PACE Participant Celebrates 101 Years  

CCANO’s PACE is proud to honor Ida Cesana, the oldest and only Centenarian enrolled in the PACE GNO program at the Shirley Landry Benson PACE Center at St. Cecilia. Ida started coming to the adult day health center five days a week last fall, receiving transportation from her house to the center and back. PACE provides her medication at home and nursing care in the center with clinic visits on a monthly basis.   

Born in 1918, Ida Bersano Cesana grew up in Torino, Italy. At a young age, Ida took a great interest in dance and eventually became a prima ballerina with a touring ballet company and a ballet dancer for the circus. A big soccer fan, she was the first woman to start a “futbol” team in Torino. During WWII, she married Augusto Cesana, an Italian soldier who became her daughter Elsa’s stepdad. In 1947, the family to Venezuela where Ida opened a restaurant and had her second child, George.

Read more about Ida's impactful life and the services she receives at PACE. 

Made In Americorps

Last week was National Americorps Week, and we are celebrating by shining a light on Lea Robinson. Lea’s participation as an AmeriCorps member while still enrolled in college was so positive that she chose to continue to serve after graduating. Currently, she coordinates Immigration and Refugee Services’ new Family Literacy initiative that officially launched on March 8th. Family Literacy services provide informal drop-in tutoring for children, teens, and adults. Participants can receive assistance with English language skills, homework, financial and computer literacy, Spanish Hi-Set prep, naturalization preparation, job searching, and resume building every Monday & Thursday 3pm – 5:30pm and Fridays from 10am-3pm.

Working for CCANO’s Immigration and Refugee Services, Lea encounters people of all different backgrounds and builds bridges by training and guiding volunteers to help their local community flourish. She explained, “I love to see people come together to learn and change. Being an AmeriCorps member has taught me to be more accountable for my community. Before joining AmeriCorps, I did not know how important it was to be an active community member. Seeing the change that AmeriCorps members make within a community is eye-opening.”

Read more about Lea's experience as an Americorps member here.

AHCA Campaign Surpasses Goal

With your help, we surpassed our annual Archbishop Hannan Community Appeal campaign goal of $1.85 million this month! Your dedicated support and generosity ensures that more than 77,000 local men, women, and children receive the care they deserve through our 30+ life-giving programs.

Unlike in-kind donations or grants, gifts to the campaign raise crucial undesignated funds that allow Catholic Charities to respond swiftly, effectively, and compassionately in times of crisis since the campaign’s inception in 1965.

Today, the campaign raises funds for many of the same needs still facing our community: housing, healthcare, education, emergency response, and more. It is because of donors like you that we are able to serve the homeless, hungry, elderly, at-risk youth, pregnant women, formerly incarcerated, and many more. We look forward to continuing to work with you to foster hope for the future of Louisiana.

Learn more about the AHCA. 

Last weekend, parishioners of St. Agnes Le Thi Thanh parish came together under the guidance of Sr. Theresa Nguyen for their annual Walk for the Hungry event to support the CRS Rice Bowl. Learn how you can participate in the CRS Rice Bowl efforts.  

Immigration and Refugee Services just kicked off their Family Literacy services and need your help! They are looking for individuals who would like to work with children. No education or knowledge of any languages is required other than English. Sign up today!

March 19 - Immigration & Reguee Services Job Fair, 1-4PM at 2505 Maine Ave

March 20 - Volunteer Information Session, 4PM at 1000 Howard Ave

March 26 - Peace Prayer Walk, 5PM at St. John the Baptist