Showing posts with label Catholic Charities USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic Charities USA. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Bishop Murry Statement on HHS Ruling
See Bishop Murry's recent statement on HHS Ruling on mandated services and his call to action http://doy.org/files/Scroller/BishopLetter.pdf
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Below is a Thanksgiving Day Message and Blessing from Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, and from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown.
During this holiday season, we at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown are faced with an increased demand for services such as our food pantries and St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchens.
For additional information on our local programs and services and to learn ways you can help, please contact Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Youngstown.
May you and yours have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day Message and Blessing
“Do not forget the millions living in poverty that aren’t as fortunate as we are”
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), among the nation’s largest human services organizations working to reduce poverty in America, is mindful this Thanksgiving of the millions in our nation that face the challenges of hunger, unemployment, and homelessness. This week, as families with the resources to do so gather to share in thanks and gratitude, Rev. Larry Snyder, president of CCUSA, reminds us to reach out to those in need:
“Soon, we will be sharing food around the Thanksgiving table with our friends and family. But we must not forget the millions of individuals living in poverty in communities across the country who are not as fortunate as we are.
“This is especially true around the holiday season, as food pantries face increased demand and some struggle to keep enough food stocked to meet the needs of individuals that seek assistance.
“Feeding the hungry is mandated by Scripture and is one of the core tenets of Catholic social justice. Across the country local agencies support a vast network of soup kitchens and food pantries, emergency shelters, temporary and transitional housing and permanent affordable housing, to help homeless families and individuals.
“On this Thanksgiving, I am eternally grateful for the backbone of the Catholic Charities network-- the hundreds of thousands of individuals that lend their hearts and hands at local Catholic Charities agencies each year.
“Our Catholic values, teachings, and traditions are the foundation for the work we do at CCUSA. I urge everyone to think of the millions of individuals living in poverty which represent children, single parents, and consider donating at least one dollar, one hour, one canned good, to support programs and services in your community that provide assistance to those in need.”
***
Each year Catholic Charities serves over 10 million people regardless of their religious, social or economic backgrounds. To learn more about the programs and services in your local community, please visit www.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Catholic Charities USA: The Personal Pain of Economic Disaster
2nd Quarter Snapshot Survey:
Mental Health Counseling Needs Surge Without Resources to Cover
Alexandria, VA—Catholic Charities USA released its 2nd Quarter Snapshot Survey today revealing a dramatic increase nationwide in requests for services and an alarming reduction in resources.
Citing “the growing personal pain of economic disaster,” Catholic Charities’ agencies around the country report that State and Local budget cuts have had a huge impact on the ability of Catholic Charities agencies to respond to the poorest in their communities—a situation that has only deepened since Catholic Charities 1st Quarter Snapshot Survey results.
“The facts continue to paint a very troubling picture,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA. “Our agencies report brutal budget cuts and painful staff lay-offs at a time when the most disenfranchised members of our society need us the most. Increasing numbers of our own volunteers and employees have been forced to become clients of our services. Life is being lived at a new level of stress and need.”
Of the 40 Catholic Charities agencies responding to the Snapshot Survey, 50% indicated that States are diminishing contracts or worse yet not paying on existing contracts. One Catholic Charities agency reported that their State owes them more than $25 million for services it contracted for. This is not an isolated case, with 7 additional agencies reporting that States owe them between $1 million and $10 million.
Very telling of the times, numerous Catholic Charities agencies communicated that they simply could not complete the Snapshot Survey—they had no time. They were using every possible minute and resource to meet the needs of an increasing number of poor requesting our services. Here’s a sampling of how our agencies describe the reality of the world they are facing each day:
■“We may not be able to continue to offer service to children”
■“If it continues, we will have to curtail shelter”
■“We need more money, not less, to help the poor”
■“Budget cuts are devastating our drug and alcohol program”
■“We have to lay-off staff”
“As difficult as it is, we remain more committed than ever,” Fr. Snyder added. “Many organizations and services that may be forced to close their doors are turning to us for help and we stand ready to support as best we can. ‘Now. . .more than ever’, is somewhat of a rallying cry under these circumstances, and as any hint of recovery begins we will fully stand with the poor as their voice.”
-30-
Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.
Mental Health Counseling Needs Surge Without Resources to Cover
Alexandria, VA—Catholic Charities USA released its 2nd Quarter Snapshot Survey today revealing a dramatic increase nationwide in requests for services and an alarming reduction in resources.
Citing “the growing personal pain of economic disaster,” Catholic Charities’ agencies around the country report that State and Local budget cuts have had a huge impact on the ability of Catholic Charities agencies to respond to the poorest in their communities—a situation that has only deepened since Catholic Charities 1st Quarter Snapshot Survey results.
“The facts continue to paint a very troubling picture,” said Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA. “Our agencies report brutal budget cuts and painful staff lay-offs at a time when the most disenfranchised members of our society need us the most. Increasing numbers of our own volunteers and employees have been forced to become clients of our services. Life is being lived at a new level of stress and need.”
Of the 40 Catholic Charities agencies responding to the Snapshot Survey, 50% indicated that States are diminishing contracts or worse yet not paying on existing contracts. One Catholic Charities agency reported that their State owes them more than $25 million for services it contracted for. This is not an isolated case, with 7 additional agencies reporting that States owe them between $1 million and $10 million.
