Nolan, Notre Dame grad helps start Catholic Charities health clinic in Arlington

North Texas Catholic

September 6, 2012

Alisha Wilkinson, Cathlic Charities service coordinator for the new Community Connections program in Arlington and Jeff Hebert in the new office. (NTC photo/Juan Guajardo)

Alisha Wilkinson’s compassionate, faith-filled approach to her new job – as service coordinator for Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW)’s  brand-new Community Connections program in Arlington – is a “great fit” for the agency’s now full-time presence in the Arlington deanery, says Laura Sotelo, who serves as CCFW’s director of parish relations.
Wilkinson, a 2005 graduate of Nolan Catholic High School, has deep roots in ministry within the Diocese of Fort Worth and far beyond.

The fully bilingual young adult, currently a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Arlington, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend in 2009. After graduating, she served as a volunteer missionary at an orphanage for adolescent boys in Honduras, for over two years, making good use of her double major in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

“We are so pleased to have Alisha on board, working in Arlington each weekday and available to serve as the point of contact with parishes in the Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Mansfield areas,” adds Sotelo.  The new office is centrally located at 1721 Pioneer Parkway in Arlington.

Wilkinson explains that, while new to the job, which was created this summer, she has already met with clients, and with several area pastors and staff members, letting them know that Catholic Charities’ services are available to help community residents – those of any denomination -  in need.“We are also looking forward to hosting programs at local parishes on topics such as immigration, parenting, and the many types of assistance that are available for individuals and families,” says Wilkinson.Father Tom Craig, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish, lauded by Sotelo as the “driving force” behind the new southern mid-cities outreach, is glad to know that the Community Connections program is now up and running. “Here at the parish, we have always helped those who come to us, as much as possible,” he says. “Some of the needs are greater than what we are able to address. Having a Catholic Charities staff member here in the community available to do a complete needs assessment and to offer a wide variety of services – I’m thankful to see that happening now in Arlington.”

Pastors and parish staff members within the Arlington deanery may submit a written referral for parishioners or community members in need to be seen in the Community Connections office. For more information, call (817) 274-2560, or email awilkinson@ccdofw.org.