Bishop is honored by Catholic Community Services

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

CCS executives and guests gather at the home of Kevin and Becky Potts. Gathered here are front row: Sallee Drake (left), Deborah Bayle, executive director of United Way and CCS partner; Kevin Potts incoming CCS Board President; Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald; Bishop John C. Wester; back row: Brad Drake, CCS executive director; Becky Potts; and Msgr. Terence Moore, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish, and past CCS executive director.IC photos by Christine Young

DRAPER — Becky and Kevin Potts, members of Saint John the Baptist Parish, opened their beautiful home to Catholic Community Services (CCS) directors, staff, and guests Aug. 19.

The evening event was to honor The Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City. It was also a time for incoming CCS Board President Kevin Potts to entertain, which he loves to do, as well as for others to get to know the CCS directors and what each of their departments do.

Also welcomed and honored were past CCS executive directors Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald and Msgr. Terence Moore, pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish.

The CCS directors are Aden Batar, director of Refugee Resettlement and Immigration; Jose Lazaro, director of Emergency Services; Robert Ingram, director of Treatment Services; Marcie Valdez; director of Northern Utah Catholic Community Services and Special Assistance Program; Jeanne Audiss, director of Finance; and Kathryn Brussard, director of Development and Marketing.

"I would first like to thank Becky and Kevin for hosting this wonderful event," said Brad Drake, CCS executive director. "

After telling a story about a women who said her sons were her most treasured jewels, Drake said the most precious treasures of CCS are those of the staff who work tirelessly everyday who have compassion and caring in their hearts for the work they do.

"I would also like to give my regards and my respect for Bishop Wester, who is one of the most marvelous human beings I have had the opportunity for whom to work," said Drake. "He is a great humanitarian, and he is one of the jewels of the Catholic Church.

Drake also recognized Vicar General Msgr. J. Terrence Fitzgerald, whom he said has become his mentor and his hero.

"I would also like to introduce my better half, my wife, Sallee, who is a big part of my life, and very supportive of all the things I am involved with, and I hope that I am reciprocating that for her. We have been together for 38 years."

"To give you an idea of how old I am, it was Bishop Joseph Lennox Federal (1960-1980), who got me involved in social services," said Msgr. Moore. "He had me go back to Catholic University and get a doctorate degree in social work. Then I came back and was chaplain at Saint Catherin of Siena Newman Center, and I guess he thought I did not have enough to do, and asked me if I would be the CCS resettlement director. That was in the late 1970s when the Vietnam War was coming to a close. That really was such a wonderful blessing in my life, and then later in many other roles at CCS over the years.

"But I still look back, and so many of my best friends in Utah are refugees," said Msgr. Moore. "Many of them came from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Hmong refugees, and then the Polish refugees. It has been a blessing for me to have that foot in social services and human services. I know one has made me a better priest, and I think both those callings, the priesthood and social services have beautifully complimented each other in my life.

"The when I left as executive director in 1993, Bishop William Weigand (1980-1993), asked Msgr. Fitzgerald to follow me," said Msgr. Moore. "It has been a wonderful journey."

"Catholic Charities as CCS was established in 1945 by Bishop Duane G. Hunt (1937-1960)," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "The first director was Msgr. Morton, who was there 10 year. The primary purpose of Catholic Charities was to care for orphans, foster children, and adoptions.

In 1968, I was in Carbon County and was moved to Salt Lake City to become head of CCS," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "I have known every director of CCS since the agency began in one way or another. Each one has brought a tremendous richness of contributions to the agency. The name was changed to CCS in 1981.

"We have always had the right person at the right time at CCS, and now we have Brad Drake, who is exemplary," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "He is the balance of a business person with a balance of care an compassion and care for the community.

"As one looks at the long history of CCS, one sees an evolution of services. Some things modified, dropped, or changed, which is a sign of life of a very vibrant agency," said Msgr. Fitzgerald. "The mission is the care of the people."

"CCS is about the business of acknowledging names, of saying to people, you are not forgotten," said Bishop Wester. "You are unique, we acknowledge you, and we call you by name.

"All of you here who work for CCS, are on the board, are prospective members of the board, and who donate to and support the work at CCS; all that you do is so important and sacred because you are giving people a name and reminding them they are not lost, not forgotten, and not anonymous," said Bishop Wester. "I want to thank you for making me feel welcome. I am very grateful for each and every one of you for all that you do."