Very telling of the times, numerous Catholic Charities agencies communicated that they simply could not complete the Snapshot Survey—they had no time. They were using every possible minute and resource to meet the needs of an increasing number of poor requesting our services. Here’s a sampling of how our agencies describe the reality of the world they are facing each day:
■“We may not be able to continue to offer service to children”
■“If it continues, we will have to curtail shelter”
■“We need more money, not less, to help the poor”
■“Budget cuts are devastating our drug and alcohol program”
■“We have to lay-off staff”
“As difficult as it is, we remain more committed than ever,” Fr. Snyder added. “Many organizations and services that may be forced to close their doors are turning to us for help and we stand ready to support as best we can. ‘Now. . .more than ever’, is somewhat of a rallying cry under these circumstances, and as any hint of recovery begins we will fully stand with the poor as their voice.”
-30-
Catholic Charities USA’s members—more than 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide—provide help and create hope for nearly 8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For almost 300 years, Catholic Charities agencies have worked to reduce poverty by providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from health care and job training to food and housing. In 2010, Catholic Charities USA celebrates its centennial anniversary.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Statement of Catholic Charities USA: Health Care Reform
In response to inaccurate on line media reports, Catholic Charities USA states unequivocally that it does not support any plan to reform health care and/or any proposed legislative provision that allows or promotes the funding of abortions or that compels any health care provider or institution to provide such a service. In fact, Catholic Charities USA will continue to work with the Catholic Health Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to ensure that any health care reform legislation will not include such provisions. All media accounts or public comments that misrepresent this position are inaccurate.
“These attacks appear to be politically motivated by opponents of health care reform. They are distortions of the truth and disingenuous. Catholic Charities USA will continue to work to reform health care in a way that is consistent with the teachings of our faith.” Fr. Larry Snyder, President
For additional information, please visit: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1782
“These attacks appear to be politically motivated by opponents of health care reform. They are distortions of the truth and disingenuous. Catholic Charities USA will continue to work to reform health care in a way that is consistent with the teachings of our faith.” Fr. Larry Snyder, President
For additional information, please visit: http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1782
Thursday, June 25, 2009
OGRADY INSTITUTE UPDATE June 24 and June 25, 2009
From Rome
On Wednesday, June 24, after celebrating the Mass for the Birth of St. John the Baptist, members attended the weekly Papal General Audience. At that audience, Pope Benedict XVI stated:
* * *
"The Priest Is a Slave of Christ"
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 24, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last Friday, June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day traditionally dedicated to pray for the sanctification of priests, I had the joy of inaugurating the Year for Priests. The year was proclaimed on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the "birth into eternal life" of the Curé d'Ars, St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney. Entering into the Vatican basilica for the celebration of vespers, almost as a first symbolic gesture, I paused in the Choir Chapel to venerate the relic of this saintly pastor of souls: his heart. Why a Year for Priests? Why particularly in memory of the holy Curé d'Ars, who apparently did nothing extraordinary?
Divine Providence has ordained that this personage would be placed beside that of St. Paul. As the Pauline Year is concluding, a year which was dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles, the epitome of an extraordinary evangelizer who made various mission trips to spread the Gospel, this new jubilee year invites us to gaze upon a poor farmer turned humble pastor, who carried out his pastoral service in a small town.
If the two saints are quite different insofar as the life experiences that marked them -- one traveled from region to region to announce the Gospel; the other remained in his little parish, welcoming thousands and thousands of faithful -- there is nevertheless something fundamental that unites them: It is their total identification with their ministry, their communion with Christ. This brought St. Paul to say: "Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). St. John Vianney liked to repeat: "If we had faith, we would see God hidden in the priest like a light behind glass, like wine mixed with water."
The objective of this Year for Priests, as I wrote in the letter sent to priests for this occasion, is to support that struggle of every priest "toward spiritual perfection, on which the effectiveness of his ministry primarily depends." It is to help priests first of all -- and with them all of God's people -- to rediscover and reinvigorate their awareness of the extraordinary and indispensable gift of grace that the ordained ministry is for he who receives it, for the whole Church, and for the world, which would be lost without the real presence of Christ.
Undoubtedly, the historical and social conditions in which the Curé d'Ars lived have changed, and it is justifiable to ask oneself how it's possible for priests living in a globalized society to imitate him in the way he identified himself with his ministry. In a world in which the customary outlook on life comprehends less and less the sacred, and in its place "useful" becomes the only important category, the catholic -- and even ecclesial -- idea of the priesthood can run the risk of being emptied of the esteem that is natural to it.
It is not by chance that as much in theological environments as in concrete pastoral practice and the formation of the clergy, a contrast -- even an opposition -- is made between two distinct concepts of the priesthood. Some years ago, I noted in this regard that there is "on the one hand a social-functional understanding that defines the essence of the priesthood with the concept of 'service': service to the community in the fulfillment of a function. … On the other hand, there is the sacramental-ontological understanding, which naturally does not deny the servicial character of the priesthood, but sees it anchored in the being of the minister and considers that this being is determined by a gift called sacrament, given by the Lord through the mediation of the Church" (Joseph Ratzinger, Ministry and Life of the Priest, in Principles of Catholic Theology).
The terminological mutation of the word "priesthood" toward a meaning of "service, ministry, assignment" is as well a sign of this distinct understanding. The primacy of the Eucharist is linked to the sacramental-ontological conception, in the binomial "priest-sacrifice," while to the other [conception] would correspond the primacy of the word and service to the proclamation.
Considered carefully, these are not two opposing understandings, and the tension that nevertheless exists between them should be resolved from within. Thus the decree "Presbyterorum Ordinis" from the Second Vatican Council affirms: "Through the apostolic proclamation of the Gospel, the People of God are called together and assembled. All belonging to this people … can offer themselves as 'a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God' (Rom 12:1). Through the ministry of the priests, the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is made perfect in union with the sacrifice of Christ. He is the only mediator who in the name of the whole Church is offered sacramentally in the Eucharist and in an unbloody manner until the Lord himself comes" (No. 2).
