A Message From the New Board President

Dear Supporters, 

As the new Board President of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, I am honored to introduce myself. My wife, Brenda, and I have been parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish in Warsaw for 39 years. I retired from Zimmer Biomet in 2020 as an Engineering Project Director for new products that gave people back their quality of life. 

Serving on the board the last three years has been a rewarding and an eye-opening experience. I found that serving in both the world of business and non-profit is about helping people find that quality of life. I want to thank Dr. John Fallon, our past Board President, for his dedication and leadership. Under his guidance, our agency has grown strategically to help the vulnerable in many capacities. 

As we experience our favorite holy days of Easter, Pentecost and May honoring Mary, I can’t help but think of why. Why are they our favorite time of the year outside of Christmas? I think it is because as Catholic Christians, we have hope. Our hope is eternal, even in uncertain times, because we know who is in control and it is not us. Jesus Christ instilled in us the hope of a holy life and whatever we do in this life, it is for His purpose. 

Catholic Charities lives this every day, guiding and helping those in need with the hope things will get better and there is a reason for their struggles. You can see it in their eyes wanting to believe their situation has a chance of improving, feeling Christ’s love from our staff and leaders. 

Over the years, our agency has faced many challenges from national crises to local needs. We have endured and moved forward, always focused on serving others. Our mission is rooted in Christ’s example, and we have been able to persevere for over 103 years because of this foundation.

We are grateful for your ongoing support of our work. Your time, talent, and treasure make a difference for the least among us. We hope you will continue to join us in our vital mission.

God Bless,

Brad Durcholz | Catholic Charities Board President