For Mike and Cindy Nolan, saying yes to service is a way of life.

So when they were asked to serve as this year’s chairs of the Archbishop Hannan Community Appeal (AHCA), their answer came naturally.

“You can’t tell Jesus no,” Mike said with a laugh.

The Nolans may not have known exactly what they were getting into, but they knew they were willing to help. That willingness has shaped decades of service to their church and community.

Their connection to Catholic Charities grew through relationships within the local Catholic community, including their friendship with former Catholic Charities President & CEO Sr. Marjorie Hebert, MSC. Mike served on the Catholic Charities board, while Cindy became involved in efforts surrounding human trafficking and the organization’s work to serve people in vulnerable situations.

For the Nolans, Catholic Charities represents an important part of the Church’s mission: reaching people whose struggles can easily go unseen.

They point to people experiencing homelessness, individuals rebuilding their lives and those with significant physical or psychological needs as examples of people who may exist outside visible society.

“Catholic Charities is helping people that are outside the mainstream of life,” Mike said.

That work may not always be easy to talk about or attract attention, but the Nolans believe it is precisely why the community must respond.

And they believe everyone has a role to play.

As chairs of this year’s appeal, they want people to understand that, while Catholic Charities needs significant monetary support to serve so many people in the Archdiocese, every gift
counts. Others may volunteer their time, make a personal appeal to a friend, spread the word or pray for Catholic Charities and the people it serves.

Cindy describes it as a “big net”—one strengthened when many people participate in whatever way they can.

That spirit of participation is something the Nolans learned from their own families. They said their parents taught them about faith and service primarily through example. They watched their parents participate in their parishes and communities and learned that when something needed to be done, you stepped forward.

The Nolans have carried that lesson into their own lives and hope to pass it on to their children and eight grandchildren.

For them, faith is not simply something to profess. It is something to live.

Now, as they lead the AHCA, they invite others to do the same—not necessarily by following their path, but by finding their own way to serve.

Everyone has something to give.

And when the call comes, the Nolans believe the answer should be yes.