We then ask ourselves, "What exactly does it mean, for priests, to evangelize? What is the so-called primacy of proclamation?" Jesus speaks of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God as the true objective for his coming to the world, and his proclamation is not just a "discourse." It includes, at the same time, his actions: His signs and miracles indicate that the Kingdom is now present in the world, which in the end coincides with himself. In this sense, one must recall that even in this idea of the "primacy" of proclamation, word and sign are inseparable.
Christian proclamation does not proclaim "words," but the Word, and the proclamation coincides with the very person of Christ, ontologically open to the relationship with the Father and obedient to his will. Therefore, authentic service to the Word requires from the priest that he strains toward a deep abnegation of himself, until being able to say with the Apostle, "It is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me."
The priest cannot consider himself "lord" of the word, but rather its servant. He is not the word, but rather, as John the Baptist proclaimed, (precisely today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist), he is the "voice" of the Word: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths'" (Mark 1:3).
Now then, to be the "voice" of the Word doesn't constitute for the priest a merely functional element. On the contrary, it presupposes a substantial "losing oneself" in Christ, participating in his mystery of death and resurrection with all of oneself: intelligence, liberty, will, and the offering of one's own body as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Only participation in the sacrifice of Christ, in his kenosis, makes the proclamation authentic! And this is the path that should be walked with Christ to the point of saying with him to the Father: Let it be done, "not what I will but what you will" (Mark 14:36). The proclamation, therefore, always implies as well the sacrifice of oneself, the condition so that the proclamation can be authentic and effective.
Alter Christus, the priest is profoundly united to the Word of the Father, who in incarnating himself, has taken the form of a slave, has made himself a slave (cf. Philippians 2:5-11). The priest is a slave of Christ in the sense that his existence, ontologically configured to Christ, takes on an essentially relational character: He is in Christ, through Christ, and with Christ at the service of man. Precisely because he belongs to Christ, the priest is radically at the service of all people: He is the minister of their salvation, of their happiness, of their authentic liberation -- maturing, in this progressive taking up of the will of Christ, in prayer, in this "remaining heart to heart" with him. This is therefore the essential condition of all proclamation, which implies participation in the sacramental offering of the Eucharist and docile obedience to the Church.
The holy Curé d'Ars often repeated with tears in his eyes: "What a frightening thing to be a priest!" And he added: "How we ought to pity a priest who celebrates Mass as if he were engaged in something routine. How wretched is a priest without interior life!"
May this Year of the Priest bring all priests to identify themselves totally with Jesus, crucified and risen, so that in imitation of St. John the Baptist, we are willing to "decrease" so that he increases; so that, following the example of the Curé d'Ars, they constantly and deeply understand the responsibility of their mission, which is sign and presence of the infinite mercy of God. Let us entrust to the Virgin, Mother of the Church, this Year for Priests just begun and all the priests of the world.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[The Holy Father then addressed the people in several languages. In English, he said:]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of priests – marked the beginning of the Year for Priests commemorating the sesquicentennial of the death of the Curé of Ars, Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests. The Pauline Year now ending and the current Year for Priests invite us to consider how the Apostle Paul and the humble Curé of Ars both identified themselves completely with their ministry, striving to live in constant communion with Christ. May this Year for Priests help all priests to grow towards the spiritual perfection essential to the effectiveness of their ministry, and enable the faithful to appreciate more fully the great gift of grace which the priesthood is: for priests themselves, for the Church and for our world. Configured to Christ in the sacrament of Holy Orders, the priest is called to become an alter Christus, "another Christ". His personal union with the Lord must thus unify every aspect of his life and activity. During this Year for Priests, let us entrust all priests to Mary, Mother of the Church, and pray that they will grow in fidelity to their mission to be living signs of Christ’s presence and infinite mercy.
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from Norway, Sweden, Malawi, South Africa, Indonesia and the United States. My particular greeting goes to the Catholic educators participating in the annual Rome Seminar sponsored by the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas. I also greet the many student groups present. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!
* * *
After that audience, the OGrady participants visited Caritas Roma operations. We met with the senior leadership of the Caritas Roma Migration Office. This office, open since 1981, has offered hospitality and legal-social-material resources to newcomers to Italy. They too are dealing with irregular and regular migrants (undocumented and documented) and shared many similar stories as us regarding the treatment of migrants, especially non documented ones. The Bishops Conference of Italy has advocated for many changes in immigration law in Italy, sometimes meeting with much social and political resistance.
We then visited the Caritas Roma Health Clinic for Migrants located under the Rome Termni or train station. There we witnessed a primary health clinic, with a pharmacy, mental health workers, social workers and a research center. Besides the amazing number of languages they have to interpret-translate in this center serves nearly 12,000 clients each year. Besides primary health, the clinic staff (3) with hundreds of volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmarcy assistants, and interpreters, this center provides information and assistance to help migrants and others navigate through the Italian health care system. We learned that there is a campaign going on in Italy that wants to require that physicians not treat non documented or irregular migrants. Caritas Roma and the Bishops have resisted this campaign and are actively advocating against this legislation. The director of this health clinic presented us with a banner used by Caritas Roma to educate the public about the injustice of this policy if it would be enacted.
