North Olmstead; and Joe D' Ambrosio, a man who was on death row for many years before new evidence granted him freedom.

Dan Demski, Director of the Office for Divine Mercy at the Diocese of Toledo, shares the liturgy, symbolism, and the sorrow and joy of Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday, March 24 through to Easter Sunday. All will be celebrated to the Rosary Cathedral and at Catholic churches throughout the Diocese.

Join the pro-life community of NW Ohio as we pray for an end to abortion in Toledo. We seek God’s grace more lives than ever will be saved during our ecumenical 40 Days for Life campaign.

Chef Lynn Sheehan, Opportunity Kitchen Instructor, and Byron Wynn, Opportunity Kitchen and Catholic Charities Volunteer Program Coordinator discuss the program's goals, the current class set to graduate March 20 and the next 10-week class starting April 17. Then Alissa Molina, From Here Media, shares the importance of Catholic Social Teaching and involving youth in social justice service ministries, putting faith in action.

Kevin Jorrey, Director of the Office for Life and Justice, and Allison Stump, Students for Life Coordinator, promote our 40 Days for Life Campaign that starts Feb. 14 and runs through March 24. Then Kevin is joined by Jennifer Sanders, a volunteer from St. Paul Roman-Catholic Church in Norwalk, discussing the "Walking with Moms in Need" parish program across the Diocese of Toledo.

In the final segment, Christopher Bell, a co-founder and now President and CEO of Good Counsel Homes discusses the services offered to pregnant women at their shelters.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo and Saint Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan, OH, are partnering to bring the agency’s crisis navigation services to Williams County residents. Office space will be provided by the Bryan parish and funds from the Diocesan “Living Christ” Campaign will provide funding for the hiring of a Crisis Navigator. This full-time Catholic Charities staff member will provide case management services, budget tools, life skills support, and resources and referrals to parish families and residents of Williams County.

Catholic Charities Student for Life Coordinator Allison Stump and Kevin Jorrey, Office of Life and Justice Director, share highlights of the recent March for Life, along with other participants from the Diocese of Toledo. In the final segment, Dawn Fitzpatrick, the New National Executive Director of the March for Life, shares highlights and plans moving forward.

Catholic Charities Crisis Navigators in Erie, Lucas, and Richland Counties discuss the top current needs for families and Dana Walsh, Catholic Charities Program Director of Social Services discusses crisis navigator services coming to Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Bryan, Ohio. Then Colin Miller, Director of Pastoral Care and Outreach at the Church of the Assumption and founder of The Center for Catholic Social Thought in St. Paul, MN, shares their ministries focused on Catholic Social Teaching.

Dana Walsh, Catholic Charities Program Director of Social Services discusses Catholic Charities Adult Advocacy Services program. Next up, Allison Stump, Catholic Charities Students for Life Coordinator, and Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life and Justice Director, talk about the upcoming March for Life in Washington, D.C. January 19. In the final segment, Father Brian Thomas Becket Mullady O.P. discusses Catholic Social Teachings and his book, Christian Social Order.

2024 Respect Life Initiatives - Post Passage of Ohio State Issue 1. Host Rodney Schuster welcomes Peter Range, Ohio Right to Life CEO, Kevin Jorrey, our Office for Life and Justice Director and Allison Stump, our Students for Life Coordinator, and Stephen Billy, Vice President of State Affairs at SBA Pro-Life America, who shares legislative policy updates and initiatives in other states.

Rodney Schuster, Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo's Executive Director, and Jen Lippus, Catholic Charities Development Director discuss top critical needs for our ministries right now. Both our La Posada Family Emergency Shelter and Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and their children, are full. Helping Hands of St. Louis is feeding record high numbers of individuals daily in our dining room and through our Food Pantry. All need food inventories re-stocked through in-kind donations or financial support https://catholiccharitiesnwo.org/how-to-help/donate.html

Oregon Meijer's Holiday Simply Give! Campaign runs through Sat., Dec. 30, 2023. All proceeds support Helping Hands of St. Louis hot meal and pantry programs that provide food to over 1,000 people each week.

