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 (Seventh Sunday of Easter/Ascension Sunday celebrated in Diocese of Youngstown, Cycle B) we continue to hear the story and the challenge of the spreading of the Good News of Jesus' appearances and his ascension. The Lord gives his Great Commission to go out into the world -- as his disciples -- to bring abundant life to all.
Catholic Charities continue that Great Commission by being the Church's presence in the world to offer service to those in need, a voice to those who are voiceless, and to bring people together to do the same. Catholic Charities -- as an organized structure of the Church -- offers aid to those who are need help and brings hope to those who may in despair through our voice for justice. Discipleship does have its costs. Sometimes others do not and will not agree with our positions on human life, dignity, and justice. But empowered by the Holy Spirit as promised by the Lord, we remain steady in our witness and outeach to those in need.
Some important date(s) this week:
MONDAY, MAY 25. St. Bede the Venerable. (672?-735) Bede is one of the few saints honored as such even during his lifetime. His writings were filled with such faith and learning that even while he was still alive, a Church council ordered them to be read publicly in the churches.
At an early age Bede was entrusted to the care of the abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul, Jarrow. The happy combination of genius and the instruction of scholarly, saintly monks produced a saint and an extraordinary scholar, perhaps the most outstanding one of his day. He was deeply versed in all the sciences of his times: natural philosophy, the philosophical principles of Aristotle, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, ecclesiastical history, the lives of the saints and, especially, Holy Scripture. From the time of his ordination to the priesthood at 30 (he had been ordained deacon at 19) till his death, he was ever occupied with learning, writing and teaching. Besides the many books that he copied, he composed 45 of his own, including 30 commentaries on books of the Bible.
THURSDAY, MAY 28. St. Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes (1614-1645) The youngest of eight, Mary Ann was born in Quito, Ecuador, which had been brought under Spanish control in 1534. She joined the Secular Franciscans and led a life of prayer and penance at home, leaving her parents’ house only to go to church and to perform some work of charity. She established in Quito a clinic and a school for Africans and indigenous Americans. When a plague broke out, she nursed the sick and died shortly thereafter.
Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis
Reflection: Discipleship means knowing that all people from every social class have the same basic needs, and reaching out when they need help meeting them.
Prayer Intention: That the desire to be true disciples will lead us to reach out to everyone in need, regardless of their social class.
PAPAL INTENTIONS:
May 2009
General: That the laity and the Christian communities may be responsible promoters of priestly and religious vocations.
Mission: That the recently founded Catholic Churches, grateful to the Lord for the gift of faith, may be ready to share in the universal mission of the Church, offering their availability to preach the Gospel throughout the world.
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/
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