​Please join us in saying farewell to Celia Yapita, Chief Program Officer and Director of the Center for Refugee Support of Catholic Charities. After 10 years with our organization, Celia has elected to pursue a career change.

Celia began her career with Catholic Charities as a volunteer in our Refugee Resettlement program. She was soon hired as the program’s Volunteer Coordinator and served in several other positions in the agency over the years before being named Program Director in 2016. She then oversaw the program through a major transition when, in 2017, it shifted from resettlement to an ongoing support model. In 2018, Celia was promoted to Chief Program Officer.

​Her leadership, organizational skills and many partnerships and collaborations with the community were demonstrated throughout her career at Catholic Charities. One of her many memorable accomplishments was coordinating the Companions on the Journey effort in February – June 2019. By training and collaborating with organizations throughout the community, including the City of Albuquerque, this effort collectively helped thousands of asylum-seekers fleeing violence in their countries to reach safe homes with sponsors/family members throughout the United States. Our Board of Directors awarded Celia the “Hands of the Holy Spirit” award for her remarkable leadership in this initiative. In August 2020, Celia began an anti-racism workgroup in Catholic Charities to examine how the agency can better address racial injustice and inequality, both internally and within the greater community.

These are only a few instances of the outstanding contributions Celia has provided during her time with Catholic Charities. “We know that Celia will excel in her new position with the United Way of Central New Mexico, and we wish her well,” said Dolores Nunez, Chief Executive Officer for Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Catholic Charities, Dolores Nuñez, 505-724-4693, nunezd@ccasfnm.org
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (August 26, 2021) Following its regularly scheduled meeting, the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced that Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director James Gannon has decided to retire from Catholic Charities after nearly 16 years of service. The Board of Directors has appointed Dolores Nunez, former Chief Administrative Officer for Catholic Charities, to the position of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.

​​“We would like to thank Jim for his leadership during his tenure with Catholic Charities. In 2006 Jim joined the organization and brought a fresh vision for the agency by creating Centers of Service, providing a structure and responsiveness in serving the most vulnerable in our community with dignity. Jim led the effort to build Catholic Charities’ community service center, Casa de Corazon, which provides services to approximately 20,000 individuals annually. Most recently, he created CC Housing, Inc. which partners with developers and funders nationwide to build affordable housing for New Mexico citizens. We wish Jim well in his retirement as he begins a new chapter in his life,” Don Kawal, Board Chair for Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe stated.

Construction progress on our new building, Casa de Corazon as of May 31, 2016. Walls are going up!