Catholic Charities USA’s Kerry Robinson visits Trenton

Updated Oct. 28, 2024

Staffers of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, highlighted several of their projects when Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, visited Trenton Oct. 25.

Though the arrangements for the visit were finalized the day before, Robinson embraced a rigorous schedule that began with meeting staff and board members at the agency’s main office on West Street in Trenton, followed by stops at two city-based Catholic Charities programs – El Centro, which provides resources to Latino families in Mercer County, and the Mercer Campus of Behavioral Health Services.

Mission Driven

In her remarks, Robinson talked about her drive to devote her professional life’s work to serving the poor and disenfranchised, how meaningful it was to be appointed to Catholic Charities USA’s top position in August 2023, with the added credentials of being the second woman and second layperson to hold that position, and the blessing it was to use her writing skills to author “Imagining Abundance: Fundraising, Philanthropy and a Spiritual Call to Service.” Her work also has appeared in America Magazine, Chicago Catholic and other leading Catholic publications, and she has been quoted extensively in Catholic and national media.

In the past 14 months, Robinson has made it a priority to visit Catholic Charities agencies around the country and travel to places where the group’s personnel have been tending to people in crisis situations. Her first trip was to visit the U.S.-Mexico border at three sites: San Antonio and Laredo, Texas, and San Diego. She also traveled to areas hard-hit by the recent hurricanes. Of the three days she spent in Tampa, she said, “I witnessed not only the devastation but also hope.”

Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, who serves with Robinson on Catholic Charities USA’s national board, congratulated Robinson on her new position.

“Kerry is rock solid in her conviction and love for her work,” Lao-Collins said. “She cares very deeply for the health and vitality of the Church, and she brings those qualities to her role with Catholic Charities, which is the largest global humanitarian network in the world.”

Helping New Arrivals

At El Centro, Roberto Hernandez, director, told Robinson about the array of basic resources for immigrant families living in the Trenton area: counseling, assistance with citizenship, English as a Second Language, employment placement, women’s and men’s groups. Mary Pettrow, director of Children and Family Services, also spoke.

Noting that El Centro is marking its 25th anniversary this year, Hernandez said the largest population the agency serves is the Spanish-speaking community. However, he said, “we have refugees coming to us from all over the world. It used to be Central and South American, but we have a growing Haitian community and now from Poland.”

“What’s more important than our being an immigration service is that we build communities here,” Hernandez said.

“With our clients, we see humanity in them,” he said, noting that many are people often forgotten and who have experienced tremendous trauma. The trauma is not just about their immigration experience, but the trauma they experienced in their home country.

“Building community is part of what we do,” he said. “El Centro strives to provide hope, dignity and respect to all who come to us.”

Kerry Robinson, left, chats with Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, and other staff members. Mary Stadnyk photo