Denver Catholic Charities, Social Ministries Director Named Head Of USCCB Justice, Peace, Human Development Department

WASHINGTON—Jonathan J. Reyes, Ph.D., president and chief executive officerof Catholic Charities and CommunityServices of the Archdiocese of Denver since 2009, has been named executivedirector of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Hesucceeds John Carr, who retired from the USCCB in late August after almost 25years of service. He is currently is a fellow at the John F. Kennedy School ofGovernment at Harvard University, focusing on the links between faith andpublic life.

Reyes, who has served as director ofsocial ministry for the Denver Archdiocese simultaneously with his CatholicCharities position, oversees an organization that serves 45,000 personsannually and includes five homeless shelters, six child care centers and 22affordable housing properties, among dozens of other charitable programs.

Among other contributions to theChurch's social mission, Reyes also founded Christin the City, a national volunteer and formation program for collegestudents.In its third year, it has had over200 participants.He also oversaw thecreation of Regina Caeli Catholic Counseling Services and Lighthouse Women'sCare Center and completed the Guadalupe Community Assistance Center in Greeley,Colorado.

His previous work in Denver includedco-founding and becoming first president of the Augustine Institute, 2005-2008.The institute is a Catholic graduate school that combines education intheology, Scripture and history with practical formation in pedagogy andleadership. Additionally, from 2004-2005, he was vice president for campusministry and leadership formation of the Fellowship of Catholic UniversityStudents (FOCUS) in Denver. FOCUS is a team-based evangelization program aimedtoward students on college campuses.

From 1998-2004, Reyes served on thestaff of Christendom College, in Front Royal, Virginia, first as an assistantprofessor of history, and then as vice president of academic affairs.

He received adoctorate in European history from the University of Notre Dame in 2000, and abachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Michigan in 1990. Heis married and has seven children.

Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, USCCB generalsecretary, made the appointment.

"Jonathan Reyes brings vitalexperience with on-the-ground charities work and with young adults and is aproven administrator," he said. "Jonathan has the ability to inspire people toembrace the Church's social teaching and carry it out in their daily lives. Ifeel confident that his knowledge of the many issues facing the Church in ournation and world, combined with his practical experience and dedication, willpromote effectively the outstanding and critical work of the USCCB Justice, Peaceand Human Development Department."

Reyes voiced both regret andanticipation.

"Although I am sad to leave CatholicCharities and the community of northern Colorado, I am excited and honored by theopportunity to serve the Church in this capacity," he said. "I look forward toworking with the excellent staff of the USCCB."

Reyes will oversee USCCB efforts indomestic and international affairs and the Catholic Campaign for HumanDevelopment, the bishops' anti-poverty program.He will assume his position at the bishops' conference in December.

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Keywords: Jonathan Reyes, John Carr, Msgr. Ronny Jenkins,justice, peace, human development, Catholic Campaign for Human Development,Christendom College, evangelization

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