Mark Sliter, executive director of Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa), announced June 28 that he is resigning his position in order to move closer to his family in Texas.
Sliter has served as executive director of CCWVa since 2011. He will leave his position with CCWVa on September 29.
“We are grateful for the wonderful leadership Mark Sliter has shown at Catholic Charities West Virginia,” said Most Rev. Michael J. Bransfield, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. “His work has affected the lives of so many people throughout the state in very beautiful ways. We look forward to continuing the great services that Catholic Charities West Virginia provides to the least among us, especially our children, as the need for our help grows. I ask all of the faithful of the diocese to pray for God’s continued blessings for Mark and his family.”
“It has been an honor for me to serve as executive director for the past 6.5 years,” Sliter said. “I am extremely grateful to our board, Msgr. Frederick P. Annie, V.G., and Bishop Michael J. Bransfield for trusting me to help care for the less fortunate in our state. Through their guidance and support and those of our professional staff, Catholic Charities West Virginia has been and will continue to be a leader in addressing poverty and will continue to be an active, loving presence in improving the lives of individuals and families who we encounter daily. There is much poverty and need in the Mountain State, but much to be proud about living in this wild, wonderful state. I will miss the compassion and generosity of spirit with our donors, volunteers, neighbors and strangers pulling together to help each other during times of need.”
Under his leadership, CCWVa has made great strides in serving those in most need throughout the mountain state, helping thousands each year. The agencies scope and capacity across West Virginia increased with service expansion into Clarksburg and Huntington and improvements to locations in Morgantown, Princeton, Elkins and Parkersburg. Innovation, data driven and forward thinking have been at the foundation of program development. CCWVa became the first and only agency in the state to offer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application assistance statewide. It also implemented a Mobile Food Pantry in five rural counties in West Virginia—Doddridge, Wirt, Roane, Calhoun and Ritchie. And, an innovative adult education program was recently launched in Huntington.
One of his biggest accomplishments is the coordination of disaster relief services following the devastating floods in the southern part of the state in 2016. CCWVa has helped and continues to help thousands of flood victims throughout the state through food banks, case management services and rebuilding coordination.
The great work of CCWVa—in all of its various ministries throughout the state— will continue during this transition period. A search committee has been formed and will begin to evaluate possible candidates in the very near future to lead Catholic Charities West Virginia into its next chapter.
The mission of Catholic Charities West Virginia is to alleviate poverty, distress and injustice by providing comprehensive social services to the poor and vulnerable, advocating for social justice, and calling all people of good will, especially those of the Church, to service.
Catholic Charities West Virginia is open to all people regardless of their race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, protected veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, marital or family status.