On Wednesday evening, the group met at the international Mother House of the Sisters of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. Sr. Teresa Wetta, ASC, formerly the mission director for Catholic Charities USA, is on the international general council for this order of women. We shared a meal with the Sisters of her house.
On Thursday, after celebrating our last Eucharistic liturgy together, the group met with Josef Cardinal Cordes, the President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and with newly named Monsignor Anthony Figuerdo from Newark who is on staff at Cor Unum. We discussed the focus of Cor Unum as an agent of inspiration and animation for the work of Caritas throughout the world. We presented to the Cardinal our workplan for our on going Catholic Identity project. He mentioned that he was happy with our dedication to such articulation of Catholic identity and our commitment to the formation of the heart of Caritas-Catholic Charities workers. Cardinal Cordes also mentioned that he will soon have a book translated into English that will be published by the University of Notre Dame Press on the work of Caritas and its spirituality. We welcomed that work.
Later that day we met with Msgr. Anthony Frontiero, who is an officialy of the Pontifical Council Justice and Peace. A priest from Manchester NH, Msgr. Frontiero manages the Human Rights Desk for that dicastery and represents the Holy See at many international meetings on the human rights agenda. We discussed how they work as a think tank regarding the theological reflection on social issues, and work closely with the Secretary of State. We discussed in detail a November 18, 2008 forum at their office on the international financial crisis that this dicastery held in response to requests from the UN to have a moral reflection on economic issues. We were provided with the results of that meeting.
After a final meal today, all of us will be flying back to the States. We now have all promised in follow up the following
1. To write a paper to share with each other and with CCUSA on our reflections on our experience and how we will implement what we learned back in our home dioceses.
2. To meet on the phone frequently to review-discuss our reflection papers and to read other materials together and discuss them.
3. To meet again, somehow, with Fr. Klaus Baumann to continue with our class reflection on the theology and wissenschaft of Caritas.
4. To provide a written evaluation of the OGrady Institute and promote it for others.
We all concurred at our face to face evaluation meeting that all of us grew in our faith, sharpened our spiritual reflection, learned from others, developed insights about our work, and saw how our work in anchored in our Tradition as part and parcel of the three aspects of the Mission of the Church: to preach the good news, to celebrate the Sacraments, and to serve others -- caritas.
On Wednesday, June 24, after celebrating the Mass for the Birth of St. John the Baptist, members attended the weekly Papal General Audience. At that audience, Pope Benedict XVI stated:
* * *
"The Priest Is a Slave of Christ"
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 24, 2009 ( Zenit.org ).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in St. Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Last Friday, June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day traditionally dedicated to pray for the sanctification of priests, I had the joy of inaugurating the Year for Priests. The year was proclaimed on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the "birth into eternal life" of the Curé d'Ars, St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney. Entering into the Vatican basilica for the celebration of vespers, almost as a first symbolic gesture, I paused in the Choir Chapel to venerate the relic of this saintly pastor of souls: his heart. Why a Year for Priests? Why particularly in memory of the holy Curé d'Ars, who apparently did nothing extraordinary?
Divine Providence has ordained that this personage would be placed beside that of St. Paul. As the Pauline Year is concluding, a year which was dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles, the epitome of an extraordinary evangelizer who made various mission trips to spread the Gospel, this new jubilee year invites us to gaze upon a poor farmer turned humble pastor, who carried out his pastoral service in a small town.
If the two saints are quite different insofar as the life experiences that marked them -- one traveled from region to region to announce the Gospel; the other remained in his little parish, welcoming thousands and thousands of faithful -- there is nevertheless something fundamental that unites them: It is their total identification with their ministry, their communion with Christ. This brought St. Paul to say: "Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). St. John Vianney liked to repeat: "If we had faith, we would see God hidden in the priest like a light behind glass, like wine mixed with water."
The objective of this Year for Priests, as I wrote in the letter sent to priests for this occasion, is to support that struggle of every priest "toward spiritual perfection, on which the effectiveness of his ministry primarily depends." It is to help priests first of all -- and with them all of God's people -- to rediscover and reinvigorate their awareness of the extraordinary and indispensable gift of grace that the ordained ministry is for he who receives it, for the whole Church, and for the world, which would be lost without the real presence of Christ.
Undoubtedly, the historical and social conditions in which the Curé d'Ars lived have changed, and it is justifiable to ask oneself how it's possible for priests living in a globalized society to imitate him in the way he identified himself with his ministry. In a world in which the customary outlook on life comprehends less and less the sacred, and in its place "useful" becomes the only important category, the catholic -- and even ecclesial -- idea of the priesthood can run the risk of being emptied of the esteem that is natural to it.
It is not by chance that as much in theological environments as in concrete pastoral practice and the formation of the clergy, a contrast -- even an opposition -- is made between two distinct concepts of the priesthood. Some years ago, I noted in this regard that there is "on the one hand a social-functional understanding that defines the essence of the priesthood with the concept of 'service': service to the community in the fulfillment of a function. … On the other hand, there is the sacramental-ontological understanding, which naturally does not deny the servicial character of the priesthood, but sees it anchored in the being of the minister and considers that this being is determined by a gift called sacrament, given by the Lord through the mediation of the Church" (Joseph Ratzinger, Ministry and Life of the Priest, in Principles of Catholic Theology).
The terminological mutation of the word "priesthood" toward a meaning of "service, ministry, assignment" is as well a sign of this distinct understanding. The primacy of the Eucharist is linked to the sacramental-ontological conception, in the binomial "priest-sacrifice," while to the other [conception] would correspond the primacy of the word and service to the proclamation.