Our Project Bethlehem coordinators share their efforts: Jen Voight, Permanent Supportive Housing Program Coordinator, Willi Meyer, Activities and Facilities Manager at La Posada Family Emergency Shelter, and Sue Shrewsbery, Director of Helping Hands of St. Louis, Laurie Hamrick, Community Emergency Services Case Manager in Mansfield, and Breanna Mantz, Program Coordinator Huron County Community Emergency Services and Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and their children.

This week on "Faith Alive," Deacon Mike Oles, founder of the national Off The Streets ministry, and Deacon Ed Irelan, Catholic Charities Jail & Prison Ministry Coordinator, share how the work of both "Off the Streets Toledo" and Catholic Charities Jail and Prison Ministries are transforming lives in the Diocese of Toledo. A second Off the Streets chapter in the Diocese of Toledo is now underway in Van Wert, OH.

Applications for Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo's Century Farm Awards should be submitted no later than Tues., Oct. 10, 2023. This award honors Catholic families who have maintained a farm or homestead within their family for at least 100 years in the Diocese of Toledo. Bishop Daniel E. Thomas will celebrate a Mass honoring Century Farm Award recipients at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, 307 N. Locust Street, Ottawa, OH. All are invited to attend this Mass celebration and the Awards Ceremony following the Mass!

Veronica LeGuire, Sidewalk Advocate Coordinator, discussing the 40 Days for Life campaign that starts Wednesday, Sept. 27 + runs through Sunday, Nov. 5. Dave Litzenberg, Catholic Business Network chair, talks about upcoming CBN events, starting with Bishop Daniel E. Thomas' talk on Thursday, Oct. 5 at Saint John XXIII. Invite a friend and register online at https://CatholicBusinessNetwork.eventbrite.com. In the final segment, Robert M. Whaples, Hough Family Faculty Fellow and Professor of Economics, Wake Forest University, discusses his latest book, “Is Social Justice Just?”

Host Rodney Schuster interviews Bishop Daniel E. Thomas on his urging to vote no on Issue One, and Kevin Jorrey, Director of the Office for Life and Justice, shares prayer and fasting efforts to help achieve the desired result in voting against the issue.

Dr. Michael Naughton, professor and holder of the Koch Endowed Chair in Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas, speaks on the dignity of work.

Allison Stump, Catholic Charities Students for Life Coordinator, shares upcoming plans, including the Ohio March for Life, Friday, October 6 in Columbus, and National March for Life, Friday, January 19, 2024. Deacon Omar Gutierrez, President and co-founder of the Evangelium Institute - Omaha discusses Catholic Social Teaching and discernment for each individual.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting and forwarding all donations for Maui disaster relief effort dollar for dollar to our sister Catholic Charities agency in Maui, Hawaii. Go to our secure website www.catholiccharitiesnwo.org noting Maui Relief as your donation designation.

Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life & Justice Director, discusses the 40 Days for Life campaign that starts Sept. 27 and runs through Nov. 5. Carolyn Schnapp, Clothing Center Coordinator at Helping Hands of St. Louis shares what donations are needed for the upcoming Winter Coat Fest on Oct. 21. Monsignor Martin Schlag, professor at the University of St. Thomas, discusses how subsidiarity and Catholic Social Teaching can improve health care outcomes in the United States.

Deacon Phil Dinovo and Tom Lucas, Catholic Charities Erie Couunty Program Coordinator, discuss the community meals offered at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sandusky, Ohio. Chris Kramer, a parishioner who helps manage St. Pat Heatherdowns Parish Food Pantry, shares future plans for feeding the community.

Sue Shrewsbery, Director of Helping Hands of St. Louis, discusses this parish ministry's evolution to a model of Catholic Social Teaching, serving hundreds of people daily with a hot meal, food pantry, clothing center, community garden and so much more! Author Mark P. Shea, discusses the roots of Catholic social teaching in Scripture and Tradition and gives simple, practical examples of how it works in ordinary life.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting and forwarding all donations for this disaster relief effort dollar for dollar to our sister Catholic Charities agency in Maui, Hawaii. You may donate on our secure website, noting Maui Relief as your donation designation.

