Catholic Charities CEO honored with Papal Award

Catholic Charities of Acadiana CEO Kim Boudreaux has been awarded the Papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, or "For the Church and Pope," by Pope Francis. This is one of the highest awards bestowed by the Pope on lay women and men, and it is conferred for distinguished service to the Church. The official announcement can be found here. Bishop Deshotel was the celebrant for the solemn investiture on Friday, February 9th. The passage below is from His homily:

For the Church and for the Pontiff. This is the title of the Papal Award being presented to Kim Boudreau this morning. lt is a special designation of someone who by their works and charity exhibits what it means to give of themselves in service to others. In addition to being an opportunity to honor the individual recipient, it is also a means of highlighting the work to which every Christian is called.

When Jesus was asked, "What must one do to inherit everlasting life?", He replied, “Love the lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul and your neighbor as yourself." And when He was asked, "Who is my neighbor?", He replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan saw the victim of a robbery naked and half dead lying on the side of the road. He took the time to stop, bind up his wound, put him on his own horse, put him up in an lnn, and paid for his shelter.

Jesus further pointed out the duty of every Christian when He described the Last judgment. The king will come and say to those on His right, "Enter into the joy of your Lord, for I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, naked and you clothed me, a stranger and you welcomed me. As often as you did this for the least of my brethren, you did it for me." St. John would further state in his letter that the man who says he loves God but hates His neighbor is a liar.

How can one love God yet hate his neighbor who is created in the image and likeness of God?

I decided over a year ago to begin the process of applying for this honor. Kim to honor her leadership in Catholic Charities of Acadiana. I know in her humility she is uncomfortable with these public praises. I remind her that humility is also truth. The truth is that she has helped me in my wish to bring to the forefront the mission of Charity for the entire Church of the Diocese of Lafayette. I wanted every one of the three hundred thousand or so Catholics in the Diocese to feel that they have a part, large or small, in the mission of Charity to those in need in our Diocese.

Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-religious who were in need have experienced the love of God through the efforts of Catholic Charities. I saw the good work of Catholic Charities from the first year I became Bishop of Lafayette. Survivors of the flood of 2016 were given food, water, and shelter long after government agencies had left. People displaced from the hurricanes in Lake Charles and Houma-Thibodaux were welcomed in Lafayette, and given temporary shelter, clothing, and food because of Catholic Charities. The men's shelter, the St. Michael Center for Veterans shelter, Emily House, and St. Joseph's Diner are expressions of love of neighbor organized by Kim, her staff, and volunteers at Catholic Charities of Acadiana. Today, 10% of all donations raised in the Diocesan service appeal and the Ash Wednesday Collection allow every Catholic to feel a part of the mission of charity.

Thanks to your leadership Kim so much has been accomplished. I must honestly admit though I had another reason for this award: To honor you, but also to instill a sense of the mission of Charity for everyone in our Diocese. Congratulations and thank you Kim.