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)
On Sunday, (The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052613.cfm) we
read from the Gospel of John about Jesus’ promise to send the Spirit of
Truth, to help us to better know and love God. This weekend we
celebrate that mystery of the Trinity. The Letter to the Romans remind
us that the love between the Father and the Son -- the Spirit -- gives
hope, a hope that “does not disappoint.” This hope is connected to
that love (caritas; charity) embraced between the Father and the Son.
As St. Augustine wrote “if you see charity, you see the Trinity” (De Trinitate, VIII, 8, 12: CCL 50, 287; see Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 19 http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html).
Catholic Charities (http://www.ccdoy.org)
continues to give hope to persons, families and communities in need and
with those who want to share. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in his first
encyclical, we as Catholic Charities work on behalf of our local Bishops
to “organize charity.” Catholic Charities is committed to provide
help and give hope to all who come to our doors. Thanks to your
generous support to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities
and Church (http://www.doy.org) we continue to witness to the power and love of the Trinity as we give hope for a world reborn in that Spirit of love.
Reflection from Church Documents and Official Statements
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/images/year-of-faith-logo-montage.jpg
http://cmsimg.news-press.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A4&Date=20130315&Category=OPINION&ArtNo=303150023&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Editorial-Pope-Francis-unique-chance
Pope Francis: On the Work of the Holy Spirit
Vatican City, May 15, 2013 (Zenit.org) |
Here
is the translation of the Holy Father’s weekly General Audience address
in St. Peter’s Square where he continued the cycle of catechesis
dedicated to the Year of Faith.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters,
Good
morning! Today I would like to dwell on the action that the Holy Spirit
performs in guiding the Church and each of us to the Truth. Jesus
himself says to his disciples: the Holy Spirit "will guide you into all
the truth" (Jn 16:13), being He himself "the Spirit of Truth (cf. Jn
14:17; 15:26; 16:13).
We
live in an age in which people are rather sceptical towards the truth.
Benedict XVI has spoken many times of relativism, of the tendency, that
is, to believe that there is nothing definitive and to think that the
truth comes from consent or from what we want. The question arises: does
"the" truth really exist? What is "the" truth? Can we know it? Can we
find it? Here I am reminded of the question of the Roman Procurator
Pontius Pilate when Jesus reveals to him the profound meaning of his
mission: "What is truth?" (Jn 18:37.38). Pilate fails to understand that
"the" Truth is in front of him, he fails to see in Jesus the face of
truth, which is the face of God. Yet, Jesus is just that: the Truth
that, in the fullness of time, "became flesh" (Jn 1:1.14), that came
among us so that we might we know it. The truth cannot be grasped like
an object, the truth has to be encountered. It is not a possession; it
is an encounter with a Person.
But
who will allow us to recognize that Jesus is "the" Word of truth, the
only begotten Son of God the Father? St. Paul teaches that "no one can
say: 'Jesus is Lord!' except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3). It is the
Holy Spirit, the gift of the risen Christ, who makes us recognize the
Truth. Jesus calls him the "Paraclete", i.e., "he who comes to help,"
who is on our side to support us on this journey of knowledge; and,
during the Last Supper, Jesus assures his disciples that the Holy Spirit
will teach them all things, reminding them of his words (cf. Jn 14:26).
What
is then the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of
the Church to lead us to the truth? First of all, he reminds READ
MORE....http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/on-the-work-of-the-holy-spirit
Some important date(s) this week:
See website http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/ByDate.aspx for biographies of Saints and Blessed celebrated this week.
FRIDAY, MAY 31. Visitation. http://usccb.org/bible/readings/053113.cfm
This
is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It
was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The
present date of celebration was set in 1969 in order to follow the
Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Nativity of John the
Baptist (June 24).
Like
most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving
work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45)
are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the
scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of
messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit
and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the
ages.
It
is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s account of this
meeting. Rather, Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a prayerful
poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the mother
of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As
with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words
first praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she
praise Mary for trusting God’s words.
Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here Mary herself (like the Church) traces all her greatness to God.
For Daily Readings http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
CHARITIES NEWSBYTES
Please continue to help us fill Harriet’s Cupboard!
http://ccdoy.org/slider/please-continue-to-fill/
Catholic
Charities Regional Agency is asking you to continue to help fill
Harriet’s Cupboard. We have had several donations since this program
launched in January. Your generosity is amazing and greatly
appreciated.
2013 Annual Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church.
The
in Church/parish appeal is now underway. Please consider a gift to
help support the work of Catholic Charities and other ministries of the
Diocese of Youngstown https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=450afc
PAPAL INTENTIONS:
MAY 2013
Administrators of Justice. That administrators of justice may act always with integrity and right conscience.
Seminaries.
That seminaries, especially those of mission churches, may form pastors
after the Heart of Christ, fully dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel.
Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
|
Note: Please consider joining our
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.
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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