Noting that the 2023 Gala for Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington was taking place on April 1 – April Fool’s Day – Kevin Virostek, one of the gala co-chairs, told Msgr. John Enzler, the agency’s outgoing president and CEO, that he had a confession to make.
The 38th annual gala, which took place at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C., had a dual purpose, to raise vital funding for Catholic Charities’ outreach to those in need, and also to honor Msgr. Enzler, popularly known as “Father John,” for the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, and to thank him for leading the agency for the past 12 years. The priest announced last fall that he will be retiring from that post this year.
Earlier in the evening, Virostek had announced that this year’s gala had raised $5.875 million, surpassing the goal that the priest had set for the evening after last year’s event raised $3.1 million. But as Msgr. Enzler joined him on stage, Virostek had an update: “Father John, this group here, and those watching online tonight, raised $8 million!”
Moments later, John Veihmeyer, the chair of Catholic Charities’ Board of Directors, said the reason people stepped forward to raise that record amount for the agency’s outreach “is because you are absolutely beloved by every person in the room.”
Msgr. Enzler had earlier reflected on something that he said he learned soon after he was ordained as a priest in 1973. “God is in charge,” he said.
The priest said he could see that when Catholic Charities was able to serve 5 million meals to people during the pandemic, and since last Good Friday when busloads of migrants began arriving in Washington from Texas and Arizona, and the agency’s Newcomer Network has helped 1,500 of the migrants who didn’t have family support to find housing and jobs.
“That’s God,” Msgr. Enzler said, adding, “I’m convinced God has been in charge all along.”
The gala had opened with Bishop William Byrne of Springfield, Massachusetts – the master of ceremonies – noting that a record 1,600 people were attending, and he added, “If I asked everyone affected by Father John and his priestly service to stand up, that’s the closest I’d get to a standing ovation.”
Bishop Byrne, who earlier served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington for 25 years, said he saw “firsthand the difference Catholic Charities makes in our community.”
In an interview before the gala, Bishop Byrne noted how Msgr. Enzler was the right man at the right time to lead Catholic Charities in recent years. “Father John always puts people first, and combine that with his desire to always say ‘yes,’ to do whatever he can to help draw (people) closer to God and live the best life they can, made him the perfect man for the job,” he said, adding, “God put him there to help us all do what Jesus asks us to do, care for our brothers and sisters.”
The gala’s theme, “An Everlasting Legacy,” paid tribute to Msgr. Enzler’s impact leading Catholic Charities, the largest independent social services agency in the metropolitan D.C. area that in the last fiscal year served more than 167,000 people in the nation’s capital and the five surrounding Maryland counties that are within the Archdiocese of Washington.
In his opening remarks, Veihmeyer, the agency’s board chair, noted that he and other parishioners were sad when they learned in 2011 that Msgr. Enzler had been named as the new head of Catholic Charities.
“Boy, did I get that wrong!” Veihmeyer said. “What I didn’t appreciate at the time, was that everything that made Father John an amazing pastor to the people of Mount Calvary (in Forestville), Our Lady of Mercy (in Potomac) and Blessed Sacrament (in Washington) made him the perfect ‘pastor to the poor’ at Catholic Charities.”
Under the priest’s leadership, Catholic Charities created new programs, and expanded existing outreach, Veihmeyer said, noting how when Msgr. Enzler and a friend started the St. Maria’s Meals program at Catholic Charities in 2014, it served 234 meals in its first year. Last year, the program served 31,000 meals in weekly distributions at three locations.
In addition to the Newcomer Network and St. Maria’s Meals, the gala program listed several other programs that began at Catholic Charities during Msgr. Enzler’s leadership, including:
- Compass, that offers intensive case management for people in Wards 7 and 8;
- the Financial Stability Network, that provides budgeting help and tax preparation to low-income individuals;
- Cup of Joe, which serves a pre-packaged breakfast to those in homeless shelters;
- Angel’s Watch, a shelter in Southern Maryland for women and their children;
- and the Family Peace Initiative, which assists families experiencing domestic violence.
The gala program also listed Catholic Charities’ 52 programs in 32 locations, that provide care for children and families, developmental disabilities services, empowerment for individuals, food services, health care and mental health services, housing and shelter, immigrant and refugee services, and job training and employment services.
