A caring and dedicated champion of the most vulnerable Oregonians died May 24.
Archbishop John Vlazny will always be special to us at Catholic Charities. As the spiritual leader of western Oregon’s Catholics from 1997 to 2013, he almost always had vulnerable people in mind and at heart.
There is a good reason that the roadway behind our office building was dubbed “Vlazny Way.”
He supported our mission to accompany everyone, no matter their beliefs, often saying, “We don’t help people because THEY are Catholic, we help people because WE are Catholic.”
With his excellent Spanish learned by leading a Chicago Puerto Rican Parish, Archbishop Vlazny was able to chat amiably with many of our immigrant clients. He attended our board meetings with energetic involvement. He was the life of the party at our annual gala, when his trademark guffaw cut through the buzz of conversation at 95 decibels or so. You could not help laughing, too, when you heard him.
He regularly wrote newspaper columns in support of our programs and the people we help.
“It is important for all of us to make concrete efforts to assist our needy neighbors as Jesus taught and to follow the example of the Good Samaritan,” he wrote in 2012. “We Catholics look upon all our neighbors as children of God, worthy of respect and endowed with the same human dignity. May there be no needy person among us who is refused our care.”
We are grateful for the life and labors of Archbishop Vlazny, whose joy and generosity will always be a part of our work and mission.
Kaleen Deatherage
Interim CEO/Executive Director