Considered carefully, these are not two opposing understandings, and the tension that nevertheless exists between them should be resolved from within. Thus the decree "Presbyterorum Ordinis" from the Second Vatican Council affirms: "Through the apostolic proclamation of the Gospel, the People of God are called together and assembled. All belonging to this people … can offer themselves as 'a sacrifice, living, holy, pleasing to God' (Rom 12:1). Through the ministry of the priests, the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is made perfect in union with the sacrifice of Christ. He is the only mediator who in the name of the whole Church is offered sacramentally in the Eucharist and in an unbloody manner until the Lord himself comes" (No. 2).
We then ask ourselves, "What exactly does it mean, for priests, to evangelize? What is the so-called primacy of proclamation?" Jesus speaks of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God as the true objective for his coming to the world, and his proclamation is not just a "discourse." It includes, at the same time, his actions: His signs and miracles indicate that the Kingdom is now present in the world, which in the end coincides with himself. In this sense, one must recall that even in this idea of the "primacy" of proclamation, word and sign are inseparable.
Christian proclamation does not proclaim "words," but the Word, and the proclamation coincides with the very person of Christ, ontologically open to the relationship with the Father and obedient to his will. Therefore, authentic service to the Word requires from the priest that he strains toward a deep abnegation of himself, until being able to say with the Apostle, "It is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me."
The priest cannot consider himself "lord" of the word, but rather its servant. He is not the word, but rather, as John the Baptist proclaimed, (precisely today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist), he is the "voice" of the Word: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths'" (Mark 1:3).
Now then, to be the "voice" of the Word doesn't constitute for the priest a merely functional element. On the contrary, it presupposes a substantial "losing oneself" in Christ, participating in his mystery of death and resurrection with all of oneself: intelligence, liberty, will, and the offering of one's own body as a living sacrifice (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Only participation in the sacrifice of Christ, in his kenosis, makes the proclamation authentic! And this is the path that should be walked with Christ to the point of saying with him to the Father: Let it be done, "not what I will but what you will" (Mark 14:36). The proclamation, therefore, always implies as well the sacrifice of oneself, the condition so that the proclamation can be authentic and effective.
Alter Christus, the priest is profoundly united to the Word of the Father, who in incarnating himself, has taken the form of a slave, has made himself a slave (cf. Philippians 2:5-11). The priest is a slave of Christ in the sense that his existence, ontologically configured to Christ, takes on an essentially relational character: He is in Christ, through Christ, and with Christ at the service of man. Precisely because he belongs to Christ, the priest is radically at the service of all people: He is the minister of their salvation, of their happiness, of their authentic liberation -- maturing, in this progressive taking up of the will of Christ, in prayer, in this "remaining heart to heart" with him. This is therefore the essential condition of all proclamation, which implies participation in the sacramental offering of the Eucharist and docile obedience to the Church.
The holy Curé d'Ars often repeated with tears in his eyes: "What a frightening thing to be a priest!" And he added: "How we ought to pity a priest who celebrates Mass as if he were engaged in something routine. How wretched is a priest without interior life!"
May this Year of the Priest bring all priests to identify themselves totally with Jesus, crucified and risen, so that in imitation of St. John the Baptist, we are willing to "decrease" so that he increases; so that, following the example of the Curé d'Ars, they constantly and deeply understand the responsibility of their mission, which is sign and presence of the infinite mercy of God. Let us entrust to the Virgin, Mother of the Church, this Year for Priests just begun and all the priests of the world.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[The Holy Father then addressed the people in several languages. In English, he said:]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last Friday, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of priests – marked the beginning of the Year for Priests commemorating the sesquicentennial of the death of the Curé of Ars, Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of parish priests. The Pauline Year now ending and the current Year for Priests invite us to consider how the Apostle Paul and the humble Curé of Ars both identified themselves completely with their ministry, striving to live in constant communion with Christ. May this Year for Priests help all priests to grow towards the spiritual perfection essential to the effectiveness of their ministry, and enable the faithful to appreciate more fully the great gift of grace which the priesthood is: for priests themselves, for the Church and for our world. Configured to Christ in the sacrament of Holy Orders, the priest is called to become an alter Christus, "another Christ". His personal union with the Lord must thus unify every aspect of his life and activity. During this Year for Priests, let us entrust all priests to Mary, Mother of the Church, and pray that they will grow in fidelity to their mission to be living signs of Christ’s presence and infinite mercy.
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, especially those from Norway, Sweden, Malawi, South Africa, Indonesia and the United States. My particular greeting goes to the Catholic educators participating in the annual Rome Seminar sponsored by the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas. I also greet the many student groups present. Upon all of you I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!
* * *
After that audience, the OGrady participants visited Caritas Roma operations. We met with the senior leadership of the Caritas Roma Migration Office. This office, open since 1981, has offered hospitality and legal-social-material resources to newcomers to Italy. They too are dealing with irregular and regular migrants (undocumented and documented) and shared many similar stories as us regarding the treatment of migrants, especially non documented ones. The Bishops Conference of Italy has advocated for many changes in immigration law in Italy, sometimes meeting with much social and political resistance.
We then visited the Caritas Roma Health Clinic for Migrants located under the Rome Termni or train station. There we witnessed a primary health clinic, with a pharmacy, mental health workers, social workers and a research center. Besides the amazing number of languages they have to interpret-translate in this center serves nearly 12,000 clients each year. Besides primary health, the clinic staff (3) with hundreds of volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmarcy assistants, and interpreters, this center provides information and assistance to help migrants and others navigate through the Italian health care system. We learned that there is a campaign going on in Italy that wants to require that physicians not treat non documented or irregular migrants. Caritas Roma and the Bishops have resisted this campaign and are actively advocating against this legislation. The director of this health clinic presented us with a banner used by Caritas Roma to educate the public about the injustice of this policy if it would be enacted.