This past year, 8,833 people supported Catholic Charities work with donations, and 74,832 hours were contributed by 3,254 volunteer dentists, doctors, lawyers, interpreters, English as a Second Language tutors, tax preparers, mentors and other volunteers.
Videos shown during the 2023 Catholic Charities Gala on April 1 highlighted the impact that the agency has on people in need in the Washington metropolitan area. (Video by Mwendo/courtesy of Catholic Charities)
In a prayer at the gala, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory expressed gratitude for the staff, volunteers and supporters of Catholic Charities, and special thanks for Msgr. Enzler’s priestly service and leadership of the agency, saying he has been a blessing for the archdiocese these past 50 years.
Veihmeyer in his remarks noted that Msgr. Enzler as Catholic Charities’ leader “has created a lasting legacy, a legacy of help that empowers and hope that lasts. So Father John, everyone here tonight is here for one simple reason, to say ‘thank you.’”
The Catholic Charities’ board chair also introduced the agency’s new president and chief executive officer, James Malloy, a retired vice admiral and native Washingtonian who had a 36-year career in the Navy. He is a graduate of St. John’s College High School and the U.S. Naval Academy. Malloy’s appointment was announced by Cardinal Gregory earlier that week, and he will begin leading Catholic Charities on July 1.
“Jim is a proven and tested leader and just as importantly, he is a man of deep, deep faith who is passionate about spending the next phase of his career caring for the underserved,” Veihmeyer said, adding, “His humility, his authenticity and his collaborative style made Jim the unanimous choice of our board and Cardinal Gregory.”
Msgr. Enzler later also praised Malloy, saying, “This guy is going to make us better. Jim Malloy is the real deal.”
Also at the gala, a tribute to Msgr. Enzler was offered on behalf of Catholic Charities’ staff by Christy Hopkins, his executive assistant, who said, “He put his trust in each of us and respected us along the way.” Then highlighting the priest’s motto, she said, “To honor him, we will continue to ‘say yes’ to those who come our way.”
Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland who serves as the vice chair of Catholic Charities board, noted that he was an altar server at St. Gabriel’s Parish in Washington when he first got to know Msgr. Enzler years ago, and the priest later celebrated the wedding for Steele and his wife Andrea.
“What this moment is about right now is the man, the mission, the service, the love that we all have for him, and the good things he’s done for so many in the archdiocese through the incredible work of Catholic Charities,” Steele said.
In videos throughout the evening, people expressed heartfelt thanks to Msgr. Enzler for being a caring and inspiring priest, but he was also teased for his habit of sometimes talking fast and mumbling, and photo-shopped images flashing on the screens showed the priest’s distinctive hairstyle being adopted by sports and entertainment celebrities and even the pope. Bishop Byrne joked about Msgr. Enzler’s fundraising ability, comparing him to Robin Hood for his ability to take from the rich and give to the poor. After roasting his friend for a few moments, the bishop welcomed him to the stage as “the greatest guy and the greatest priest we all know.”
Msgr. Enzler explained that growing up as one of 13 children in his family, he and his siblings all learned to eat and talk fast.
After stepping down from leading Catholic Charities, the priest will continue to support the agency’s social justice mission and its fundraising efforts. This fall, he will serve as a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School, which Malloy also graduated from. St. John’s choir performed at the beginning of the gala, which closed with people dancing to music by the group 76 Degrees West.
Joanne and Steve Virostek and Mary Anne and Kevin Virostek were the gala’s co-chairs.
In his remarks, Msgr. Enzler noted that guests to the gala were given a special coin with his likeness on one side, and his motto, “say yes,” on the other side.
“Just say ‘yes’ when people come your way who need help… Our staff does that every single moment, every single day,” Msgr. Enzler said, adding, “I usually ask for coins from you. Here’s a coin from me. Take it to remind yourself to ‘say yes.’”
The priest encouraged them to continue supporting Catholic Charities and volunteering and opening doors for people who need help. “It’s not about me, it’s about serving people in need,” he said, adding that he hoped to see them at next year’s gala.
