Brian Hickey was appointed as executive director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio (CCO), effective Jan. 3, by the conference’s board of directors.
He replaces Jerry Freewalt, who resigned from the position in December to return to his former post as director of the Office for Social Concerns of the Diocese of Columbus.
Hickey has been the CCO’s associate director for social concerns since December 2021.
During his tenure there, Hickey has lobbied with state legislators on behalf of the conference, which is the voice of Ohio’s Catholic bishops on matters of public policy, in collaboration with diocesan directors of social service, Respect Life, and social action programs.
He previously was associate director of the Office for Human Dignity in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois.
He also has worked for Caritas, an international Catholic relief agency, in the east African nation of Djibouti, teaching in a classroom and assisting migrant and refugee children with humanitarian aid.
Additionally, he taught English literature and leadership in a Palestinian high school in the West Bank through the Jerusalem School of Bethlehem. As an intern for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he provided mentoring and life coaching to young men in Zambia and South Africa. He also has worked as a consultant to Catholic Relief Services.
He has a Bachelor’s degree in business management from Valparaiso University and a Master’s degree in global affairs, specializing in Catholic social teaching and public policy, from the University of Notre Dame.
“Brian’s diverse background in ministry and the professionalism he has displayed while working for the conference make him an outstanding choice for the executive director position. The bishops of Ohio look forward to his leadership of the conference,” said Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, CCO chairman.
Hickey and his wife, Kelli, are members of Gahanna St. Matthew Church.
Tickets are available for Newark Catholic’s Cinderella
Newark Catholic High School’s drama department will present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 in the school’s auditorium, 1 Green Wave Drive.
Tickets are $15 each for the school’s winter drama production and can be purchased by calling the school office at 740-344-3594.
Catholic Renewal announces 2023 schedule
The Columbus Catholic Renewal’s first event for 2023 will be a day of equipping from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Columbus Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 5225 Refugee Road.
The program will include a talk on holiness by Father Patrick Toner, as well as talks on healing, intercessory prayer and prophetic activation, updates from the renewal and an enthronement of the Sacred Heart. No registration is required.
The renewal also will sponsor citywide praise and adoration programs on Feb. 4, April 29, July 22 and Nov. 18, all Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to noon at the same location.
Its other activities for the year include a concert by Ark and the Dove Sisters on Saturday, March 18 at a time and place to be determined; a Pentecost Mass with Bishop Earl Fernandes on Sunday, May 28 at Grove City Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and a healing Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Sunbury St. John Neumann Church.
For more information, go to www.ccrcolumbus.org.