On Wednesday evening, the group met at the international Mother House of the Sisters of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. Sr. Teresa Wetta, ASC, formerly the mission director for Catholic Charities USA, is on the international general council for this order of women. We shared a meal with the Sisters of her house.
On Thursday, after celebrating our last Eucharistic liturgy together, the group met with Josef Cardinal Cordes, the President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, and with newly named Monsignor Anthony Figuerdo from Newark who is on staff at Cor Unum. We discussed the focus of Cor Unum as an agent of inspiration and animation for the work of Caritas throughout the world. We presented to the Cardinal our workplan for our on going Catholic Identity project. He mentioned that he was happy with our dedication to such articulation of Catholic identity and our commitment to the formation of the heart of Caritas-Catholic Charities workers. Cardinal Cordes also mentioned that he will soon have a book translated into English that will be published by the University of Notre Dame Press on the work of Caritas and its spirituality. We welcomed that work.
Later that day we met with Msgr. Anthony Frontiero, who is an officialy of the Pontifical Council Justice and Peace. A priest from Manchester NH, Msgr. Frontiero manages the Human Rights Desk for that dicastery and represents the Holy See at many international meetings on the human rights agenda. We discussed how they work as a think tank regarding the theological reflection on social issues, and work closely with the Secretary of State. We discussed in detail a November 18, 2008 forum at their office on the international financial crisis that this dicastery held in response to requests from the UN to have a moral reflection on economic issues. We were provided with the results of that meeting.
After a final meal today, all of us will be flying back to the States. We now have all promised in follow up the following
1. To write a paper to share with each other and with CCUSA on our reflections on our experience and how we will implement what we learned back in our home dioceses.
2. To meet on the phone frequently to review-discuss our reflection papers and to read other materials together and discuss them.
3. To meet again, somehow, with Fr. Klaus Baumann to continue with our class reflection on the theology and wissenschaft of Caritas.
4. To provide a written evaluation of the OGrady Institute and promote it for others.
We all concurred at our face to face evaluation meeting that all of us grew in our faith, sharpened our spiritual reflection, learned from others, developed insights about our work, and saw how our work in anchored in our Tradition as part and parcel of the three aspects of the Mission of the Church: to preach the good news, to celebrate the Sacraments, and to serve others -- caritas.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Diary of Catholic Charities USA O'Grady Institutem Freiburg and Rome
SUNDAY JUNE 14
I am reporting today from Freiburg Germany, the site of the University of Freiburg that has offered master level degrees in management and theology for Caritas personnel for almost one hundred years. It is also the home of Caritas Germany. I am on this trip under the guidance of Father Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA, and Kathy Brown of CCUSA/Director of Mission, with 6 other diocesan directors. We begin our class in theology and Catholic identity tomorrow. This is the initial group starting the Catholic Charities USA O’Grady Institute.
Today we celebrated Liturgy in the Munster of Freiburg -- the cathedral -- which celebrated its dedication day today. We had the Auxiliary Bishop who is the Vicar of Caritas Freiburg who presided at the celebration. He noted in his homily that this cathedral, built in 1330 and dedicated in 1513, is a living building not a museum. In fact birds flew in the high romanesque and gothic style vaults while several bats flew through the crowd during Mass. It was definitely alive with 5 boys choirs and a girls choir singing the high Mass.
Two features were noted by our host Father Klaus Baumann who heads the department of Caritaswissenschaft at the university.
First, this cathedral is the first to have a stained glass in its building depicting the seven corporal works of mercy. I took some photos of the glass...hope they come out. It is a beautiful stained glass over the North transept of the main altar. It is a spectacular piece of art. This city had always been known for its charitable works, and was the founding city of Caritas Germany and a leader in developing the future Caritas Internationalis.
Second, now posted on my facebook page, is the main entrance. Above the main entrance, in stone relief, is a depiction of the Last Judgment found in Mathew 25. The reason that the Last Judgment is there is to remind people as they leave Mass and the Church building that they are to continue the work of building the body of Christ by serving those in need around us. Father Klaus told us that in the 1400-1700s there was a hospice for the poor directly across the street from the main entrance to the Cathedral, reminding everyone to serve those in most need.
Now, why the O’Grady Institute? Msgr. John O’Grady was the second president of CCUSA from 1920 to 1961. He was one of the founding members of Caritas Internationalis in 1952 and visited Freiburg on numerous occasions to help with post war reconstruction. Oh yes, the City was completely destroyed in late 1944 except for the Cathedral. The pictures of the devastation and destruction from the war were unreal...the cathdral stood all alone -- intact.
TUESDAY JUNE 16
Greetings from Freiburg still.
Yesterday we spent four hours in a class on the scriptural foundations and social scientific arguments about social service-charity led by Fr. Dr. Klaus Baumann, the director of the Caritas Wissenschaft (or charity science) department of the University of Freiburg. We spent the majority of the time analyzing in detail the story of the Good Samaritan.
Klaus provided also a historical analysis of the development of this school for caritas leaders...it is a master level program in Church agency administration and theology with much inter disciplinary work between various university departments, led by Theology.
