By Jay Sorgi • Posted January 14, 2026

Amy Stoner’s tenure of 38 years of compassion with Catholic Charities of Philadelphia became a canvas upon which she painted genuine love of God and neighbor upon hundreds of thousands of people in need.

Two people who have worked closely with Stoner, the outgoing director of the Community-Based and Housing and Homeless Services Division of Catholic Charities, will now be dividing up her mission within Catholic Charities of Philadelphia.

Kathleen Bevenour and Jim Kerrigan will be offering their own genuine compassion for others, the kind that becomes obvious when you encounter them. They also offer a combined four decades of expertise and leadership in areas of social responsibility, all through a philosophy of accompaniment that evangelizes with loving action.

“It’s really, you know, what it says is bringing kind of the church to the communities and the families that are in need,” said Bevenour, who is now Director of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia’s Family and Community Services.

Her role entails the Out of School Time Program, Family Service Centers, Casa del Carmen Preschool, Immigration Legal Services and School Social Work – areas that particularly focus on immigrants,  children, and families.

Bevenour’s career at Catholic Charities’ Community-Based Services Division spans nearly two decades, first joining the organization as a social worker in 2010. She went on to lead the Bucks County Family Service Center as its administrator before being named Assistant Director of the division in 2016, serving under Stoner.

She says her experiences taking care of a brother with special needs, and simple encounters playing with children placed in her care after parents were accused of abuse, revealed God’s calling for her.

“I’ve always ‘caretaked.’ I knew I wanted to help other folks that just needed someone to walk with them,” Bevenour said.

“It was just giving care and compassion and walking along with someone and making a difference. This was God saying, ‘This is what I’m calling you to do. You are to give to others.’”

She and Stoner share that simplicity of calling in a professional but genuine friendship that has affected Bevenour’s journey.

“She’s always been a driving force in making things happen and in leading the way she led,” said Bevenour.

“She’s a wonderful friend. She’s a wonderful mentor and has been for a really long time. I’m very grateful for our relationship and her helping me move into leadership opportunities.”

Stoner’s professional presence and compassionate charism have also affected Kerrigan, preparing him for his new role as the new Director of Homeless Services for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia.

“I’ve always wanted to lead a life of service to others. I decided to actually do some work internationally in Peru, and so that was something that stuck with me. It was life-changing. Since then, I’ve had various roles, but it’s always been a calling,” Kerrigan said.

“We have eight homeless services programs that serve a wide array of programs to those experiencing homelessness and those that need assistance in finding stable, independent living.”

Kerrigan comes back to Catholic Charities of Philadelphia after 10 years at the state and federal levels leading antipoverty and community development initiatives. He spent six-and-a-half years with Catholic Charities leading prevention programs in urban Catholic schools and community-based centers helping thousands of at-risk young people.

His public service career included the last five years with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he oversaw nearly $300 million in community development and planning grants that went out to areas in New Jersey, but he saw an opportunity this year to better align his career with the core of his faith.

A cup of coffee with Catholic Charities of Philadelphia Executive Vice President Heather Huot became a providential meeting and a chance to return to working in a city he “fell in love with” when he moved here 25 years ago.

“At the time, Catholic Charities was going through some reorganization, some refocusing, some reshifting of priorities and resources,” Kerrigan said.

“She gave me her vision, and she wanted to focus on housing and the homeless. I took a stab on betting on myself in a really tumultuous time for me professionally, and this is how I was rewarded. It was God’s will, divine intervention.”

He especially finds pride in working for an organization whose source is his Catholic faith, one that has the breadth and depth of services to holistically be present to each person’s unique need.

“When Catholic Charities comes to the table, it’s all of these different facets that we bring. Most organizations may focus on one or two aspects, but we focus on all of these,” he says.

“That makes Catholic Charities uniquely qualified to be able to respond and to develop programs that are needed not just in Philadelphia, but all the surrounding communities.”

Kerrigan and Bevenour’s areas offer a Swiss army knife-like cadre of compassionate tools to offer, one which they aim to lead in the model of missionary discipleship that is defining the future of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia.

They call Catholics to catalyze their spirit of service and social responsibility as part of that discipleship.

“Catholic Charities of Philadelphia is coming with a new approach, a new vision on how we want to meet the needs of community members,” said Kerrigan.

“This is how we’re going to reconnect to those who want us to serve more, who want us to do more. Volunteer, donate your time or donate your resources.”

“This is what we’re supposed to be doing. It’s never about me. It’s about the people we serve,” said Bevenour.

“At the core of what we’re asked to do is just respect, and love one another. It’s simple. ‘Love one another as I’ve loved you.’”