MONDAY MORNING MISSION MEDITATION for week of November 16, 2008

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: 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. Committed to work 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 (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, A Cycle) we read in Matthew's gospel about the story of the wise, and not so wise, stewards. Three persons were given various supplies of "talents." Some invested while another hide his talent. Jesus tells the story that when the master returned, he wanted to know what happened to those talents. Those who invested and increased their talent were praised and rewarded with more. In the letter from St. Paul to the Thessalonians we hear about the end times -- it could come like a thief in the night. We read in Proverbs about the praise for the faith-filled woman who lives a virtuous life. These readings all indicate the type of life a faithful disciple of the Lord is called to live.

At Catholic Charities, we too will be judged by how we live our lives, and invest our monies entrusted to us by many donors and grantees. One important area that we have invested our monies is to assist and empower young families with small children. "First Step for Change" helps and challenges these mostly single moms with children, to stabilize their lives. This program constitutes one of our critical priorities and core services. We pray that like the stewards in the Gospel story, we have invested monies wisely to help young families grow in virtue and find a path out of poverty.




Some important date(s) this week:
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17. St. Elizabeth of Hungary. (1207-1231) (Patroness of St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown) Princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary. Great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringa at age 13. Built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood; tended to the sick herself. Her family and courtiers opposed this, but she insisted she could only follow Christ's teachings, not theirs. Once when she was taking food to the poor and sick, Prince Louis stopped her and looked under her mantle to see what she was carrying; the food had been miraculously changed to roses. Upon Louis' death, Elizabeth sold all that she had, and worked to support her four children. Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine stricken Germany, led to her patronage of bakers and related fields.

PAPAL INTENTIONS:


NOVEMBER 2008
General:
That the testimony of love offered by the Saints, may fortify Christians in their service to God and neighbour, imitating Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
Mission:
That Christian communities in Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may find the most suitable way to announce Him in full fidelity to the Gospel to the peoples of that vast continent so rich in culture and ancient forms of spirituality.

Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead


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/