By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Father Joseph Sicari has been appointed director and president of Catholic Charities. The appointment was announced Sunday night at a dinner for volunteers of the annual fundraising appeal.
Fr. Sicari has served as interim Catholic Charities director since last April, following the death of Msgr. Henry Gugino. Catholic Charities is the area's largest private provider of human services.
Bishop Henry Mansell of the Buffalo Roman Catholic Diocese said Sicari is a worthy successor to Gugino, having guided the agency for the past year. Sicari said there is "a real joy" in being able to make a difference for people in need.
"My goals are to continue to look to the needs of the community, to be present in the community and to see what specific needs we aren't addressing," Sicari said. "We want to look at areas of the region where we don't have a service operation and try to serve them."
Bishop Mansell also announced the appointment of Catholic Charities' first chief executive officer. He is Dennis Walczyk, who has served as chief operating officer since 1997.
This year's Catholic Charities appeal will be held the week of April 6th with a goal of $10,250,000.