The Voice of Hope dinner in its current form was first held in 2000. And each year, an award is given out to individuals or organizations who help celebrate the unity and identity of the Catholic Charities’ Services in the Diocese of Youngstown. Our Dennis Biviano had the chance to speak with representatives of the two winning organizations and has more.
Paul Homick is the President of the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley. It’s an organization which supports the work of Mercy Health Youngstown, the largest medical provider and employer in the community.
“All of the projects and programs we do, specifically focused on community health, infant mortality initiatives, cancer, cancer screenings, the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center, and Joanie’s Promise, which ensures that all of our patients get the services that we offer, regardless of ability to pay,” says Homick.
In his nearly 10 years as president, Homick and his team have worked on several housing initiatives with Catholic Charities, including finding pregnant or new mothers a safe environment to live.
“And now recently we’ve been talking about the possibility of some other initiatives specifically around respite housing for those who are released from the hospital and need a place to go to recover, but don’t need that higher level of care from a long term care facility,” says Homick.
Rachel Hrbolich, Director of Catholic Charities, says her organization and Mercy Health are excited about two new initiatives currently underway.
“We continue to work on projects together. In fact, we have two such projects that are happening right now that we hope to be telling the community about very soon,” says Hrbolich.
Homick says, in local communities, it’s important to cultivate hope.
“We need to cultivate hope, and the “Voice of Hope” recognition, especially this year when Pope Francis calls all of us to be “Pilgrims of Hope,” is highly significant and certainly a great honor for us,” says Homick.
“I’m very excited that it’s a recognition of all of us,” says Father John-Michael Lavelle, pastor of Saint Michael Parish in Canfield.
Saint Michael Parish in Canfield is also honored as a 2025 Voice of Hope Winner. Accepting the award is the church’s pastor, and diocesan Vicar for Missionary Discipleship, Father John Michael Lavelle, a two time winner, who is also celebrating 25 years in the priesthood. Father Lavelle says there’s always been a long-standing pattern in his parish of providing service to those in need.
“The parish, for decades, has provided breakfast on Saturday mornings at the Saint Vincent DePaul soup kitchen and that’s a wonderful and long-standing tradition. Our partnering with Catholic Charities, through a variety of collections and activities has made such a difference. And not only a difference in the lives of those people who are being ministered to, but also creating more awareness in our parishioners,” says Father Lavelle.
“This is actually their second Voice of Hope Award. They have done nothing but continue to build upon that tradition of service to those in need. And Father Lavelle in particular, everywhere he goes, he always makes a connection with Catholic Charities locally,” says Hrbolich.
Father Lavelle says its vital to continue working with young people and creating a mentality, a desire, to reach out to those in need.
“We can’t expect people all of a sudden in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to get it. And it really is laying the foundation. And so we’ve been very intentional working with our young people, in our faith formation, to have these moments where as a family they discuss an issue or a topic and then go do something. I’m just so personally blessed to have been able to partner with Catholic Charities through my entire priesthood, whether it’s been in agencies, wherever I’ve been a pastor, or working here at the diocesan offices, helping the annual appeal to raise funds to meet the needs of the Catholic Charities’ budget. But, in all of those ways, to see how they are really on the ground, helping us bring together our forces and our ability and our gifts, and make a difference in people’s lives.”
The 2025 Catholic Charities Voice of Hope Dinner takes place on Thursday, May 1st, from 5-8pm, at the Eastwood Event Centre in Niles. For details or tickets, visit CCDOY.org/voice-of-hope
