Protecting, Defending and Celebrating Life
BY JENNIFER ANTKOWIAK
A single mother struggles to raise her unexpected baby. A family of six has been evicted from their apartment and needs a warm, safe shelter from the winter weather. An older person seeks help to address unsafe conditions in their home. These are some of the many faces of Jesus that Susan Rauscher serves daily at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
In nearly 15 years as executive director of Catholic Charities, Susan has witnessed the vast and universal need for kindness, resources, and respect. She and her team are committed to respond.
She views Respect Life Month, which begins each year on the first Sunday of October, as the perfect opportunity for all Catholics to recommit themselves to defending the dignity of every human life. She draws inspiration from scripture about how we are all connected to each other: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. We are the body of Christ, and each of us is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14;25-27)