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)
http://www.maronitearcheparchy.org.cy/pictures/icon_prodromos_birth.jpg
On Sunday, (Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062412-mass-during-the-day.cfm ) we read from the Gospel of Luke about the birth of St. John the Baptist. This last Old Testament prophet, a relative of Jesus and foretold by the ancient prophets, is called in his conception to be a herald. Remember when Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth (John’s mother) and John leaped for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice and Jesus’ presence? So too, John’s father is made mute as he doubts that God can act in his own story as an old husband and wife beyond child bearing years. Zechariah regains his speech at John’s birth as he gives him his prophetic name. John the Baptist fulfills his calling by proclaiming the Good News of salvation as he points to Jesus -- the One Who Is to Come. John gives the ultimate witness for his birthright: he dies at the hands of Herod as he proclaims the power and justice of God.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org , we are called to be witnesses to that power and justice of God in the work that we do with persons, families and communities. Sometimes we have to be heralds in the desert proclaiming the Good News by advocating for just social policies and laws. Currently we are called to advocate for changes for religious liberty http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/index.cfm as various governmental efforts have tried to curtail the work of the Church by imposing very limiting definitions of religious exempt organizations. We also have to be clear witnesses to the justice behind federal, state and local budgets http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/federal-budget/ . We have to be strong voices for comprehensive immigration reform http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/immigration/ and criminal justice reform http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/criminal-justice-restorative-justice/. We have to be advocates for the common good, locally, nationally and globally. Our service to persons helps us understand better the needs of persons and communities and our faith calls us to be advocates for justice in the world.
Reflection from Church Documents and Official Statements
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - Part I - The U.S. Bishops’ Reflection On Catholic Teaching And Political Life
How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?
The Virtue of Prudence
19.
The Church fosters well-formed consciences not only by teaching moral
truth but also by encouraging its members to develop the virtue of
prudence. Prudence enables us "to discern our true good in every
circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it" (Catechism of the Catholic Church,
no. 1806). Prudence shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over
available alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific
context, and to act decisively. Exercising this virtue often requires
the courage to act in defense of moral principles when making decisions
about how to build a society of justice and peace.
20.
The Church's teaching is clear that a good end does not justify an
immoral means. As we all seek to advance the common good—by defending
the inviolable sanctity of human life from the moment of conception
until natural death, by defending marriage, by feeding the hungry and
housing the homeless, by welcoming the immigrant and protecting the
environment—it is important to recognize that not all possible courses
of action are morally acceptable. We have a responsibility to discern
carefully which public policies are morally sound. Catholics may choose
different ways to respond to compelling social problems, but we cannot
differ on our moral obligation to help build a more just and peaceful
world through morally acceptable means, so that the weak and vulnerable
are protected and human rights and dignity are defended.
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.
http://www.usccb.org/images/USCCB.gif
For Daily Readings http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
FRIDAY June 29 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (d. 64 & 67)
Peter (d. 64?).
St. Mark ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax. He
has recorded doubt, misunderstanding and the opposition of many to
Jesus. Now Peter makes his great confession of faith: "You are the
Messiah" (Mark 8:29b). It was one of the many glorious moments in
Peter's life, beginning with the day he was called from his nets along
the Sea of Galilee to become a fisher of men for Jesus.
The
New Testament clearly shows Peter as the leader of the apostles, chosen
by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. With James and John
he was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising of a dead
child to life and the agony in Gethsemane. His mother-in-law was cured
by Jesus. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before
Jesus' death. His name is first on every list of apostles.And to Peter only did Jesus say, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:17b-19).
But the Gospels prove their own trustworthiness by the unflattering details they include about Peter. He clearly had no public relations person. It is a great comfort for ordinary mortals to know that Peter also has his human weakness, even in the presence of Jesus.
He generously gave up all things, yet he can ask in childish self-regard, "What are we going to get for all this?" (see Matthew 19:27). He receives the full force of Christ's anger when he objects to the idea of a suffering Messiah: "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do" (Matthew 16:23b).
Peter is willing to accept Jesus' doctrine of forgiveness, but suggests a limit of seven times. He walks on the water in faith, but sinks in doubt. He refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, then wants his whole body cleansed. He swears at the Last Supper that he will never deny Jesus, and then swears to a servant maid that he has never known the man. He loyally resists the first attempt to arrest Jesus by cutting off Malchus's ear, but in the end he runs away with the others. In the depth of his sorrow, Jesus looks on him and forgives him, and he goes out and sheds bitter tears. The Risen Jesus told Peter to feed his lambs and his sheep (John 21:15-17).
Paul (d. 64?). If the most well-known preacher today suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us understand Paul's life when he started preaching that Christ alone can save us. He had been the most Pharisaic of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Mosaic lawyers. Now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcomer of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate.
Paul's central conviction was simple and absolute: Only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin and payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
Paul never lost his love for his Jewish family, though he carried on a lifelong debate with them about the uselessness of the Law without Christ. He reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of the Jews, who were still God's chosen people, the children of the promise.
In light of his preaching and teaching skills, Paul's name has surfaced (among others) as a possible patron of the Internet.
CHARITIES NEWSBYTES
August 26. Help support HMHP Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Care Center through participating in the Panerathon. http://doy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=184%3Apanerathon&catid=45%3Astandalone&Itemid=95
PAPAL INTENTIONS: June 2012
General: Christ, Present in the Eucharist
That believers may recognize in the Eucharist the living presence of the Risen One who accompanies them in daily life.
Mission: European Christians
That
Christians in Europe may rediscover their true identity and participate
with greater enthusiasm in the proclamation of the Gospel.
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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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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