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Beatitude House welcomes first layperson as executive director
By Sarah Lehr
YOUNGSTOWN
Gina Pastella is the first layperson to serve as executive director of Beatitude House in the organization’s 26-year history.
Sister Margaret Sheetz founded the ministry in 1991 in Youngstown to reach out to homeless mothers. Sheetz, who died in 2001, had been inspired by the movie “God Bless the Child.”
Beatitude House, which is sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown, now serves disadvantaged women and children in Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties.
Among other initiatives, the non-profit provides transitional and permanent housing, assists students in applying for financial aid and offers classes for those learning English as a second language.
“We at Beatitude House have an extreme privilege of being able to serve the most underprivileged families in our community — some of the most vulnerable families,” Pascella said. “It is truly an honor for me, as a long supporter of Ursuline Sisters Ministries to now step into this role.”
She comes to Beatitude House after working as the executive vice president of operations at Valley Electrical Consolidated Inc.
Pastella replaces Sister Janet Gardner who resigned last month from her role as executive director after being elected to the General Council of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God.
On Thursday, Pastella spoke about the organization’s three-year strategic plan. Those goals include engaging with the community through social media and broadening the pool of donors.
Sister Patricia McNicholas, a former Beatitude House executive director, works toward attracting donors in her current role as senior development director.
“When I’m out talking to people, I tell them that means I’m old and can raise money,” McNicholas joked.
McNicholas added, “I have learned so deeply in my heart that we are called not to judge the poor, but to show kindness, understanding and mercy. ...It’s a gift to know these women and to see their strength and determination in the face of obstacles most of us have never faced.”