Father Eckley named as interim executive director of Catholic Charities

Father Michael Eckley has been named interim executive director of Catholic Charities of Omaha, effective immediately. He replaces Gregg Wilson, who is relocating to be closer to family.

Father Eckley, who is in residence at Our Lady of Lourdes-St. Adalbert Parish in Omaha and is servant minister to priests of the archdiocese, will spend 50% of his time working with Catholic Charities until a new executive director is named.

“I’m very honored to be asked to take on this role,” he said. “Catholic Charities has always been an important part of the archdiocese, and personally, when my family was experiencing some challenges, Catholic Charities was there to help us when I was a kid.”

The organization annually helps more than 80,000 people throughout the archdiocese through behavioral health services, assistance for victims of domestic violence, emergency food aid, family strengthening programs, immigration legal services, and microbusiness and asset development programs to help people become self sufficient.

“Catholic Charities often works with some of the most vulnerable members of our community, giving them a hand up to help them move forward in a more positive direction,” Father Eckley said. “Catholic Charities is the arm of mercy of the archdiocese, reaching out to all who are in need regardless of who they are or what their circumstances are.”

Father Eckley, who has served on Catholic Charities’ board of directors for six years, said his first priority is to “get a better feel for the day-to-day operations” of the organization, then to work on finding a new location for its offices.

The organization is currently located at the archdiocese’s Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan Center, which also formerly housed many archdiocesan departments until a recent move to new quarters. The archdiocese plans to sell the property.