Catholic Charities USA Honors Two with Vision Award

Catholic Charities USA
Saturday, 3 August 2002

Msgr. Charles J. Fahey and Sr. Serena Branson, DC, were honored today at Catholic Charities USA's annual conference in Chicago with Catholic Charities USA's Vision Award for their leadership and life-long commitment to serving those in need.

"These two extraordinary individuals personify the mission and spirit of the Catholic Charities movement," said Anna Babin, president of Catholic Charities USA's Board of Trustees. "They've dedicated their life's work to helping the least among us. It is our honor to recognize and celebrate Msgr. Fahey's and Sr. Serena's years of leadership, compassion, and care."

The annual Vision Award recognizes an individual, who through his or her life and work personifies Catholic Charities USA's vision for the new millennium. Past award recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Sr. Helen Prejean, Rashey Moten, and Fr. Fred Kammer.

Msgr. Charles J. Fahey—A Visionary in Elderly Care

For more than four decades, Msgr. Fahey's vision has helped improve the care and quality of life for all people, and especially for the aging.

During his tenure at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Syracuse, including 12 years as the agency's director, Msgr. Fahey expanded the diocese's social services in seven counties and improved child care, family, housing, and social justice programs. He gave particular attention to developing services for the elderly, and was instrumental in the opening of five nursing homes.

Msgr. Fahey also was active at the national level for Catholic Charities. He served as a board member and as president of the board of directors of what was then the National Conference of Catholic Charities. He rejuvenated the Commission for Aging; participated in the Catholic Identity Project; and took part in the historic Cadre Study, which shaped the future of the Catholic Charities movement.
In 1979, Msgr. Fahey founded Fordham University's Third Age Center, an institution dedicated to improving the quality of life for the elderly and aging. He served in that capacity until 1992, when he stepped down as director and became senior associate and the Marie Ward Doty Professor of Aging Studies.

Msgr. Fahey has served on numerous councils and boards, including the Federal Council on Aging and the boards of the Catholic Health Association, the National Council on Aging, and the American Association for Homes for the Aging. In 1982, he was a member of the Holy See's delegation to the United Nations World Assembly on Aging. Presently, he is serving as a member of the New Covenant Steering Committee, which has been instrumental in bringing Catholic institutions into greater collaboration.

Sr. Serena Branson—A Visionary in Family and Child Welfare

Sr. Serena Branson, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, has also led a long and successful ministry in family and child welfare and at Catholic Charities.

In the 1950s, she established in the Archdiocese of New York the Astor Home, a residential treatment center for the psychiatric care of children, and the Kennedy Child Study Center, one of the first day-treatment programs for mentally retarded and developmentally delayed or disabled children and their families. Sr. Serena also helped to establish in Philadelphia a treatment-oriented facility to house programs for emotionally disturbed children.

In 1970, Sr. Serena went to Albany, NY, and headed the reorganization of St. Catherine's Center for Children with the purpose of implementing new programs and strategies for the care of needy children and their families. Four years later, she was appointed executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. In this position, she oversaw the development and expansion of health and human services to all 14 counties in the diocese, with an emphasis on forging close relationships with the public sector.

Since 1990, Sr. Serena has served as director of special projects at Catholic Charities of Albany. Her projects included the DePaul Residence, a 50-bed single room dwelling for the homeless; Serena House, the first in a series of community residences for the profoundly disabled; Farano House, a program for infants with AIDS; and eight apartment complexes for the low-income elderly. In addition to her work in administration and family and child welfare, Sr. Serena has served on numerous boards, task forces, and diocesan committees.

Because of health reasons, Sr. Serena was unable to attend the award ceremony. Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, DD, Bishop of Albany, NY, accepted the award on her behalf.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Charities USA, see their website at: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org