May 29, 2017 – Sue Strachan
The Catholic Charities’ Archbishop Hannan Community Appeal for 2016 had surpassed its $1.8 million goal, so it was time to celebrate. On April 19, the organization hosted a party at Café Reconcile to thank volunteers and to mark the 51st year of the campaign.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond welcomed and thanked 2016 AHCA Chairman Paul Fine and AHCA volunteers for their commitment to the campaign. He also introduced Tommie Vassel as the 2017 AHCA chairman.
Fine, after receiving a gift in recognition of his service, also thanked the volunteers and Catholic Charities staff members who helped the campaign surpass its goal. He spoke about how money raised through the annual campaign makes it possible for Catholic 
Charities to provide more than 30 programs.
Attendees enjoyed Café Reconcile’s Louisiana cuisine, such as artichoke and boursin beignets, meat pies with Creole dipping sauce, crab cake poppers with remoulade sauce, barbecue shrimp and grits, and a sausage station featuring andouille, crawfish, alligator and boudin. The Joe Simon Jazz Band performed.
Catholic Charities President and CEO Sr. Marjorie Hebert, Shannon and Byron Adams, Marion Bruno, Peter Quirk, and Catholic Foundation Archdiocese of New Orleans Executive Director Cory Howat were in the crowd as were Lisa Johnson, Tim Kelly, Lynn and Warren Poche, Margaret and Bruce Soltis, Regina Templet, MT and Jim Thomas, Jack Scariano, Danny Bourgeois, Eileen and A.J. Capritto, Al and Debbie Suffrin, and Emelie Cheramie and Ron Paul Cheramie.
