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)
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On Sunday (Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110611.cfm we read in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus’ parable about the ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom. We hear about five who were ready; the other five did not have enough oil in their lamps to keep vigil. When the bridegroom came late, those who were ready were welcomed into the house; the others rushed to fill their oil containers only to find the door locked upon their return. As we enter into the last several weeks of the Ordinary Time of this Church year, the readings prepare us to understand the nature of the “end times” and the coming of the Kingdom of God. We too must always be vigilant and ready; we do not know the hour when the Son of Man will return in his glory.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org , we are always ready and willing to assist those who are in need. Like the five virgins who did not have enough oil for their vigil, we in Catholic Charities are available to help serve those in need of assistance. Many come to us at a very late hour when their bills and obligations are piling up. Sometimes we wonder why these persons/families did not come earlier for help. Though some could have been a bit more future thinking, it is a harsh reality that when a person is in crisis, one can only see the immediate reality of their lives; also, sometimes it is very hard to ask another person, another agency, for help with their household debts. Though many can blame people for waiting too long, we in Catholic Charities welcome everyone to our door, and to the best of our ability, help them prepare and plan for future issues. It is our hope that we can provide assistance so that families can be stable and secure, especially in these uncertain economic times. Like the Gospel story, we in Catholic Charities are that arm of the Church who is there to help people be ready to face the future, knowing and experiencing God’s love and hospitality.
Reflection from Church Documents and Official Statements
Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace
TOWARDS REFORMING THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND MONETARY SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL PUBLIC AUTHORITY, October 24, 2011Presupposition
Every individual and every community shares in and is responsible for promoting the common good. Faithful to their ethical and religious vocation, communities of believers should take the lead in asking whether human family has adequate means at its disposal to achieve the global common good. The Church for her part is called to encourage in everyone without distinction, the desire to join in the “monumental amount of individual and collective effort” which men have made “throughout the course of the centuries ... to better the circumstances of their lives.... [T]his human activity accords with God’s will.”
1. Economic Development and Inequalities
The grave economic and financial crisis which the world is going through today springs from multiple causes. Opinions on the number and significance of these causes vary widely. Some commentators emphasize first and foremost certain errors inherent in the economic and financial policies; others stress the structural weaknesses of political, economic and financial institutions; still others say that the causes are ethical breakdowns occurring at all levels of a world economy that is increasingly dominated by utilitarianism and materialism. At every stage of the crisis, one might discover particular technical errors intertwined with certain ethical orientations.
In material goods markets, natural factors and productive capacity as well as labour in all of its many forms set quantitative limits by determining relationships of costs and prices which, under certain conditions, permit an efficient allocation of available resources.
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.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7. St. Didacus (1400-1463) Didacus is living proof that God "chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
As a young man in Spain, Didacus joined the Secular Franciscan Order and lived for some time as a hermit. After Didacus became a Franciscan brother, he developed a reputation for great insight into God’s ways. His penances were heroic. He was so generous with the poor that the friars sometimes grew uneasy about his charity.
Didacus volunteered for the missions in the Canary Islands and labored there energetically and profitably. He was also the superior of a friary there.
In 1450 he was sent to Rome to attend the canonization of St. Bernardine of Siena. When many friars gathered for that celebration fell sick, Didacus stayed in Rome for three months to nurse them. After he returned to Spain, he pursued a life of contemplation full-time. He showed the friars the wisdom of God’s ways.
As he was dying, Didacus looked at a crucifix and said: "O faithful wood, O precious nails! You have borne an exceedingly sweet burden, for you have been judged worthy to bear the Lord and King of heaven" (Marion A. Habig, O.F.M., The Franciscan Book of Saints, p. 834).
San Diego, California, is named for this Franciscan, who was canonized in 1588.
SHARING HOPE IN HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.
During the month of November, as we prepare for our national holiday, Thanksgiving, we want to give thanks to persons, parishes, groups, and schools who have supported the work of Catholic Charities throughout the year. This week, I would like to give special thanks to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul who have worked with our agencies to meet the needs of persons and families. We are especially thankful to the Youngstown and Warren District Councils of the Society who provide hot meals almost every day of the year. Thanks for helping us in Catholic Charities to feed the hungry.
PAPAL INTENTIONS: November 2011
General Intention: That the Eastern Catholic Churches and their venerable traditions may be known and esteemed as a spiritual treasure for the whole Church.
Missionary Intention: Justice and Reconciliation in Africa.
That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pursue justice and reconciliation as set forth by the second Synod of African Bishops.
Corporal Works of Mercy: The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor
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Note: Please consider joining our
FACEBOOK CAUSE http://apps.facebook.com/causes/106889
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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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