Sister Gunn leaves Catholic Charities By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — Friday, June 29, was Sister Donna Gunn’s last day at Catholic Charities, where she served as director of parish social ministry, coordinator of parish-based ministries and as diocesan disaster relief coordinator.
This year marks Sister Gunn’s 10th anniversary with Catholic Charities, the social service arm of the Diocese of Jackson.
“On behalf of the staff of Catholic Charities, thank you for your dedicated work for the last 10 years in carrying out the mission and work of Catholic Charities,” said Linda Raff, executive director, during a reception for Sister Gunn on Wednesday, June 27, in the Cathedral Center.
“You have truly been a sign of God’s love for the least of his children,” Raff said.
“We are grateful for your generosity in sharing your many talents and most of all the sharing of yourself, in your work, to improve the lives of the poor and vulnerable of our diocese.”
During the reception, Sister Gunn received several gifts in recognition of her service.
Sister Gunn said she “absolutely loved” her ministry at Charities.
“I have been so very inspired by the faith of the people,” she said. “I find this diocese exciting, on the cutting edge in terms of the laity and clergy cooperating. That simply does not happen in other dioceses across the United States.”
“A lot of credit for that goes to the clergy for helping to empower the laity and to the laity for stepping up to the plate,” Sister Gunn said.
“Catholic Charities has really exemplified its mission of being the face of God to those we serve,” she said.
As coordinator of parish based ministries, among her jobs was diocesan disaster relief coordinator, which she was named in June 2005, two months before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“We had no idea what would happen in a short time,” she said.
Sister Gunn organized a volunteer disaster response committee and supervised the opening and maintaining of a long term recovery warehouse for victims.
With Sister Gunn’s leaving, Michael Ann Galliano Oropeza, current director of the immigration clinic, will become coordinator of parish-based ministries and will co-coordinate the immigration clinic with Teresita Turner, cultural specialist.
Starting in September, Sister Gunn will work at the Camden Sacred Heart Parish Center, directing outreach to people in northern Madison County.
“Most of the people in the community up there are working but because there are no employment opportunities in the area, they spend a lot of money on transportation,” she said.
Sister Gunn will assist working people in finding ways to supplement their incomes, for example, utilizing the Earned Income Credit (EIC) when filing their taxes each year.
“I also hope to be a link for the people there to Catholic Charities in terms of coordinating their involvement so they will have a voice at the table in various coalitions on health and other issues,” she said.
