3 minute read
Catholic Charities Education Center: Performing an Essential Community Mission
Young people all over Stillwater have found themselves in situations that have made it hard to complete high school. For some, their families needed them to work, while others may have had trouble with the law. Whatever the case, the Catholic Charities Education Center is there to help folks complete their high school degree via the HiSET Exam, which is similar to a GED. The Education Center offers HiSET Exam preparation and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Staff also provides a variety of career services. The Education Center is located at the former St. Francis Xavier Church at 601 S. West, Stillwater.
Robin FitzGerald started working at Catholic Charities in November 2021. She and her husband, Mike, who also works for Catholic Charities, are parishioners at St. Francis Xavier. Robin feels so blessed to be doing this work to help people advance their education.
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“When people pass the HiSET Exam, they are so thrilled,” Robin says. “They can’t wait to go and do something positive.”
Recently, as Catholic Charities has been doing important work for Afghan refugee resettlement, the Education Center’s mission has continued as well. Classes have been offered there since late 2019. There are various HiSET preparation class times for both English and Spanish speakers. In addition, free childcare is offered for some of the classes. Catholic Charities also has a van to pick up students who don’t have reliable transportation.
The Education Center staff would love to offer more class opportunities. Both English and Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed to teach classes and perform administrative tasks. Donations are also needed to continue the work.
“The parishioners at St. Francis Xavier are amazing with supporting Catholic Charities here in Stillwater,” Robin says. “We also haveamazing, wonderful volunteers who make all of this possible.”
Robin came to Catholic Charities after a spring 2021 religious retreat called Cursillo. Deacon Kevin Sartorius, CEO of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, was helping lead the retreat. Robin had met Deacon Kevin when Mike started at Catholic Charities, but she did not know him well. At the time of the retreat, Robin was working at a job she loved. But at Cursillo, she felt a tug to do something different. That tug, along with getting to know Deacon Kevin, led Robin to her current position. It was a perfect fit because, at her former employer, Robin often hired employees who had gone through the HiSET preparation classes at the Education Center.
“I felt the Lord calling me to serve Him fulltime,” Robin says. “I thought, ‘Wow, I wasn’t expecting that.’”
St. Francis Xavier is the main financial support for Catholic Charities in Stillwater. But lately, more area churches have been donating. Mike and Robin agree that working with Catholic Charities has blessed their lives, and they encourage others to volunteer.
“It’s offering Christ’s merciful love to those who suffer,” Robin says. “When you start doing this work, the Holy Spirit catches you. We also say that the Holy Spirit is our best director of volunteers.”
Down the road, Mike and Robin hope to offer more services to help those in need throughout Stillwater and the surrounding areas.
“There is a need to expand our work to serve the poor,” Mike says. “I say ‘stay tuned’ — we look forward to being able to offer more services.”
