By Jerry Zufelt
EDITOR

UNITY TOWNSHIP — Their pastor’s observation was on target.

"Michael and Janice Walker do not give to be seen or adulated," Father Daniel C. Mahoney, pastor of Holy Family Parish, Latrobe, said about the recipients of Catholic Charities’ Communities of Salt and Light Award for philanthropy.

Michael said his first reaction upon reading the award letter was, "Oh, no, this shouldn’t be us; we haven’t done anything special."

"We didn’t want the spotlight," Janice added.

They have followed the example of family members, people in the community and previous Salt and Light winners, the Walkers said.

"This award belongs to those who set the example for us, and to those for whom we set an example," Michael said.

Father Mahoney described the Walkers as "family-centered."

"And it’s not just in their own family," he said, "but also in a concern for other families, especially those in crisis due to the many social ills in our society."

A close-knit family focus was clear as the Walkers smiled and described the people who have inspired them and their faith.

Michael credits — after God — his parents, John and Francine, and his in-laws, Marjorie and the late Arthur Grant.

Janice said her mother, Marjorie, "was the first person to show me how to love and trust God," and called her mother-in-law, Francine, "a great example."

"My dear friend, Donna Kachmar, also is a great influence because her love and enthusiasm for the Catholic Church is contagious," she said.

They said several people have been strong influences in their lives and continue to fuel their passion for the faith.

The Walkers hesitated to single out individuals because there are so many, but they had special thanks for Father Mahoney; Benedictine Father Martin Bartel, pastor of St. Bruno Parish, Greensburg; Father Timothy J. Kruthaupt, parochial vicar of Church of the Resurrection Parish, northern Indiana County; and Dominican Brother Cajetan (Christopher) Cuddy of Apollo, a former evangelization director at Holy Family Parish who is studying at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.

In addition to supporting Catholic Charities, the Walkers support their parish; Christ the Divine Teacher School, Latrobe; the diocese’s Scholarship Partners Foundation; Saint Francis University, Loretto; and seminarian education. They also have supported diocesan involvement in past World Youth Day events.

They were among the six co-chairpersons for the "Today’s Challenge ~ Tomorrow’s Hope" Capital & Endowment Campaign for the Diocese of Greensburg. They also chaired their parish’s campaign effort.

In addition, Janice helps in the parish office, sings in the funeral choir, serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and is helping develop a parish ministry to the elderly. Michael chairs the parish finance council, serves on the parish pastoral council and ministers as a lector and an extraordinary minister of holy Communion.

Father Mahoney said the Walkers have helped in ways that no one else knows about because "that is the way they want it."

At campaign meetings, Michael said he became involved in the effort because the "Catholic Church and its people changed my life. I tried doing things my way for a lot of years, and that didn’t work out so well. Doing things God’s way, or at least trying, is so much better."

He said the campaign’s primary effect, even more important than raising $55 million on a $45 million goal, was the faith building that took place during the nearly two years of campaign activity.

The Walkers said they continue to be inspired to support the church because of its influence in their lives and how they have seen it improve the lives of other people.

"I have seen God’s mercy, goodness and kindness at work," Michael said. "When you experience that, you are never the same."

The Walkers were both born and raised in Indiana. Michael attended St. Bernard School, Indiana Area Junior and Senior High Schools and Saint Francis University, where he earned an accounting degree. He is owner and president of Loyalhanna Management Services and Mercury Trucking and owner, chairman and executive vice president of CME Engineering.

Janice attended Indiana public schools and entered the Catholic Church in 1999 through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process at Holy Family Parish when Msgr. Donald J. Mondello was pastor.

The Walkers, who will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in October, have three sons — Gregory, 27; Jonathan, 23; and Tyler, 17 — and smile broadly as they talk about Gregory’s upcoming wedding to Valerie Rogers this summer.

"This award is a reminder we must continue," Janice said, noting the dinner serves as a way to raise funds to help people in need (all net proceeds from the dinner go directly to material assistance in the diocese’s four counties) and as a way to educate people about Catholic Charities and encourage them to support its many programs.

"It’s another opportunity to give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received; another chance to share those gifts with others and celebrate God’s goodness," Michael said. "This moment is not about Janice and me; it’s about all of us. God calls us to always help his people."