On March 25, 2025, Catholic Charities hosted a powerful Social Work Month Celebration, uniting staff, students, and partners to honor the extraordinary contributions of social workers—and the courage, empathy, and action they bring every day. 

This year’s national theme, “Compassion + Action,” served as a reminder that caring alone isn’t enough. Real change happens when compassion is paired with courage, creativity, and consistent service. 

Celebrating Community and Commitment 

The event opened with remarks from Jacqueline Victoria-Kline, Social Work Safety Placement Coordinator:

This is a celebration not just of what we do—but of who we are. Today is about honoring your compassion, your consistency, and your deep commitment to this work.

Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, added: “I’m not a social worker—but I’m incredibly grateful for the ones who work here. Your work is the heart of our mission, and it is more critical now than ever.” 

A Keynote that Reaffirmed the Heart of Social Work 

Dr. Debra McPhee, Dean of the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service and Catholic Charities Board Trustee, delivered a keynote that brought “Compassion + Action” to life with humility, reflection, and insight. 

She shared her story of being raised by a strong single mother whose sense of justice shaped her commitment to service: 

“I didn’t necessarily know what social work was,” she said, “but I had a desire to contribute and make the world a better place.” 

She drew a distinction between empathy and compassion: empathy is understanding; compassion drives action. 

Compassion is a sympathetic awareness of another’s distress paired with the desire to alleviate it. And that’s what defines social work.

Social workers, she said, turn care into impact. They build trust in the face of fear and meet people with dignity and hope. 

“No other profession takes such a holistic view. We act across all levels—individual, family, community—to make change happen.” 

Dr. McPhee also reminded the audience to extend compassion inward—through rest, reflection, and support—and emphasized storytelling as a vital tool: 

“The shortest distance between two people is a story. And telling those stories is how we help others understand, connect, and change.” 

She closed with encouragement:  

You don’t have to be a hero. It’s enough to be brave—and to act with compassion.

Voices from the Field: Panel Reflections 

Moderated by Lakisha Morris, Division Director of Food and Housing Stability, the panel featured: 

• Dr. Melba Butler, Advisor, Hunter College School of Social Work 

• Ericka Echavarria, Director of Practicum Learning, Columbia University 

• Harold Moss, Division Director, Beacon of Hope, CCCS 

• Jessica Brecker, Director of Refugee Resettlement, CCCS 

• Antonio Molestina, MSW Intern, Fordham University 

Dr. Butler spoke on turning compassion into action through education and staying grounded: 

“Whether you’ve been practicing for one year or twenty, you have an obligation to act.” 

“Even in macro roles—supervise, teach, volunteer. Stay close to the people we serve.” 

Antonio Molestina represented the next generation: 

“Selfishness, hatred, racism—these come from a lack of understanding. When we help people see each other’s humanity, we build trust and compassion.” 

Jessica Brecker addressed emotional resilience: 

“You won’t fully understand another person’s experience—but that doesn’t mean you stop trying. That’s where compassion grows.” 

Harold Moss offered a grounding perspective: 

“If you focus only on your own fatigue, you lose sight of the client. Ask, ‘What’s the right thing to do for them?’” 

“We’ve restructured roles to support growth. There’s strength in growing together.” 

Ericka Echavarria reflected on working with youth: 

“Young people have a lot to be angry about—and a lot of fear. Sometimes, they just need adults willing to listen without judgment.” 

Carrying the Mission Forward 

The 2025 Social Work Month Celebration was more than a recognition event—it was a call to remember why this work matters. From Dr. McPhee’s keynote to the panelists’ lived experience, one theme rang true: compassion is not passive. It is deliberate, practiced, and transformed into action by the people who make up Catholic Charities. 

To every social worker who is part of the Catholic Charities Community Services team: thank you. Your work builds hope, one person, one story, and one act of compassion at a time.