Our Mission

The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide for the needs of our community through selfless service under the sign of love.

Our Vision

The vision of Catholic Charities is to comfort, care, and advocate for all people in crisis by strengthening the vulnerable and promoting self-sufficiency. Through all of our programs, our daily activities are intended to lift a person out of crisis, encounter them in Christ, and accompany them on their journey to wholeness.

Our Values

Stewardship
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. is faithful to the purpose for which resources are given to manage them in a manner which allows for maximum benefit to the community and the individuals we serve.

Service
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. focuses on the needs of individuals and families, emphasizing social justice, social teaching and community service.

Excellence
The excellence of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. is measured by the ability to make significant and lasting contributions to the Archdiocesan community with the goal of moving individuals we serve towards self-sufficiency.

Advocacy
Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. is committed to being a voice for the most vulnerable in our community striving to provide appropriate and timely services to assist families and individuals when they need us most.

Organizational Chart

Leadership

J. Antonio Fernandez

President/CEO

Since 2013, J. Antonio Fernandez has served as the Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio President/CEO leading the programs, growth, and development of the largest Catholic social services agency in the city including sister agencies, Guadalupe Community Center, Seton Home, St. PJ’s Children’s Home, and San Antonio Birth Doulas. Under his leadership, Catholic Charities expanded programs from 17 to 45 and quadrupled the annual budget. Previously, Mr. Fernandez was Senior Vice President of Operations for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the largest Catholic Charities in the country. In this role, he was responsible for the overall leadership and operations of the programs providing social services and physical plant oversight. Mr. Fernandez also serves on the Board of Trustees at Catholic Charities USA and serves as a member of the Finance and Development Committees. He also serves as a member of Legatus, Knights of Columbus, Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchar, University of the Incarnate Word, and on the Senior Staff for Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller MSpS. Mr. Fernandez holds a Master in Business Administration, a Master in Counseling Psychology, and a Bachelor in Psychology. In addition, he is certified for Non-Profit Organizations and is a licensed Professional Counselor.

Michelle Cammack

VP of Administration

Michelle Cammack is the Catholic Charities Vice President of Administration responsible for human resources, information technology, facilities, risk management, and performance quality improvement for the family of five agencies. In this role, she manages human, physical, and technology assets for day-to-day agency operation. Before this position, she worked at Family Tapestry as Senior Director of Case Management developing a new program to manage case management, adoption services, and independent living departments. Previously, Mrs. Cammack worked at Seton Home, a Catholic Charities agency, as Vice President of Programs responsible for oversight of residential, domestic and international, early childhood intervention, and counseling programs to provide healing for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and their babies. She also served as Residential Program Director, Client Services Director, Case Manager, and Lead Case Manager at Seton Home. Mrs. Cammack has a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor in Science from Our Lady of the Lake University. Mrs. Cammack is also certified as a Trust-Based Relational Intervention educator, a Licensed Child Care Administrator (LCCA), and a Licensed Child Placing Agency Administrator (LCPAA). She has served within the Catholic Charities family because “through Catholic Charities’ family of services, she is able to transform the lives of God’s most vulnerable populations. Through His work, we as a family are able to work with those we serve, not just to provide the resources and services needed today, but to promote self-sufficiency for a change of their future too.”

Lisette Deleon

Chief Financial Officer

Lisette DeLeon is the Chief Financial Officer for the family of five agencies encompassed by Catholic Charities. In this role, Ms. DeLeon is responsible for planning, implementation, and management of all financial matters including business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and negotiations. Previously, Ms. DeLeon was Director of Finance at St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home, a Catholic Charities agency, responsible for maintaining the financial health and stability of the home. Ms. DeLeon has a long work history in finance serving as a Senior Consolidation and Reporting Analyst and General Ledger Team Lead. She has a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M University. Her passion for Catholic Charities is rooted in the mission and values that she and her family upholds.

Gladys Gonzalez

Executive Director of Seton Home and St. PJ's

Gladys Gonzalez has been with the Catholic Charities family of agencies for almost five years, serving in various capacities at multiple sites to advance the mission, to increase capacity and sustainability, and to manage over 45 programs providing relief to those most vulnerable in our community. Currently, Gladys is the Executive Director at Seton Home and St. Peter-St. Joseph Children’s Home responsible for providing a safe and loving refuge for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and their babies and children in crisis with the goal of breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect. In addition, Gladys was previously Vice President of Programs where she developed, implemented, and maintained operations as the organization established a new business model. As Executive Director at Guadalupe Community Center, Gladys was instrumental in launching new programs to address emergency services, education, and self-sufficiency initiatives ensuring compliance with federal grants and local funding. Prior to Catholic Charities, she held roles as a Talent Acquisition Manager and Operations Director for Career Transitions, an executive coaching organization. She began her career at USAA where she worked for 19 years with her last role working in the Office of CEO Support. Gladys has a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business from the University of the Incarnate Word. Gladys has a passion for serving having done so since childhood. She has served in various leadership roles in the community including involvement in ACTS Retreats.

Tracy Ladgenski

VP of Mission Advancement

Tracy Ladgenski is the Vice President of Mission Advancement responsible for raising friends and funds for the five non-profit agencies that comprise the Catholic Charities family. In this role, she is responsible for grants, fundraising, events, marketing communications, parish outreach, and volunteer services spurring growth for the agency. Previously, she was the Director, Grants for Catholic Charities and the Director, Hope for the Future Catholic school tuition fundraising campaign for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Tracy is a member of the Grant Professionals Association, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the United Way Emerging Leaders Council, and the San Antonio Volunteer Administrators. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Lizzy Perales

VP of Programs

Lizzy Perales is the Catholic Charities Vice President of Programs responsible for management and oversight of over 40 programs including Family and Children’s Services, Family Self Sufficiency, Caritas Legal Services, Senior Services, and Refugee Resettlement Services. In this role, she works with senior leadership to execute quality programs and services that provide dignified care for the whole person, from birth to natural death. Previously, Mrs. Perales was the Executive Director of Guadalupe Community Center responsible for programs that assist and empower clients in the heart of San Antonio’s West Side. She also served as Director of Programs and as a Case Manager. Mrs. Perales has a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with minors in Spanish and Healthcare Ethics from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. When asked about why she works for Catholic Charities, she responded, “After receiving a Jesuit education rooted in the ideals of service, faith, and the promotion of social justice, I realized that it was my life’s calling to be a servant of God. This organization helps the community and embodies the values of our Catholic Social Teaching and faith.”

Board of Directors

Bret Piatt

Chair

Armando Medina

Vice-Chair

Stewart Goodson

Treasurer

Matthew E. Pepping

Secretary

Melissa Aguillon

Lee Bailey

Esther Belz

Matthew R. Benavides

Larry Benson Jr.

Fr. Rodolfo Caballero

Daniel Collier

Mark De Hoyos

Dr. Thomas Evans

Dr. Mitch Finnie

Juan Antonio Flores

Frank Guerra

Dan Harkins

Jorge Herrera

Charlotte Immenschuh

Steven Jansma

Greg Kowalski

Fr. Martin Leopold

Christina Markell-Balleza

Donna McElroy

Dottie Nichols

Melbourne O'Banion

Jerry Salinas

Hella Scheuerman

Rudy Torres

Brian Tucker

Ex-Officio Members

  • Bishop Michael Joseph Boulette
  • Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S.

    • Officers

    • President/CEO, J. Antonio Fernandez
    • Chief Financial Officer, Lisette DeLeon
    • Vice President of Administration, Matthew Martinez
    • Vice President of Mission Advancement, Tracy Ladgenski
    • Vice President of Programs, Lizzy Perales