Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud honored two outstanding community leaders, Janelle Kendall and Jane Marrin, with the 2025 Good Samaritan Award during a dinner and reception held Sept. 4.
The annual award recognizes individuals who embody the spirit of the biblical Good Samaritan offering compassion and support to those in need without expecting anything in return, something both are known for.
As Stearns County Attorney, Kendall plays an active role in the community, advocating for children, victims of domestic violence and individuals facing mental health challenges.
“I think Janelle connects with Catholic Charities because we help the underserved and people that fall through the cracks,” Wendy Haus, retired development director for Catholic Charities said in a video produced by the organization. “I think she has a passion for those types of people. She’s trying to help people that don’t get help anywhere else.”
Kendall says that although there is evil in the world — she sees it in her work every day — there is hope. But there must also be practical and immediate response.
“Hope is not a strategy,” Kendall said. “We have to actually act. We have to do something. And that is the essence of Catholic Charities. Their fearless involvement in what we do in the criminal justice system … is actually helping to make things better.”
In addition, Kendall also has performed concerts with her band, The Perfect Storm, to benefit the organization.
Marrin — who retired from her position as chancellor for the Diocese of St. Cloud in 2023 — served in many different roles within Catholic Charities over the years, including social work, adoption services, social concerns and as a member of the board of directors.
She began her journey with the organization as a social worker in Evansville, Indiana, shortly after graduating college. She worked as a teacher in Minneapolis after she married her late husband Jim, but when he was drafted into the Navy, they relocated to the East Coast and she again worked for Catholic Charities. This time in Norfolk, Virginia.
When they returned to Minnesota, they adopted their first two children through Catholic Charities adoption services and during that time, staff recognized her professional background in counseling and invited her to join their team in St. Cloud.
In 1998, Bishop John Kinney wrote a pastoral letter on social justice and wanted to create an office that would work with the parishes on issues around Catholic social teaching, Marrin said.
He worked with Steve Bresnahan, Catholic Charities executive director at the time, to jointly hire her as the first head of that office.
“I would describe Jane as a gentle but strong person, an incredible mentor with passion for others,” said Kateri Mancini, current director of social concerns for the Diocese of St. Cloud.
“What I love about Jane as a mentor and why I think she’s the perfect Good Samaritan, is that she takes Catholic Charities’ mission and expands it even further,” she continued. “A new generation of leaders who are passionate about social justice have the skills, because she has been able to mentor them, and can continue with that work.”
Marrin feels a “little embarrassed” about being honored this way because she believes there are others that do more. But, she confessed, the award means a lot to her.
“Catholic Charities has been an important part of my life, so it means a lot,” she said.
“I hope this award for Jane helps us all recognize the part we can play in making our community a better place,” said Laura Wocken, executive assistant at Catholic Charities. “Her example of quiet leadership is something we all could follow and if we did that, our world would be a better place, our community would be a better place.”
The award recipients are also honored for their support of Catholic Charities’ mission of serving and enhancing human dignity for people of all faiths and beliefs. They demonstrate community leadership while dedicating their time, talent and treasure and by making a difference in the Central Minnesota community.
“What makes a good Samaritan is someone who cares about their neighbor and has a broad view of who that neighbor is,” said Aaron Fisk, the organization’s president and CEO.
“Even though they’re going to have things that divide them, they find areas of connectedness and really reach out to help those around them because when you have a community that reaches out to help each other it’s much stronger and much more vibrant,” he said.
“We’re honored to come together for our annual Good Samaritan Awards to celebrate and express our gratitude to Jane and Janelle whose efforts make a lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors throughout Central Minnesota.”
Pictured above, from left: Aaron Fisk, Catholic Charities president and CEO, Jane Martin, Janelle Kendall and Chad Johnson, director of organizational advancement. (Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)
