Roberto Partarrieu
Because of my father’s work, I had the privilege of traveling and living in various countries before moving to the United States where I graduated with a Bachelors and a Master’s Degree in Economics from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and completed some PhD level courses at Georgetown University in Washington DC. I also spent 1½ years at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary studying Philosophy and Theology.
I have been working for the Catholic Church since 1998 in different positions both in the United States and in Chile, where I’m originally from. In Chile, I worked in the private sector for a number of years before joining the management team of a Catholic Congregation, becoming the General Manager of an Institute and later Principle of a large K-12 school. When my family and I moved back to the United States, I worked in fundraising and as Vice President for Finance and Administration at a Catholic Graduate School of Psychology in Arlington, VA.
Since October 2014, I have had the honor of working for Catholic Charities, a community that has welcomed my family and me with open arms. The opportunity to serve the needy, to put into practice our Mission of “Proclaiming Christ’s Gospel of Life and promote human dignity by alleviating poverty and strengthening individuals and families”, is nothing short of a dream come true. In a world where it seems that “everything is going against us”, where we are lead to believe that there is no hope and that nobody cares… Well Catholic Charities cares, the people of Eau Claire, Wausau, Prairie du Chien and La Crosse care. I have experienced it first hand with more than 500 volunteers and over 100 staff members that serve and work tirelessly to provide a warm place, warm meal, a loving environment and education for the disabled, financial advice and assistance for the poor, a home, a warm welcome and a family environment for those who never experience the love of an honest embrace.
The prayers and financial support of people from all denominations who ecumenically work together for the good of our brothers and sisters who are experiencing difficult times is what makes us strong. Businesses, non-profit institutions, schools and government are changing “one person at the time” the negativity that those who lack faith want us to believe. Christ has risen and is alive. We are all blessed to be branches that by remaining in Him, will continue to change the face of the earth starting in Wisconsin.