Checks made out to Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, with a notation designating Maui Relief, can be mailed to Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, 1933 Spielbusch Ave., Toledo, OH 43604. Thank you for compassionately supporting those in need!

Helping Hands of St. Louis’ 10th Annual Shoe Fest will be Saturday, August 12. “We are looking for donations and volunteers,” says Sue Shrewsbery. “Last year we gave away over 700 pairs of shoes. We focus on East Toledo families, but no child will be turned away, if we have their shoe size.” New and gently used children's books are also needed.

Beatriz Maya, Executive Director of La Conexión, shares how this community-based organization facilitates the fair treatment of migrants and immigrants in the Diocese of Toledo. Sr. Norma Seni Pimentel, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley shares the emerging needs in the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Texas and her work providing humanitarian relief to immigrants on the U.S. - Mexico border.

Rev. Herb Weber, founding pastor of Saint John XXIII, Perrysburg, now on Senior Status, shares his experiences sponsoring children from Kenya, Bolivia and Equador through Unbound. Scott Wasserman, Unbound President and CEO, shares how the charitable organization is changing lives around the world thanks in part to Diocese of Toledo parishioners!

Breanna Mantz, Catholic Charities Huron County Program Coordinator for Community Emergency Services & Miriam House shares support services offered. Then Lauri Przybysz, Co-founder of Catholics For Family Peace, shares her organization's efforts to support and promote family life.

Kerstin Pakka, Catholic Charities Project Rachel Coordinator, shares the impact abortion can have on couples and the services offered to assist family members on their healing journey. Kevin J. Fitzpatrick MPS, MSCM, from the Office of Justice and Peace of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans shares some of his program ministries there.

Byron Wynn, Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator, and Deacon Ed Ireland, our Jail and Prison Ministry Program Coordinator share volunteer opportunities for us to live out our faith. Writer and author John Clark discusses Catholic Social Teaching and our call "to serve the least among us" as outlined in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25.

Allison Stump, Students for Life Coordinator, shares current efforts to build a culture of life in the Diocese of Toledo. Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life and Justice Director, shares efforts to defeat the proposed anti-life amendment to Ohio's Constitution. Fr. Jeff Kirby, pastor at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church - Indian Land, SC, in the Diocese of Charleston discusses his latest book, "Sanctify Them in Truth: How the Church’s Social Doctrine Addresses the Social Issues of Our Time."

Helping Hands of St. Louis’ 10th Annual Shoe Fest will be Saturday, August 12. “We typically give away over 600 pairs of shoes,” says Sue Shrewsbery. "We focus on East Toledo families, but no child will be turned away, if we have their shoe size.”

The world's largest Catholic fraternal men's organization -- the Knights of Columbus -- is the focus of this week's “Faith Alive” program on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio. Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Willi Meyer, Executive Secretary for the Ohio State Council Knights of Columbus under the leadership of State Deputy Mark Siracusa.

Learn about the recent 40 Days for Life Campaign with Kevin Jorrey, Catholic Charities Office for Life and Justice Director, and friends. Then meet Jessica Hanna, keynote speaker for the upcoming May 8 Friends for Life Fundraiser at the Hilton Garden Inn - Perrysburg.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo is collecting financial donations to support disaster relief efforts in Mississippi after devastating tornados killed 26 people and left widespread destruction. All donations will be passed on dollar-for-dollar to sister Catholic Charities agencies in affected areas.

Host Rodney Schuster welcomes Mike McCartney, Catholic Business Network Member, Michael O. Kenney, featured speaker at the April 20 breakfast event. Then learn about Catholic Charities  Permanent Supportive Housing program from Jen Voigt, Program Coordinator, and how the program improved the lives of one of the families served. 

Learn what Catholic counseling services are available in the Diocese of Toledo. Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Kathy Didion, LPCC-S, Sam Byrne, LPC, and Rev. Jeremy Miller from Corpus Christi University Parish.