After those talks, and lunch, we went to St Peter in the Black Forest, a former Benedictine Monastery, currently used by the archdiocese of Freiburg as a center for spirituality...this monastery was built in 1093.....it has one of the oldest libraries-scriptoriums in Europe. We saw some amazing illuminated manuscripts from the 10th century, books of maps without any mention of the Americas much to the delight of the director of the monastery as we were Americans....Fr Arno Zahlauer was very hospitable and greatly welcoming but did enjoy showing us many ancient maps in their collection without note of the Americas existing....but he wants to visit us. He circulated one of the first bibles printed in German that exists from the first printing press, and he passed around for all of us to touch and look at the first original print of St Thomas More's UTOPIA. Cool...
Fr Arno Zahlauer took us all around the monastery and explained the symbolism of the structure of the building, its layout, its art work -- it all revolved around the mystical reflection of time, space and eternity. Clocks were everywhere as we walked the halls of the vast monastery -- several famous monks here were mathematicians...this is the home of the design of the black forest clocks…or cuckoo clocks....they were everywhere....but since we are in time, and space, the building led us to reflect through its arrangements and art, that we are spatial creatures, finite in this time, all aiming to eternity, but we do touch eternity through our celebration of Eucharist and knowing God, so the Church is that space between eternity and time.
Today we had a 2 hour meeting with Msgr. Georg Hüssler, the former General Secretary of Caritas Germany and president of Caritas Internationalis in Rome. He knew Msgr. John O’Grady personally who visited him here in Freiburg on occasion. Msgr. Hüssler told us many stories about Msgr. O’Grady, the origins of Caritas Internationalis in 1952, and current politics of Church and State. He told us specifically that he remembers how O’Grady provided much leadership in the international level, and that the US Catholic Charities (started in 1910…Germany started in 1897 and Switzerland in 1903) provided much technical know how to European Caritas agencies.
Fr. Larry then discussed in detail the Cadre Study and Vision 2000 which captured the attention of the leaders from Caritas Germany since they only had heard about these documents...We were asked to leave our English copies of our documents there for them to reflect on and use. It was an interesting historical review driven day.
Now we are off to Colmar France to visit a medieval church-monastery which houses one of the world's largest and oldest collections of altar pieces....watch my facebook for photos......
WEDNESDAY JUNE 17
Greetings from Freiburg. Today we met for 3 and half hours with Dr. Ursula Nothelle-Wildfeuer, the Professor of Christian Ethics of the University of Freiburg who is connected with Dr. Klaus Baumann at the Caritas Wissenschaft. Ursula presented an in depth systematic and moral theological reflection on the basis of Catholic social doctrine: Christian anthropology, the Incarnation and Resurrection, and the Eschaton. We focused on the principles of dignity, subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good.
After time with Ursula, we meet with some senior leaders of Caritas Germany at their national headquarters. Caritas Germany is equal to the combination of Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Health Association. They work in 28 Dioceses in Germany for social welfare and in over 100 foreign countries in long term disaster related development and response. They run many hospitals and nursing homes. Caritas Germany has over 500,000 employees and 500,000 volunteers world wide.
The President of Caritas Germany, Monsignor Peter Neher, provided warm hospitality in their 8 story national headquarters in Freiburg and provided a detailed review of their programs and funding. They get 96% of their funding from the federal German government.
We discussed differences between CCUSA and Caritas Germany, and focused on the common thread of Catholic identity and mission. It was an excellent conversation.
After several hours there, we traveled to Lake Titisie for dinner and some evaluation time. This Black Forest resort area was beautiful and breath taking.
Tomorrow we head to Strasbourg for a tour of this ancient city known for many international diplomatic encounters and a view of the European Union operations in that city.
Hope all is well at home...in my prayers, please keep me in yours...peace, brian
MONDAY JUNE 22
Greetings from Rome. Sorry for the brevity but relying on my blackberry for this update since internet connection at the religious house we are staying at located in Vatican City is limited.
On Sunday we celebrated Mass in the Clementine Chapel located next to the bones of St Peter. We went to the noon Angelus and then solemn vespers in the chapel of the Chair of Peter located below that wonderful picture made of alabaster of the Holy Spirit. At Mass we remembered all of our fathers and, in a special way, those who asked to be remembered from the CCUSA website.
On Monday we met with Leslie Anne Knight the general secretary of Caritas Internationalis. She gave a great presentation on role of NGOs in global poverty reduction. We also had a great presentation on human trafficking especially related to domestic workers.
The Bishops of Sudan were meeting at Caritas also.
We then toured the sites of ancient Rome. We saw the Mamortine prison, the site of Peter and Paul’s imprisonment and the church dedicated to St. Mark the evangelist who wrote the gospel while in Rome. Then we had a private tour of the Vatican museum. Today we visit the major basilicas and Christian sites of Rome.
I am reporting today from Freiburg Germany, the site of the University of Freiburg that has offered master level degrees in management and theology for Caritas personnel for almost one hundred years. It is also the home of Caritas Germany. I am on this trip under the guidance of Father Larry Snyder, President of CCUSA, and Kathy Brown of CCUSA/Director of Mission, with 6 other diocesan directors. We begin our class in theology and Catholic identity tomorrow. This is the initial group starting the Catholic Charities USA O’Grady Institute.
Today we celebrated Liturgy in the Munster of Freiburg -- the cathedral -- which celebrated its dedication day today. We had the Auxiliary Bishop who is the Vicar of Caritas Freiburg who presided at the celebration. He noted in his homily that this cathedral, built in 1330 and dedicated in 1513, is a living building not a museum. In fact birds flew in the high romanesque and gothic style vaults while several bats flew through the crowd during Mass. It was definitely alive with 5 boys choirs and a girls choir singing the high Mass.
