Catholic Charities leaders are responsible for engaging and inspiring team members, who are focused on supporting our staff as we help those in need.

Terry Seljan

Executive Director

Joanne Pivarnik

Director of Programs

Programs:

LaShawn Jones-Taylor

Community Outreach Manager

Tina Gunnum

Food Pantry Manager

TBA

ISAAC Program Manager

Stefanie Herrera

Women’s Care Center Program Manager

Advocacy

We are a member of Catholic Charities USA which was founded, in part, to advocate for those whose voices, too often, are not heard. We carry out this vital effort locally, with partners across the state of Indiana, and nationally, joining our voices with other Catholic Charities agencies so that people living in poverty may benefit from programs and services that ease their suffering and help them transform their lives.

Advocacy may take a number of other forms including community organizing, supporting or opposing proposed legislation, and urging changes in governmental policies that may affect poor people either positively or negatively. We cooperate with the US Catholic Bishops in fulfilling our political responsibilities in conjunction with the Social Justice agenda of the Catholic Church.

Advisory Board of Trustees

Catholic Charities operates under the authority of the Bishop of the Diocese of Gary. We are served by an Advisory Board of Trustees made up of a diverse group of men and women who share their skills, their passion, and their resources with the agency and invite others to do the same.

Board Leadership

Ben Dorris

Chair of the Board

Janice Ryba

Vice Chair

Michelle Alexander

Secretary

Monica Johnson

Treasurer

Board Members

Bob Anderson

Member at Large

Rev. Gregory Bim-Merle

Member at Large

Christopher Torres

Member at Large

Sr. Petra Nielsen

Member at Large

Evylen Martinez

Member at Large

Lou Bufano

Member at Large

Paula Tillman

Member at Large

Beth Casbon

Member at Large