Helping those in need in the Terre Haute Deanery is a family affair for the Etlings

By Brandon A. Evans

John Etling has led Catholic Charities of Terre Haute for more than three decades and although he retired recently the Etling name will remain synonymous with the agency.

John C. Etling replaced his father as the director of the agency after the senior John Etling retired at the end of April.

“John will be sorely missed,” said David Siler, executive director of Catholic Charities for the archdiocese. “Basically, he is Catholic Charities—the definition of it in Terre Haute.”

It’s not hard to see why that’s the case.

Of the various programs that Catholic Charities runs, John Etling was there at the start of each, rounding up the volunteers and providing the catalyst.

In 1973, there was no Catholic Charities ministry in Terre Haute and Etling was asked to become a “convener” or organizer for such a ministry—though an official organization with Etling at the helm didn’t come until later.

In those early years, he balanced his part-time work as a convener with full-time work as an art teacher.

That teaching career ended on the eve of the last day of school in 1980 when he had a heart attack. He was teaching at Chauncey-Rose Middle School in the Vigo County School Corp.

About one year later, he became director of the newly formed Catholic Charities of Terre Haute.

Around that same time Etling’s wife, Pat, became the director of the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank, which she still leads.

Besides the food bank, the ministry of Catholic Charities of Terre Haute has grown to include Simeon House, which provides congregate living for senior citizens; Bethany House, which provides emergency shelter to the homeless along with a soup kitchen; Ryves Hall Youth Center, which provides a latch key program and pre-school for children; the Christmas House, which gives families new clothes and gifts at Christmas each year; and the Household Exchange, which gives donated household items to needy families.

Pat Etling said that she is pleased at how much the ministry has grown over the years.

Siler called the variety of programs an “amazing array,” adding that he has incredible admiration for John Etling and confidence in his son.

“He’s just kind of a legend,” Siler said.

John Etling said that carrying out the various ministries of Catholic Charities of Terre Haute would be impossible without the work of at least 350 volunteers.

“We really couldn’t operate without volunteers,” he said. “You’re just constantly recruiting.”

Pat Etling said she has always helped her husband as best she could and considers it very much “a part of our relationship.”

“I was a volunteer in the beginning, until I had to take on a bigger role,” she said.

In addition to their joint work in serving the poor, the Etlings raised 10 children.

And now, as one John Etling steps aside, another one is taking his place.

“Our job is never done,” the younger Etling said. “I think my mom and dad have been a team. I’m very proud of them.

“So much of it has been a concerted effort between my mom and my dad.”

The senior John Etling has received the Pro Ecclesia it Pontifice award—the highest honor a lay person can receive in the Church—from Pope John Paul II, while his wife has received the Mother Theodore Guérin St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Alumnae Award.

Both John and Pat Etling have received the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Respect Life Award and the state’s Sagamore of the Wabash Award.

Etling said that he is grateful that God has blessed his family with the chance to serve—and said that service and community were constant themes in his life growing up.

The senior John Etling noted that his son is starting as director about the same age when he first got involved with Catholic Charities. He added that he is very happy that his son is stepping into his shoes—and is also happy to leave all the administrative work behind and focus more on direct volunteering.

For the past 20 years, the younger Etling has worked in the environmental construction industry involving hazardous waste cleanups.

John C. Etling and his wife, Carol, have four children. †