Join our 40 Days for Life Closing Prayer Vigil April 1, 2023 at the Toledo Women's Center, 1160 W. Sylvania Avenue, Toledo. The 40 Days for Life Campaign in the Diocese of Toledo began Ash Wednesday and runs through April 2. Prayer Warriors gather daily to offer peaceful and prayerful witness to the dignity of human life outside of this abortion facility.

This week we discuss the May 8, 2023 Friends for Life Fundraiser with Kevin Jorrey, Catholic Charities Office for Life and Justice Director, and Spiritual Jail & Prison Ministries Programming in the Diocese of Toledo with Deacon Ed Irelan, Catholic Charities Justice Ministry Coordinator, Sr. Marguerite Polcyn, OSF, and Rev. John Blaser.
    

Share your Easter Blessings! Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, welcomes Sue Shrewsbery from Helping Hands of St. Louis, Willi Meyer from La Posada Family Emergency Shelter, Vicki Smith from Miriam House, our transitional shelter for homeless women and children in Norwalk, and Susan Dyson from Catholic Charities HOPE Pantry in Mansfield.

The Hoelzle Sisters wanted to do something for others on their birthdays, so they asked for socks! And they donated 300 pairs of children's socks to Helping Hands of St. Louis, a ministry of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo!

On this week's "Faith Alive" program, learn how you can help support Pro-Life efforts to defeat the proposed amendment to Ohio's Constitution and help educate others about this amendment. Listen to the March 7 program online at Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo welcomes your spring cleaning donations for the "Roll It Forward" Rummage Sale, our furniture ministries and for our Helping Hands of St. Louis Clothing Center. Learn what is needed and how your donations help on "Faith Alive!"

Catholic Charities Community Services Focus of This Week's "Faith Alive!" Learn more about our Emergency Services in Mansfield, with Brian Hunt, Program Coordinator, Family Support and Guidance Program Services in Toledo with Brian Rome, our Central Regional Director, and Crisis Navigation + Community Health Services Program Coordinator Breanna Mantz from our Huron County Catholic Charities Office.

Learn how to become a Catholic Charities Volunteer. Tune in to "Faith Alive," Tuesday at 4 p.m. on Annunciation Radio of Northwest Ohio. Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator Byron Wynn shares regional volunteer opportunities throughout the 19-county Diocese of Toledo.

Catholic Charities Helping Hands Clothing Center is in dire need of warm winter hats, gloves, socks and hand warmers. Assembling these items in a gallon-size ziploc storage bag is a great youth group service project and will be greatly appreciated buy the homeless we serve!

Regional staff members discuss Catholic Charities Project Bethlehem, an outreach program to help those we served in Mansfield, Norwalk and Toledo. Individuals, groups and organizations are invited to sponsor an individual or family by donating Christmas gifts to those we serve.

Byron Wynn, Catholic Charities Volunteer Coordinator, the brainchild of Catholic Charities Opportunity Kitchen, and Instructor Chef Saundra Irvine, discuss this intense, fast-paced, 10-week compassionate culinary "boot-camp" providing a skills-driven immersion into the commercial food service industry and transformational life skills for any workforce.

In the first half of the show, year-end and Planned Giving opportunities are discussed with Tom Waniewski, Director of Development. Homelessness Prevention and Rent Assistance is then discussed with Toledo Regional Program Coordinator Brian Rome.

In this "Faith Alive" program Host Rodney Schuster, Executive Director Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo, discusses Homelessness Services with Sue Shrewsbery, Helping Hands of St. Louis Program Director, and the Sandusky Furniture Ministry with Tom Lucas, Catholic Charities of Erie County Program Coordinator.

Kevin Jorrey, Office for Life & Justice Director, and Allison Stump, Students for Life Coordinator discuss the upcoming March for Life on January 20, 2023 in Washington DC. Reserve your seat and board our bus!  Listen in as they share their stories and offer ways for you to get involved!

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