Catholic Charities, Diocese of Nashville is inviting all to attend its annual Festival of Hope from 7-9 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, in Ascension Hall at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville.
“Love, hope, healing,” said Judy Orr, Catholic Charities executive director, as she reflected on the event’s title, which changed from Pathways to Possibilities last year as the organization kicked off its 60th anniversary celebration. “The best thing you can give anybody is hope, and that’s the foundation of everything we do.”
The annual event serves as an opportunity to highlight the programs that Catholic Charities offers to those in need.
“The purpose is to bring together our friends, old and new, to the Catholic Pastoral Center so they can see our main location and learn what we do every day,” said Cindy Tipler, Catholic Charities executive projects manager. “It is amazing how large our organization is and the many ways we serve our neighbors. We will enlighten guests on what our work is, answering the question, ‘What is Catholic Charities, and what do we do?’”
Throughout the event, attendees will be able to enjoy a Cuban style breakfast catered by the Clean Plate Club, Cuban mocktails, and festive music. Rhori Johnston, a news anchor for Channel 5, will serve as the event MC.
Leaders of all the Catholic Charities programs – New Americans, Job Training, Hunger Relief, Disaster Recovery, Emotional Support, Emergency Assistance, Family Resource Centers, and Housing Stability – will also be available to answer any questions.
Additionally, attendees will be addressed by Orr, Bishop J. Mark Spalding, and Catholic Charities client Noelle Rasmussen, a survivor of the December 2020 bombing in downtown Nashville.
“We hope that everyone learns how valuable Catholic Charities is in our community,” Tipler said, “and how vital community support is to fulfill our mission of providing love, hope, and healing.”
While the event is free, donations will be accepted to benefit Catholic Charities programs. For more information and to RSVP, visit cctenn.org/festivalofhope/.
