Father Frank O’Rourke, pastor of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, receives the Vineyard of Hope Award from Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s executive director, Dr. Gerard Carter. (Photos provided by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte)CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte welcomed a record number of 450 people to its 16th Annual Vineyard of Hope fundraising gala Feb. 28 at the Crowne Plaza ballroom.
The annual gathering is an opportunity to raise funds for critical services needed in the community, to celebrate the life-changing work that has been accomplished over the past year and to honor someone in the community who has made a difference with the Fruit of the Vine Award.
Father Frank O’Rourke, pastor of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and one of the first priests ordained in the early days of the Diocese of Charlotte, was this year’s Fruit of the Vine Award recipient.
“Award recipients are chosen because of their tireless work and how they live out their faith through care and dedication to our neighbors in need. Recipients truly serve as the hands and feet of God in the Charlotte community,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Charities.
Father O’Rourke was recognized for his 40-plus years of leadership, dedication and compassionate service, especially to the poor and the marginalized in the community.
Carter admitted that Father O’Rourke humbly and repeatedly declined when he informed him about receiving the Fruit of the Vine Award.
“I finally said to him, ‘I’m sorry but it’s not about you,’” Carter said, drawing laughter from all those in attendance.
Over the course of his life and especially as a pastor, Father O’Rourke has been “an exceptional supporter and encourager of parish ministries dedicated to the poor and marginalized, outreaches to those who mourn, the dying, the uninsured, mothers facing unplanned or difficult pregnancies, the imprisoned, refugees, immigrants, the unborn, persons with disabilities, those who lack clothing and those who hunger,” Carter said.
After a brief video honoring Father O’Rourke, he took to the stage amid thunderous applause to accept the award.
“I am certainly honored, humbled to receive this award,” he said. “As I thought about ‘Vineyard of Hope,’ I would say that Catholic Charities is just that: a vineyard of hope that speaks to people in their most needy times and renews people in hope.”
He pointed out that one of the Eucharistic Prayers at Mass speaks of being renewed in hope.
“I couldn’t help but think today, the Fruit of the Vine Award – us priests, we pray that every day: ‘fruit of the vine, work of human hands.’ The work of Catholic Charities is the hands of the Church reaching out,” he said.
That outreach is without prejudice, he continued, “meaning that it isn’t just Catholic people that we are called to minister to. We are called to reach out to all of God’s people.
“Catholic Charities does that in a particular way.”
In fact, Catholic Charities reports that thanks to the generosity of donors last year:
- 249,498 pounds of food and personal items were distributed to 6,503 people
- 134 refugees were welcomed and resettled
- 491 refugees received ongoing assistance
- 145 refugees secured employment through job placement services
- 339 legal immigration services helped establish permanent residence and reunite families
- 933 mental health counseling services helped people get through difficult times
- 65 families received burial assistance to provide a dignified burial for a loved one
- 59 residents participated in the Transition Out of Poverty program
- 67 volunteers provided 5,308 hours of service
Because of the record number of attendees, organizers of this year’s 16th Annual Vineyard of Hope gala said they hoped to top last year’s fundraising amount of $117,000 in Catholic Charities’ efforts to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty in the Charlotte region.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior Reporter