Cathy Hassinger will never forget the day she went to the airport to welcome a family of refugees who had just fled war-torn Syria. Although they had left everything behind — their home, their belongings, their livelihood — she was struck that they still had something to give in exchange for safety and shelter: their friendliness and smiles.
Now, as she and her family prepare to move overseas to the Democratic Republic of Congo for her husband’s new work assignment, Hassinger is grateful for this and the countless other encounters she’s had during her 10 years as director of community services with diocesan Catholic Charities. Each encounter showed her what it truly means to live the Gospel.
“It was just as Jesus taught us, to welcome the stranger,” she said. “Those moments where you realize how the work you’re doing impacts the clients, they really touch your heart and draw you back to do more, and the encounter with the person is what feeds us. They benefit, but so do we.”
Hassinger, whose last day was May 17, oversaw four Catholic Charities ministry programs: Christ House, a homeless ministry for men; St. Lucy Food Project, a diocesan-wide food distribution program; Emergency Assistance; and St. Margaret of Cortona, a single mothers’ ministry.
“My work has taken me across a range of services and clients,” Hassinger said. “It’s amazing and humbling when I look back at everything that we’ve accomplished here at Catholic Charities and all the experiences I had the absolute privilege to be a part of.”
Hassinger, a parishioner of Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling, was always drawn to nonprofit work, serving as executive director of a domestic violence nonprofit before joining Catholic Charities.
“Service is very fulfilling to me, and I always wanted to be within a Catholic environment where you’re openly practicing your faith,” she said. “When this opportunity became available, I jumped at it.”
Several of Hassinger’s favorite saints, including St. Teresa of Kolkata, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Anthony of Padua, model for her what it means to have a heart for serving others.
Within her position, Hassinger advised the program teams, developed strategies and goals, raised awareness and funding, and was a pillar of support not only to the thousands she served but also to the many priests, fellow staff members, and volunteers she collaborated with tirelessly.
“We are so very grateful that Cathy chose to share her talents, her skills and expertise, and most of all, her love with Catholic Charities,” said diocesan Catholic Charities President and CEO Stephen Carattini. “She was not only professionally competent, she went about her work with tremendous compassion. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with her.”
Father Robert C. Cilinksi, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke and episcopal vicar for charitable works, is one of the many priests who interacted on a regular basis with Hassinger, witnessing her joyful and enthusiastic service.
“She’s been a strong advocate for the poor, totally committed to advocating for those in need,” he said. “She’s just been in the trenches, overseeing those beautiful ministries, and she’s worked hard with great dedication. We ask the Lord to bless her and this new beginning for her and her husband.”
Hassinger is known among her staff for being available, accessible and most of all, a model for living the mission of Catholic Charities.
“I constantly knocked on her door, calling her, texting her, emailing her at all hours of the day or night,” said John Croft, program director of Christ House. “She’s always been available. With her wise leadership we’ve been able to help a lot of our clients in ways we probably couldn’t have without her advice, background and knowledge.”
Croft said Hassinger was responsible for introducing and training Catholic Charities staff in trauma informed care, a form of therapy that has assisted many clients, both affirming their individual dignity while holding them accountable through the process.
With Hassinger’s departure, Sherri Longhill, ministry program director for Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance, will serve as interim director of Christ House, Emergency Assistance and St. Lucy, and Jessica Estrada, director of newcomer services, will oversee St. Margaret of Cortona.
“Cathy inspired me to be my best,” said Longhill, who has been with Catholic Charities since 2011. “She respected my expertise and allowed me to do my job, while taking the backstage and offering guidance and support.”
Longhill said Hassinger’s qualities enabled Emergency Assistance to adapt to the growing demand for services, during the COVID pandemic and continuing today.
Hassinger also assisted in the development of the Mobile Response Center, a service that travels to rural parts of the diocese to distribute household necessities to those in need.
Many people think of poverty as something that exists far away in developing countries, she said. “We don’t always recognize that it actually is right next door to us.” She recalled the many times she’s watched people lining up outside the Mobile Response Center for an hour just to receive a few rolls of toilet paper or a bar of soap. “That’s the level of poverty that is in our diocese that we often don’t see.”
Working with the diocese, Hassinger saw the continual efforts from her own staff to meet those needs and she knows the ministries rest in good hands.
“Catholic Charities is a wonderful organization and I’ve been so happy being a part of this,” she said. “That’s one of the hard parts about leaving, that I am unable to pack my staff into my suitcase and take them with me.”
Hassinger is both excited and nervous about the opportunities she will find to continue service in the Congo. But her time with Catholic Charities has taught her an important truth: “The Lord has a place and a plan. I’m eager to see that and I trust where he’s leading us.”
Engbert is a freelancer in Fredericksburg.
