Sunday, November 20, 2011



Catholic Charities. Providing Help. Creating Hope. 

VISION: Believing in the presence of God in our midst, we proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person by sharing in the mission of Jesus given to the Church. To this end, Catholic Charities works with individuals, families, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

MISSION: Rooted in the Mission of the Diocese of Youngstown "to minister to the people in the six counties of northeastern Ohio . . .(and) to the world community", we are called to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same.

GOALS: Catholic Charities is devoted to helping meet basic human needs, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people. Working to reduce poverty in half by 2020.

KEY VALUE: Hospitality

WHAT WE DO: Organizing Love. "As a community, the Church must practise love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community" (Deus Caritas Est, par. 20) 


http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Michelangelo/judgment.jpeg

On Sunday (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King

 Year  A  http://usccb.org/bible/readings/112011.cfm ) we read in the Gospel of Mathew about the parable of the Last Judgment.  In the first reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, we hear of God’s concern for us: “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal...”  Jesus parable of the Last Judgment brings to sharp focus the essence of this Old Testament prophecy: “when i was hungry.....you gave me food...”   In this last Sunday in Ordinary Time, we celebrate the Solemnity of Jesus Christ as the King.  Jesus’ proclamation of the end times reminds us that we will be judged by our intentions and actions, especially regarding our concern for our most needy brothers and sisters.

In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org ,  we are the arm of the bishop -- The Church -- called upon to help organize our response to those who are hungry, thirsty, in prison, sick, a stranger or without shelter.  All believers -- disciples -- are called to see Jesus in the face of those in need right in our own midst and throughout the world.  Catholic Charities, with Caritas throughout the world, helps to organize that love -- bringing people together in solidarity with each other.  In these last week of the Church year, I ask you to reflect upon how you respond to Jesus’ call to “do it to me.”  Thanks for all you do.


Reflection from Church Documents and Official Statements

Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace
TOWARDS REFORMING THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND MONETARY SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL PUBLIC AUTHORITY, October 24, 2011

A liberalist approach, unsympathetic towards public intervention in the markets, chose to allow an important international financial institution to fall into bankruptcy, on the assumption that this would contain the crisis and its effects. Unfortunately, this spawned a widespread lack of confidence and a sudden change in attitudes. Various public interventions of enormous scope (more than 20% of gross national product) were urgently requested in order to stem the negative effects that could have overwhelmed the entire international financial system.

The consequences for the real economy, what with grave difficulties in some sectors – first of all, construction – and wide distribution of unfavourable forecasts, have generated a negative trend in production and international trade with very serious repercussions for employment as well as other effects that have probably not yet had their full impact. The costs are extremely onerous for millions in the developed countries, but also and above all for billions in the developing ones.

In countries and areas where the most elementary goods like health, food and shelter are still lacking, more than a billion people are forced to survive on an average income of less than a dollar a day.

Global economic well-being, traditionally measured by national income and also by levels of capacities, grew during the second half of the twentieth century, to an extent and with a speed never experienced in the history of humankind.

But the inequalities within and between various countries have also grown significantly. While some of the more industrialized and developed countries and economic zones – the ones that are most industrialized and developed – have seen their income grow considerably, other countries have in fact been excluded from the overall improvement of the economy and their situation has even worsened.





Some important date(s) this week:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/ByDate.aspx

See website for biographies of Saints and Blessed celebrated this week.

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THURSDAY, November 24.  Thanksgiving Day.  Thank you for all your talents of time, talents and treasure.  May God bless you and your family during this time of thanksgiving.




SHARING HOPE IN HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.

During the month of November, as we prepare for our national holiday, Thanksgiving, we want to give thanks to persons, parishes, groups, and schools who have supported the work of Catholic Charities throughout the year.  This week, I would like to give special thanks to Humility of Mary Health Partners  http://www.hmpartners.org/  -- its hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, hospice, and all of its system -- for their on going commitment to serve those in need.  This year St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown celebrates its 100th anniversary.  Last week we celebrated the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, their patron saint.


 PAPAL INTENTIONS:   November 2011

General Intention: That the Eastern Catholic Churches and their venerable traditions may be known and esteemed as a spiritual treasure for the whole Church.

Missionary Intention: Justice and Reconciliation in Africa.
That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pursue justice and reconciliation as set forth by the second Synod of African Bishops.

Corporal Works of Mercy:  The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
  1. Feed the hungry
  2. Give drink to the thirsty
  3. Clothe the naked
  4. Shelter the homeless
  5. Visit the sick
  6. Visit those in prison
  7. Bury the dead




Note: Please consider joining our
FACEBOOK CAUSE http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889 
FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Charities-Diocese-of-Youngstown/138817639487339
TWITTER account, CCDOY, http://twitter.com/CCDOY
for current updates and calls to action that we can all use. 

See our website at www.catholiccharitiesyoungstown.org for links to the our ministries and services.    
For more information on Catholic Social Doctrine and its connection to our ministries, visit my blog at:  http://corbinchurchthinking.blogspot.com/
 

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