By Colleen Pollock
Special to The Catholic Accent

INDIANA — James Froelicher has been a crusader for social justice for more than 40 years.

Now retired, the 65-year-old parishioner of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish combines his time and talent to multitask to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people in Indiana County.

For his work, Froelicher will receive Catholic Charities’ Communities of Salt and Light award for humanitarianism at the 12th annual awards dinner April 22 at Stratigos Banquet Centre in North Huntingdon.

Froelicher retired in 2005 as director of housing and residence life at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With more free time, he increased his involvement in charitable and service organizations that help individuals and families meet basic needs and foster spiritual development, among them the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

"For most of my life I’ve been involved at various times with all sorts of organizations," Froelicher said.

As a member of a social concerns committee at the parish 15 years ago, he helped put together a campaign to assess needs in the parish community and how the St. Vincent de Paul Society was meeting those needs.

"Once I retired I knew I would have time to help," he said.

Froelicher said the society was being operated by four men when he and his wife, Pam, and a few other couples became involved more than three years ago.

"We basically became the officers. We knew very little about how things worked, but we were able to help about 20 people during the first six months of that first year," said Froelicher, now the society’s president.

The society expanded from the parish into Indiana Borough and White Township and by the third year was countywide, he said. The society also developed a working relationship with the nearby Church of the Resurrection Parish in northern Indiana County and St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana.

"We helped anybody who came to us. By the third year we decided to regionalize and increased the support base and the number of volunteers to do home visits and interviews," Froelicher said.

In 2009, Froelicher said the society provided assistance for more than 100 families and provided $10,000 in financial aid.

"The impact of the economy has devastated many, many, many individuals and families, and hopefully the little bit we do can help," he said.

"It’s all about doing good in the name of the Lord," said Froelicher, "and maybe in the process of helping others we can open their hearts, and they can remember what prayer is."

Father William J. Kiel, pastor of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, described Froelicher as a patient man who is always available, always caring.

"He has a lot of concern for others and lives his life based on his Catholic principles," Father Kiel said. "Jim cares for and serves the needy — spiritually, emotionally and physically. The materially poor is the group that receives the most evident and tangible help. It is this group that usually seeks help most often; but once he is aware of their other needs, with compassion and concern, he will set in motion avenues of help."

At the parish, Froelicher serves as pastoral associate and he and Pam assist with marriage preparation.

He is on the board of Catholic Charities, president of Birthright of Indiana County, a member of Indiana Area Church Crisis Committee and parish representative to the Indiana County Community Action Program.

Froelicher also records and edits weekday Mass readings and homilies and prepares "Whispers of the Spirit" inspirational readings for WMUG-FM, a Christian radio station in Indiana.

Froelicher said serving others is just a way of living his faith.

"That warmth that you feel when you help someone in need or help people become aware of God’s presence in their lives does make me feel good, but I’m not doing this to make myself feel good," Froelicher said. "I’m just doing what God calls us all to do."