New York State Catholic Conference J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service, March 2011
In March, 2011, as part of the mass celebrated at the Albany Cathedral on the annual Public Policy Day, Jack was presented the J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service. For more than 30 years, Mr. Davitt was an outstanding staff leader of the Catholic Conference. Following are remarks made by Bishop Hubbard of Albany, Bishop Matthew Clark of Rochester, and Jack’s remarks on accepting the award.
Bishop Hubbard Remarks
I am grateful to be asked to help present the J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service to a most worthy recipient and a cherished friend. For well over 30 years, I have had the privilege of serving as chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the New York State Catholic Conference. And for nearly all of that time, Jack Balinsky has been seated at that table. Usually in the very same seat as a matter of fact! Through the decades, whether he was representing Catholic Charities of Syracuse in the early days, Catholic Charities of Rochester, as he does currently, or as a staff member of the New York State Catholic Conference under Alan Davitt before that, Jack has always been consistent, not only in his choice of seating, but in the level of his insight, his photographic institutional memory, his care and compassion, and his fidelity to the teachings of the Church.
We live in a political world, and we often try to label people in political terms, even within our own Church. But the Church is not a political entity, even if we are called to be active in the public square. We Catholics may be Democrats. We may be Republicans. We may be Tea Party members, but we are all called to defend human life, to protect the poor and vulnerable, to fight for justice for immigrants and laborers, to show mercy for the imprisoned, to speak the truth about God’s plan in relation to human sexuality, to defend the right of parents as the primary educators of their children. No one in our state has been a more forceful proponent of this consistent ethic of life than the man we honor today.
I am grateful for his years of counsel and friendship and for his tireless work as part of the Catholic Conference on behalf of the voiceless. There is another great service that Jack has provided to the Church in New York State. For the last several years, Jack has taken on a project in his “spare time” that would have overwhelmed most people doing it as a full time job. He has compiled a six-volume comprehensive history of the New York State Catholic Conference, which he has posted online to serve as an invaluable resource and archive for the entire state. And he has since produced three additional historical volumes on Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester. We thank Jack so very much for this invaluable treasure.
And speaking of the Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Matthew Clark was scheduled to tell you a bit about Jack’s “day job” there and to present him with this well-earned award.
Unfortunately, Bishop Clark was in an auto accident yesterday, and while not injured, is unable to be with us today. He has, however, asked me to share his comments with you which I am most happy to do.
Remarks for Bishop Clark
I am thrilled to be able to present with Bishop Hubbard this most deserving honor to Jack Balinsky. Jack, you have not only been the catalyst behind the remarkable growth of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester these many years, but a good and cherished friend.
I am so proud of you and proud of the work you have been able to accomplish.
Since you became diocesan director in 1992, the breadth and scope of Catholic Charities has increased exponentially. Thanks to your vision and energy, we now serve more than 250,000 people a year of all walks of life. From a few scattered agencies we now can offer services in all areas of the diocese in such areas as home-purchase assistance; senior services; emergency services for food, clothing and housing; help for the homeless; assistance to developmentally disabled people; help for people with mental illness; migrant-family assistance; and help with addiction, among many other services.
You truly have made this your life’s work and mission, and this has meant life-changing help for those who need it most. I was delighted when you were honored last year, on the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities, with a Centennial Medal from Catholic Charities USA – and I am very happy to help bestow on you today the J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service from the New York State Bishops – for you truly exemplify the word “service” and you honor the name “Christian.”
Thank you, Jack and may God continue to bless your work!
Jack’s Remarks
It is humbling to be chosen for an award named for Alan Davitt, who was not only a friend but an outstanding human being, quintessential Catholic lay leader, and servant of the church.
It is humbling to join an elite group of winners of this award, including three people who have been my mentors over the years: Bishop Tom Costello, Bishop Joe Sullivan and Sister Maureen Joyce (Little known fact: Sister Maureen and I started our careers in Catholic Charities on the same day – September 1, 1971, she in the Diocese of Albany and I in the Syracuse Diocese).
It is especially humbling to have the award presented by my all-time heroes Bishops Hubbard and Clark, who have inspired me with their visionary leadership and provided me rock solid support.
It has been an honor and privilege to work with those I have mentioned, other mentors like Monsignor Fahey from Syracuse, Monsignor Fagan from Rochelle Centre, Sister Serena from Albany, key Catholic Charities leaders from around the country like Tom Mullen from Cleveland, Jim Mauch from Denver, and Hal Smith from Baltimore, as well as four national directors of Catholic Charities USA.
It is an honor and privilege to work with the Council of Catholic Charities Directors; the Diocesan Directors from around the state, who are all outstanding leaders in their own right, and their key staff.
It is an honor and privilege to work with the dedicated volunteers and staff in the Diocese of Rochester, who are so committed to serving those in need in our Diocese.
Archbishop Dolan elaborated eloquently on our Gospel passage today from Matthew 25 on how our faith demands that we serve the poor, the vulnerable, the isolated and the stranger. An important vehicle through which the institutional Church does this is Catholic Charities.
I am proud to be part of a national Catholic Charities network which serves 10 million people each year, employs over 60,000 persons, utilizes the services of 275,000 volunteers, and with an annual budget of over $4 billion, is the largest not-for-profit human service network in the country. In New York State last year, Catholic Charities agencies served 1.5 million persons.
But numbers are not what is most important. Most important is each individual in whom we see the face of Christ, and with whom we carry out the commandment to love our neighbor.
I close on a personal note. For me, yes work at Catholic Charities is a job, but I also view it as a vocation and a way of life. I consider my colleagues in Catholic Charities here today and around the country to be my family. For that, I am grateful to you. I am grateful to God for giving me you and the many opportunities I have had over the years.
Legislative Resolution
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jack Balinsky upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the New York State Catholic Conference J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service by Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the Bishops of New York State
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize those extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the success and progress of society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jack Balinsky upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the New York State Catholic Conference J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service by Arch- bishop Timothy Dolan and the Bishops of New York State on March 8, 2011;
and
WHEREAS, The year 2010, marked the 100th year anniversary of the founding of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, as well as the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities USA; Jack Balinsky was a recipient of the prestigious "Centennial Medal" from Catholic Charities USA during its centennial year; in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities in Rochester, Jack Balinsky wrote his most recent book, A HISTORY OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER 1910-2010; and
WHEREAS, Jack Balinsky has written six volumes of the history of the New York State Catholic Conference that are available on his website WWW.JACKBALINSKY.ORG; he graduated as Valedictorian of his class at Notre Dame University before returning to Syracuse to work at an inner city settlement house in 1969; and
WHEREAS, Holding a master's degree in public administration from Princeton University, Jack Balinsky began his career with Catholic Charities in Syracuse almost 40 years ago; he served on the staff of the New York State Catholic Conference from 1984 to 1990 as Executive Secretary to the New York State Council of Catholic Charities Directors, and has been the Rochester Diocesan Director for Catholic Charities since 1992; and
WHEREAS, Under Jack Balinsky's leadership, the organization has grown from three subsidiary agencies to ten where they are employing over a thousand people and providing service to about a quarter million people; and
WHEREAS, A true asset to society, Jack Balinsky's distinguished record merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Jack Balinsky upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the New York State Catholic Conference J. Alan Davitt Award for Exemplary Service by Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the Bishops of New York State; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Jack Balinsky.