By Melissa Williams Schofield
Special to The Catholic Accent
GREENSBURG — A very humble Bishop Emeritus Anthony G. Bosco, who started the annual Communities of Salt and Light Awards Dinner for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Greensburg, won’t take credit for more than $600,000 raised since its inception.
He says he was merely doing his work as bishop. He didn’t think he was doing anything special; it was just part of the job.
Bishop Bosco, who will be honored with a lifetime achievement award during the 12th annual dinner April 22 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon, says he’s not being falsely humble when he says many others are far more deserving of the lifetime achievement award.
"Everyone is doing their work for the diocese and for the work of the Gospel for the diocese. They will be honored some day, too, if not in this life, in the next," Bishop Bosco said.
He views the dinner’s purpose as two-fold, both of which are important.
"The very obvious one, of course, is over the years you see how much it has made. In other words, to finance the mission, the work of Catholic Charities, which is rooted in the Gospel," he said.
"Secondly, it’s also a chance to publicize the work of Catholic Charities, and to let people know what it’s doing and to let people know what we’re doing with the funds they’ve given us. It’s also a chance to honor different people, who have in a very special way shown that they follow the Gospel of Christ in character for their neighbor in different ways – philanthropy, humanitarianism or a lifetime achievement award," Bishop Bosco said.
He proudly talks of how the dinner has grown, of "some pretty good guest speakers" over the years, like former Steelers head coach Chuck Noll and Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, former bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
He talks fondly about each and every recipient honored over the years since 1999 and the humanitarian and philanthropic works they’ve done for the Diocese of Greensburg.
"It’s become a very nice social event, too, in addition to all the finances that it has raised. It’s good to know that every penny that comes in is used for the purposes for which it is given (to provide direct material assistance to more than 6,000 individuals and families in the diocese’s four counties of Indiana, Westmoreland, Fayette and Armstrong) so there is a low overhead," Bishop Bosco said.
All the net proceeds from the dinner go directly to material assistance. No administrative expenses are taken.
Bishop Bosco, now 82, never really retired. He teaches a Faith, Religion and Society class at Seton Hill University, Greensburg, facilitates online courses in the University of Dayton’s Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation program, and hosts Bible study sessions every two weeks at his Unity Township residence.
He still presides at diocesan liturgical celebrations and celebrates Mass every weekend at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish in Greensburg.
At home, he has quickly gotten used to a nearly 1-year-old canine companion, Joshua II, his second West Highland white terrier. His first dog of the same breed, Joshua, passed away a year ago.
Of the lifetime achievement award, Bishop Bosco said he would actually prefer to stay out of the limelight. He would rather focus on the success of the Salt and Light dinner and the money it has raised since it started.
It warms his heart to know how many people it has assisted.
"It’s good to see it has grown and has become a tradition now. It’s taken off," said Bishop Bosco.
This is the third lifetime achievement award presented at a Salt and Light dinner. At the 2004 dinner, which celebrated Catholic Charities 50th anniversary in the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt honored Msgr. John L. Conway, who led Catholic Charities from 1967-83, and the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Trinitarian Sisters, who helped staff Catholic Charities for 38 years after its founding.