aren P. Leith is dedicated to loving the least of these.
“Through her leadership, encouragement and collaboration, she has achieved action and advocacy for the poor, hungry, homeless, abused, disabled and other marginalized — locally, statewide, nationally and internationally — far beyond the scope of one person,” said Judy DiNardo, chairman of the Catholic Commission of Summit County. “Karen just has a heart for the poor. She uses her talents to work for solutions that will help people work their way out of poverty.”
Leith, who has been nationally recognized for her work as director of the local Catholic Commission, will be honored Friday as the 2013 recipient of the Bishop William M. Cosgrove Justice Award during the commission’s 35th annual dinner. The award is given to individuals or organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to social justice in harmony with biblical values.
As director of the Catholic Commission, a social action arm of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, Leith has expanded the Economic Justice Committee to include programs that help previously incarcerated people re-enter society. The committee, which is working on the issue of unemployment, also is creating a manual to help people seeking employment obtain computer skills to find jobs via the Internet.
Sister Kathleen Ryan, director of the Cleveland Diocesan Social Action Office, said Leith’s work has been a shining example of how church laity can make a difference and how forming partnerships and working collaboratively can have a forceful impact. The Notre Dame nun oversees five Catholic Commissions in the diocese.
“Karen has started study groups, prayer groups, education programs and a number of initiatives that have led to action. It’s never enough for her, unless it leads to action,” Ryan said. “Her combination of faith and action motivates others to become more active in helping the oppressed. She truly exemplifies what it means to put faith into action.”
As editor of the Diocesan Social Action Office electronic communications on social justice, Leith connects with thousands of people to share news on global solidarity and updates about social justice efforts throughout the eight-county Cleveland diocese.
In October, Leith convened a program to deal with issues faced by senior adults. As part of that effort, she brought together representatives from the Area Agency on Aging, the Department of Job and Family Services and the Adult Day Care Program of Catholic Charities Community Services.
Leith helped organize (with the Akron Public Schools nutrition programs and Community Health Department WIC employees) an educational presentation about local food needs and available resources. She has also been involved in Ohioans to Stop Executions and the Task Force on Emancipated Youth, a coalition that helps young adults who have aged out of the foster care system.
“I am so humbled by this award because I’m only doing what I believe being Catholic in the world is supposed to be,” Leith said. “In a lot of ways, I am a product of the Kennedy years, the Civil Rights Movement, the anti-war movement and the Second Vatican Council, which basically said that as lay people, we should be living the gospel in the world.”
Leith, 65, who plans to retire in February, added that “it’s not a matter of doing ‘for’ people. It’s about working alongside people — listening to their stories and understanding their needs. I’m just one player in a large community of very active players trying to make a better society.”
In addition to honoring Leith with the Cosgrove award, the commission also will recognize Maria Green of St. Mary’s Parish in Hudson, the St. Sebastian/St. Vincent Social Justice Ministry (“... and Justice for All”) in Akron and St. Paul School in Akron as recipients of the Bishop Anthony M. Pilla Church in the City Leadership Award.
The Pilla award is named for the bishop emeritus of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese. It is given to individuals or groups working to bring the community together around a common cause.
St. Paul School, located in the Firestone Park area, is being honored for its efforts to take care of the environment via recycling. Students and staff participate daily in paper and food-scrap recycling programs.
The ministry at St. Sebastian and St. Vincent in West Akron is being recognized for its commitment to respecting the dignity of life and its efforts to raise awareness and educate people on social justice issues as they relate to Catholic church teachings.
Green is being honored for two initiatives — the Ignatian Spirituality Project and the Fair Trade Christmas Bazaar — that she brought to St. Mary’s. The bazaar, in its fourth year, has raised awareness about fair trade and the global community. The Ignatian project, which began 14 years ago in Chicago, aims to help homeless men and women in addiction recovery.
Travis Pero, a senior at Archbishop Hoban High School and a parishioner at Sacred Heart of Mary in Wadsworth, will receive the Youth Justice Award.
Pero, who is active at his school and parish, is being honored for his efforts to promote solidarity with the marginalized, including his leadership of 20 students who plan and implement programs and fundraisers to advance social equality.
Limited seating is available for the dinner at the Father Silva Center at St. Matthew Parish, 2603 Benton St., Akron. Tickets are $45 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 330-535-2787 or emailing axcoplan@cleveland catholiccharities.org.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com. She can be followed at www.twitter.com/ColetteMJenkins.