Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.

Catholic Charities opens
new office in Bradenton

By Judy Bokorney
Web Site Editor

Bradenton—Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. opened a new office in Bradenton that will assist the community with immigration services, housing counseling and direct assistance.

An office dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was held April 15 at the new facility located at 1219 16^th Street West on the southwest corner of the Sacred Heart Parish campus. Rev. Julio Rivero, pastor of the parish, offered the opening prayer and Very Rev. Edward Moretti, vicar general for the Diocese of Venice, blessed the new building.

”This permanent building, because of the good graces of Sacred Heart parish, will give us a bigger presence in Manatee County,” said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, president of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. “We will be able to expand our services,” he said.

Catholic Charities has served Manatee County for the past 15 years at Holy Cross parish in Palmetto. When money was secured to construct a permanent facility, Rev. Joseph Clifford formerly of Sacred Heart parish rallied to have the office located on the church grounds. 

“Father Clifford was determined to make this happen,” said Routsis-Arroyo. “But it was decided that there was not enough space at Sacred Heart for a new Catholic Charities building. The day before I was going to tell Father Clifford the bad news, a storm came through the area and blew a tree down into a home on the parish property. That home was torn down which created room for our new facility,” he said. “This office truly was meant to be here.”

Another important ingredient in the construction of a new building was the Bafia family. “A generous donation was made by the Bafia family in memory of their father Frank,” said Routsis-Arroyo. “The Bafia family believes in the mission of Catholic Charities and has supported our organization in past endeavors.”

A plaque honoring Frank Bafia is located on an exterior wall of the new building. Frank died in 1975 of cancer and was 39 years old. Dan Bafia, his oldest son, was only 17 at the time and made the decision to honor his father.

“My dad instilled in us to never be afraid to take a chance in life when it comes to what you believe in,” Dan Bafia said.  “We didn’t have much in the way of material things growing up but my dad taught us that God will provide. It makes me feel good that now I can do things for others who are in need,” he said.

Other significant contributions came from Incarnation Parish, Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles parish, St. Columbkille parish thrift store and the Catholic Extension Society of Chicago.

The mission of Catholic Charities of Manatee County is to help people achieve self-sufficiency, Routsis-Arroyo said. “When someone reaches the dream of attaining citizenship the next logical step is reaching the American dream of home ownership,” he said.

Catholic Charities offers immigration services from a counselor certified by the Bureau of Immigration of Appeals (BIA) who assists legal immigrants with INS applications. A HUD certified housing counseling program also is available for first-time homebuyers free of charge. Clients take monthly classes, available in Spanish, for a total of eight hours to receive a certificate that makes them eligible for a Manatee County housing program that offers loans toward a new home. The direct assistance program helps established clients in need with rent, mortgage, utility bills or prescription drug payments.

For more information about Catholic Charities of Manatee County, please call (941) 714-7829.

Photo 1: A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Catholic Charities of Manatee County office. Dr. Volodymyr Smeryk, chancellor of the Diocese of Venice (left), Very Rev. Edward Moretti, vicar general of the Diocese of Venice, Linda Landinez, housing counselor for Catholic Charities of Manatee County, Yraida Contreras, caseworker for the agency, Amaya Martinez, administrative assistant for the agency, Peter Routsis-Arroyo, president of Catholic Charities, Rev. Julio Rivero, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Brian Bennett, regional director of rural services for Catholic Charities and Lucille Acken, director of grants and program support for the organization all participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Photo 2: The Bafia family, Dan (left), Kathy, Jesse, Donna, Jim and Gretchen, stand outside the new Catholic Charities of Manatee County office where a plaque is displayed in honor of family member Frank Bafia.