Under motto 'Unity and Charity,' CDA holds convention
CHARLOTTE — Essie Walker, a member of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte, has been elected a national director of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas – the first African-American from North Carolina in this top leadership position.
Walker, state regent of North Carolina for the CDA, was named to the post during the organization's 56th biennial national convention in Pittsburgh July 20-24. One of nine national directors, she will begin a two-year term starting in September.
The CDA is the oldest and largest Catholic women's group in the Americas. Formed in 1903 in Utica, N.Y., as a women's auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, today it numbers 68,000 members in more than 1,300 courts in 45 states across the country, as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
The national convention emphasized the CDA's motto, "Unity and Charity," and Walker sees the role of the CDA within the Church as one of fostering unity and inclusion.
The first African-American from North Carolina to hold the position of national director, Walker emphasizes the importance of unity in her own leadership style, making it a personal mission to connect with other members of the CDA.
"I believe that the best way to serve your people is through including everyone," she says.
Walker has been a member of Our Lady of Consolation Church for more than 30 years, where she helped to start a seniors group. Beginning in her parish and continuing with her service in the CDA, she has always been compelled to build connections in the community. She sees the organization as an opportunity for women of the Church to establish connections with one another.
"I feel that the CDA allows women to bond with one another through their faith," Walker says.
Walker has held other leadership positions in the CDA, beginning as treasurer and rising to state regent for North Carolina.
"My philosophy as a leader is: to be a good leader you must learn to follow," Walker says.
Walker sees her position in the CDA also as a way to encourage more women to get involved in the Church.
"I hope other African-Americans will see an opportunity through my election. I hope I inspire other women to strive for their goals," she says.
The CDA convention featured a keynote speech by Bishop Donald J. Kettler of St. Cloud, Minn. Outgoing national regent Shirley Seyfried welcomed the newly elected national officers, who were installed at a Mass and ceremony July 23 by Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik.
— Rachel McKimmon, Intern; William Cone of Catholic News Service contributed.
CHARLOTTE — When Jim Kelley came on board to lead development efforts for the Diocese of Charlotte in the mid-1980s, the diocese was home to 32,000 registered households. Fast forward 30 years and there are now 65,000 registered households.
Kelley has helped to find financial resources to support this "tremendous growth" since Monsignor John McSweeney, then the diocese's vicar general and chancellor, hired him as the diocese's first development director in 1986. Kelley was charged with creating a spirit of stewardship among the people of God and encouraging them to participate in the life and future of their parish.
From his first day on the job, he recalls, there was a three-fold focus on development that went beyond simply raising money.
"The focus has stayed consistent from the first day. First, we wanted people to live stewardship as a way of life, to see how blessed they are – and in gratitude for those blessings to give back their time, talent and treasure. Second, we also wanted people to get closer to Jesus and get closer and engage in their parish community. And third, we wanted the focus to be on changing lives – both the donors' lives and the recipients' lives. We know the Holy Spirit changes lives," he says, "but we can help set up an environment where that can more readily happen."
Under Kelley's tenure, the scope of work for the diocesan development office has expanded significantly.
"When I started, we were only coordinating the Diocesan Support Appeal. Soon after, we were working on capital campaigns," he recalls. "Now we have 24 different efforts in the development office including the successful 'Forward in Faith, Hope and Love' campaign – the largest of its kind in the history of the diocese. That campaign raised pledges of more than $67 million for parish life and ministries, clergy support, Catholic education, Catholic outreach, and pastoral and temporal needs.
"Overall, we have helped raise $497 million (over the past 30 years)," he says. "That speaks to the generosity of the people."
The office also oversees the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation, which since it was established in 1994 has grown to encompass 235 endowments and more than $32 million in assets. It has also conducted 163 capital campaigns to help build churches, activity centers and schools and to help parishes pay off debt.
"We've also had over 900 people indicate to us that they are making gifts to the Church in their estate," Kelley adds.
The diocesan development office has grown from just Kelley and his administrative assistant of almost 30 years, Carol Flynt, to an additional six professional staff and two support staff.
"I have been blessed to work with very talented and hard-working people over the years. I am very proud and appreciative of all their efforts, and look forward to accomplishing more for the diocese."
Kelley, who served as president of the International Catholic Stewardship Council, travels the world promoting stewardship, meeting with people to foster an understanding of what true stewardship is and how to implement it.
"The Church is so dynamic here in western North Carolina. I have had the good fortune to work with more than 100 dioceses over time. There aren't a lot of places that have the dynamic growth that is happening here. Some areas are closing churches and schools. We've had nothing but dealing with growth."
Kelley also stresses that he has noticed great spiritual growth in the diocese.
"At the end of the day, we're looking for spiritual change in parishes. We've seen a lot more things happen spiritually. There were 14,000 people at the Eucharistic Congress last year. More parishes have adult education. More parishes offer Bible studies. We are finding that people are getting more engaged – not just at Sunday Mass, but throughout the week. There is more focus on Adoration, on prayer, on confession, on daily Mass, on developing ministries that serve others. We're seeing that spiritual connection."
These successes point back to the original focus on stewardship set out by Monsignor McSweeney 30 years ago, he notes. "I have learned so much from the three bishops and three chancellors I've worked with here in Charlotte. They have allowed me to share the message of stewardship throughout our diocese and dioceses across the country. There is truly nowhere else I would have wanted to spend the past 30 years than with the pastors and people of the Diocese of Charlotte."
— SueAnn Howell, Senior Reporter