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 (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, http://www.usccb.org/nab/020710.shtml Cycle C) we read about Jesus' encounter with some fishermen, especially Peter. These workers had fished all night long without a catch. Jesus, a carpenter by the way, tells these fishermen to go back out during the day -- a time not favored by seasoned fishermen -- to fish again. After some hesitancy, they go out into the "deep" and fill their boats to an overabundance, needing to call in another boat to help. Peter is awestruck and begs for Jesus' mercy. Jesus' response is even more powerful: he tells Peter....“Do not be afraid" and that he will have more, and different, challenges ahead.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org sometimes we are called by our faith and Church to continue to go "into the deep" and go to places or do things we sometimes feel uncomfortable doing. Sometimes we are the ones called to care for those who are in most need, those seemingly without hope, those who seem to be the hardest cases. But as in the Gospel, we are called to go out even further into the "deep" and be a sign of love and hope for others. More importantly, we are reminded by our faith, that we should "not be afraid." God's providence will provide us with the resources we need, or the words we are seeking, or the sign of love we are to offer to each person that comes through our doors. Thanks for your support for our work and thanks to the our staff for their constant faith, hope and love.
Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate: "The world that Paul VI had before him — even though society had already evolved to such an extent that he could speak of social issues in global terms — was still far less integrated than today's world. Economic activity and the political process were both largely conducted within the same geographical area, and could therefore feed off one another. Production took place predominantly within national boundaries, and financial investments had somewhat limited circulation outside the country, so that the politics of many States could still determine the priorities of the economy and to some degree govern its performance using the instruments at their disposal. Hence Populorum Progressio assigned a central, albeit not exclusive, role to 'public authorities.'
In our own day, the State finds itself having to address the limitations to its sovereignty imposed by the new context of international trade and finance, which is characterized by increasing mobility both of financial capital and means of production, material and immaterial. This new context has altered the political power of States." (Caritas in Veritate, par 24). http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.htm
N.B. Note: Please consider joining our Cause/Group on FACEBOOK http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889 and our Twitter account, CCDOY, for current updates and calls to action that we can all use. http://twitter.com/CCDOY
Some important date(s) this week:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11. Our Lady of Lourdes. World Day of the Sick. On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” Through that humble girl, Mary revitalized and continues to revitalize the faith of millions of people. People began to flock to Lourdes from other parts of France and from all over the world. In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.
Pope Benedict XVI's Statement on World Day of the Sick. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/sick/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20091122_world-day-of-the-sick-2010_en.html
HAITI RELIEF
Please consider donating to the Catholic Relief Services Haitian Relief Fund by visiting us at http://www.ccdoy.org or make checks out to:
Catholic Relief Services - Haiti Fund
mail to: CRS -Haiti Fund, Diocese of Youngstown
144 W. Wood Street Youngstown, OH 44503
Sharing Hope In Tough Times: Catholic Charities Responds to Families Facing Economic Crisis
Reflection: When our resources don’t stretch as far as last year, we rely on the Lord and He fills our nets with everything we need.
Intention: That God may bring comfort to low income families who struggle with their day-to-day expenses.
PAPAL INTENTIONS: FEBRUARY 2010
Scholars
General: For all scholars and intellectuals, that by means of sincere search for the truth they may arrive at an understanding of the one true God.
The Church’s Missionary Identity
Missionary: That the Church, aware of its own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples.
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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