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 (Second Sunday in Lent Year A http://www.usccb.org/nab/032011.shtml ) we read in the Gospel of Matthew about the Transfiguration of the Lord, wherein Jesus visits with Elijah and Moses (the prophets and the law) with some apostles as witnesses. A voice proclaims: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." The apostles, though claiming that they are glad to be in God's Presence, still are afraid. Jesus tells them not to be afraid. Here we have a glimpse into the Presence of God: Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets and ushers in the Kingdom of God. We are called to listen to Him. And follow.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org , we too are witnesses to the Good News of God's Presence. As a ministry of the Church, we listen to God's Word, and live that Word out as we bring life, healing, hope and joy to each person we encounter. We are reminded that we are always in God's Presence and bring that knowledge to the work we do, day in and day out. We see the Image of God in each person we serve and encounter. We are called to bring Good News of hope to each person we help: maybe we cannot fulfill their entire request for assistance, but we can and do offer, as well, an abundance of love and hope in Jesus' name.
Reflection from Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate
The Christian religion and other religions can offer their contribution to development only if God has a place in the public realm, specifically in regard to its cultural, social, economic, and particularly its political dimensions. The Church's social doctrine came into being in order to claim “citizenship status” for the Christian religion. Denying the right to profess one's religion in public and the right to bring the truths of faith to bear upon public life has negative consequences for true development. The exclusion of religion from the public square — and, at the other extreme, religious fundamentalism — hinders an encounter between persons and their collaboration for the progress of humanity. Public life is sapped of its motivation and politics takes on a domineering and aggressive character. Human rights risk being ignored either because they are robbed of their transcendent foundation or because personal freedom is not acknowledged. Secularism and fundamentalism exclude the possibility of fruitful dialogue and effective cooperation between reason and religious faith. Reason always stands in need of being purified by faith: this also holds true for political reason, which must not consider itself omnipotent. For its part, religion always needs to be purified by reason in order to show its authentically human face. Any breach in this dialogue comes only at an enormous price to human development. (par. 56)
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.htm
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.
FRIDAY MARCH 25. Annunciation of the Lord. The feast of the Annunciation goes back to the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. The God-Man embraces all humanity, indeed all creation, to bring it to God in one great act of love. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and an agonizing death: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
Mary has an important role to play in God’s plan. From all eternity God destined her to be the mother of Jesus and closely related to him in the creation and redemption of the world. We could say that God’s decrees of creation and redemption are joined in the decree of Incarnation. Because Mary is God’s instrument in the Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a God-given role. It is God’s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God’s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity.
She is the virgin-mother who fulfills Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined. She is united with her son in carrying out the will of God (Psalm 40:8-9; Hebrews 10:7-9; Luke 1:38).
Together with Jesus, the privileged and graced Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life. She exemplifies what the Church and every member of the Church is meant to become. She is the ultimate product of the creative and redemptive power of God. She manifests what the Incarnation is meant to accomplish for all of us.
SEASON OF LENT:
In his 2011 Lenten Message http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20101104_lent-2011_en.html, Pope Benedict XVI focuses on the Sacrament of Baptism. He notes: “By immersing ourselves into the death and resurrection of Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism, we are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things, from a self-centered relationship with the ‘world’ that impoverishes us and prevents us from being available and open to God and our neighbor.”
Questions to Examine Conscience in the Light of Catholic Social Teaching http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/projects/socialteaching/examine.shtml This examination can be used as a supplement to the traditional examination of conscience during Penance services or the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
SHARING HOPE IN HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.
Disaster in Japan: CRS Responds
Catholic Relief Services (www.crs.org) is accepting donations to help Caritas Japan respond to the short and long term impact of the earthquake and tsunami. Please send check to Catholic Relief Services - Japan Disaster Relief, c/o Social Action Office 144 W. Wood Street Youngstown, OH 44503. You can donate directly on line at www.ccdoy.org. Thanks.
Catholic Charities Fact:
Catholic Charities provided food assistance to 3,686 people in 2010. As you fast during this Lenten Season, remember our brothers and sisters who fast out of necessity rather than choice. Consider making a donation to food pantries sponsored by Catholic Charities, your local parish or your community to help them feed those who are hungry.
PAPAL INTENTIONS: March 2011
General Intention: That the nations of Latin America may walk in fidelity to the Gospel and be bountiful in social justice and peace.
Missionary Intention: That the Holy Spirit may give light and strength to the Christian communities and the faithful who are persecuted or discriminated against because of the Gospel.
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
Note: Please consider joining our
FACEBOOK CAUSE http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889
FACEBOOK GROUP http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=461833870606
FACEBOOK FAN
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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