I have been very privileged to have been the director of Catholic Urban Programs for the Diocese of Belleville for the past 40 years. We are celebrating this along with my retirement. We have been able to help thousands of families with not only direct services but also with assistance in ending the cycle of poverty in their lives. We have done this by collaborating with other agencies in the metro-east to provide a variety of services such as decent housing and utility assistance, to name just a few.

Many of our recipients have returned with changed lives and have since become both donors and volunteers to CUP. I want to thank all those who have supported our ministry in any way, both financially and with volunteer hours. It would have been impossible without all of them.

I also want to thank Gerard "Gerry" Hasenstab who has been my support as well as the person behind the scenes. Please continue to support Gerry and his team as they lead Catholic Urban Programs forward.

Last, I would like to thank all those who attended my retirement party and supported me in this transition. There will also be an open house from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Clyde Jordan Senior Center, 6755 State St., East St. Louis, for those who were unable to attend the other gathering.

May God bless people for caring for people in Southern Illinois.

Joe Hubbard

Belleville