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, (Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072212.cfm ) we read from the Gospel of Mark about Jesus’ call to the disciples to stop and rest awhile. Though they do find time to be alone with the Lord, the Gospel tells of the fact that “people were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.” Jesus recognizes the hunger and desire of these people to find life, abundant life. Jesus’ heart is moved with pity (some say that the Greek word used for pity is related to the word for ‘throwing up’ or ‘wrenching’ from the ‘pit of one’s stomach’). In other words, Jesus found himself deeply moved by the needs and aspirations of the people always running to be touched by Him and His disciples. They lacked a shepherd to provide that care. Jesus’ Presence announces that God is among His people as the true and good shepherd.
In Catholic Charities http://www.ccdoy.org , we see persons and families “coming and going in great numbers” to our agencies seeking a human touch of compassion and help. Oftentimes staff are not even able to get their lunch so that the needs of others may be served. That is truly servant leadership in action -- just like a shepherd would do to protect and care for his/her flock. As a ministry of the Bishop, we continue that healing presence in the world. We see each person as an unique person made in God’s image. We are honored to be a place where persons and families and even communities can come to us for assistance infused with the Presence of God. Catholic Charities also recognizes that its staff also need time for renewal, reflection and regeneration just like the disciples along with Jesus. We know that the Eucharist http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html is a place to find such deep love and hope. Catholic Charities aims to be that place of welcome and joy and compassion that Jesus’ called His disciples to do as the continue to spread the Good News of God’s abundant love.
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
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How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?
What Does the Church Say About Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square?—Seven Key Themes
40. The consistent ethic of life provides a moral framework for principled Catholic engagement in political life and, rightly understood, neither treats all issues as morally equivalent nor reduces Catholic teaching to one or two issues. It anchors the Catholic commitment to defend human life, from conception until natural death, in the fundamental moral obligation to respect the dignity of every person as a child of God. It unites us as a "people of life and for life" (Evangelium Vitae, no. 6) pledged to build what Pope John Paul II called a "culture of life" (Evangelium Vitae, no. 77). This culture of life begins with the preeminent obligation to protect innocent life from direct attack and extends to defending life whenever it is threatened or diminished.41. Catholic voters should use the framework of Catholic teaching to examine candidates' positions on issues affecting human life and dignity as well as issues of justice and peace, and they should consider candidates' integrity, philosophy, and performance. It is important for all citizens "to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 33).
42. As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate's position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter's support. Yet a candidate's position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support.
43. As noted previously, the Catholic approach to faithful citizenship rests on moral principles found in Scripture and Catholic moral and social teaching as well as in the hearts of all people of good will. We now present central and enduring themes of the Catholic social tradition that can provide a moral framework for decisions in public life.
Some important date(s) this week:
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/ByDate.aspxSee website for biographies of Saints and Blessed celebrated this week.
For Daily Readings http://www.usccb.org/calendar/index.cfm?showLit=1&action=month
THURSDAY, JULY 26. Sts. Joachim and Anne
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In
the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of
Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great
promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we also know
nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the names Joachim and Anne come from a legendary source written more than a century after Jesus died.The heroism and holiness of these people, however, is inferred from the whole family atmosphere around Mary in the Scriptures. Whether we rely on the legends about Mary’s childhood or make guesses from the information in the Bible, we see in her a fulfillment of many generations of prayerful persons, herself steeped in the religious traditions of her people.
The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.
Joachim and Anne—whether these are their real names or not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
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
Vatican announces theme for January 1, 2013 World Day of Peace Message: Blessed are the Peacemakers http://www.vis.va/vissolr/index.php?vi=all&dl=9e0a3f5e-ca19-460a-94b2-500400e08786&dl_t=text/xml&dl_a=y&ul=1&ev=1
PAPAL INTENTIONS: July 2012
General Intention: Work Security. That everyone may have work in safe and secure conditions.
Missionary Intention: Christian Volunteers. That Christian volunteers in mission territories may witness to the love of Christ.
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
FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catholic-Charities-Diocese-of-Youngstown/138817639487339
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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