Two features were noted by our host Father Klaus Baumann who heads the department of Caritaswissenschaft at the university.
First, this cathedral is the first to have a stained glass in its building depicting the seven corporal works of mercy. I took some photos of the glass...hope they come out. It is a beautiful stained glass over the North transept of the main altar. It is a spectacular piece of art. This city had always been known for its charitable works, and was the founding city of Caritas Germany and a leader in developing the future Caritas Internationalis.
Second, now posted on my facebook page, is the main entrance. Above the main entrance, in stone relief, is a depiction of the Last Judgment found in Mathew 25. The reason that the Last Judgment is there is to remind people as they leave Mass and the Church building that they are to continue the work of building the body of Christ by serving those in need around us. Father Klaus told us that in the 1400-1700s there was a hospice for the poor directly across the street from the main entrance to the Cathedral, reminding everyone to serve those in most need.
Now, why the O’Grady Institute? Msgr. John O’Grady was the second president of CCUSA from 1920 to 1961. He was one of the founding members of Caritas Internationalis in 1952 and visited Freiburg on numerous occasions to help with post war reconstruction. Oh yes, the City was completely destroyed in late 1944 except for the Cathedral. The pictures of the devastation and destruction from the war were unreal...the cathdral stood all alone -- intact.
TUESDAY JUNE 16
Greetings from Freiburg still.
Yesterday we spent four hours in a class on the scriptural foundations and social scientific arguments about social service-charity led by Fr. Dr. Klaus Baumann, the director of the Caritas Wissenschaft (or charity science) department of the University of Freiburg. We spent the majority of the time analyzing in detail the story of the Good Samaritan.
Klaus provided also a historical analysis of the development of this school for caritas leaders...it is a master level program in Church agency administration and theology with much inter disciplinary work between various university departments, led by Theology.
After those talks, and lunch, we went to St Peter in the Black Forest, a former Benedictine Monastery, currently used by the archdiocese of Freiburg as a center for spirituality...this monastery was built in 1093.....it has one of the oldest libraries-scriptoriums in Europe. We saw some amazing illuminated manuscripts from the 10th century, books of maps without any mention of the Americas much to the delight of the director of the monastery as we were Americans....Fr Arno Zahlauer was very hospitable and greatly welcoming but did enjoy showing us many ancient maps in their collection without note of the Americas existing....but he wants to visit us. He circulated one of the first bibles printed in German that exists from the first printing press, and he passed around for all of us to touch and look at the first original print of St Thomas More's UTOPIA. Cool...
Fr Arno Zahlauer took us all around the monastery and explained the symbolism of the structure of the building, its layout, its art work -- it all revolved around the mystical reflection of time, space and eternity. Clocks were everywhere as we walked the halls of the vast monastery -- several famous monks here were mathematicians...this is the home of the design of the black forest clocks…or cuckoo clocks....they were everywhere....but since we are in time, and space, the building led us to reflect through its arrangements and art, that we are spatial creatures, finite in this time, all aiming to eternity, but we do touch eternity through our celebration of Eucharist and knowing God, so the Church is that space between eternity and time.
Today we had a 2 hour meeting with Msgr. Georg Hüssler, the former General Secretary of Caritas Germany and president of Caritas Internationalis in Rome. He knew Msgr. John O’Grady personally who visited him here in Freiburg on occasion. Msgr. Hüssler told us many stories about Msgr. O’Grady, the origins of Caritas Internationalis in 1952, and current politics of Church and State. He told us specifically that he remembers how O’Grady provided much leadership in the international level, and that the US Catholic Charities (started in 1910…Germany started in 1897 and Switzerland in 1903) provided much technical know how to European Caritas agencies.
Fr. Larry then discussed in detail the Cadre Study and Vision 2000 which captured the attention of the leaders from Caritas Germany since they only had heard about these documents...We were asked to leave our English copies of our documents there for them to reflect on and use. It was an interesting historical review driven day.
Now we are off to Colmar France to visit a medieval church-monastery which houses one of the world's largest and oldest collections of altar pieces....watch my facebook for photos......
WEDNESDAY JUNE 17
Greetings from Freiburg. Today we met for 3 and half hours with Dr. Ursula Nothelle-Wildfeuer, the Professor of Christian Ethics of the University of Freiburg who is connected with Dr. Klaus Baumann at the Caritas Wissenschaft. Ursula presented an in depth systematic and moral theological reflection on the basis of Catholic social doctrine: Christian anthropology, the Incarnation and Resurrection, and the Eschaton. We focused on the principles of dignity, subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good.
After time with Ursula, we meet with some senior leaders of Caritas Germany at their national headquarters. Caritas Germany is equal to the combination of Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Health Association. They work in 28 Dioceses in Germany for social welfare and in over 100 foreign countries in long term disaster related development and response. They run many hospitals and nursing homes. Caritas Germany has over 500,000 employees and 500,000 volunteers world wide.
The President of Caritas Germany, Monsignor Peter Neher, provided warm hospitality in their 8 story national headquarters in Freiburg and provided a detailed review of their programs and funding. They get 96% of their funding from the federal German government.
We discussed differences between CCUSA and Caritas Germany, and focused on the common thread of Catholic identity and mission. It was an excellent conversation.
After several hours there, we traveled to Lake Titisie for dinner and some evaluation time. This Black Forest resort area was beautiful and breath taking.
Tomorrow we head to Strasbourg for a tour of this ancient city known for many international diplomatic encounters and a view of the European Union operations in that city.
Hope all is well at home...in my prayers, please keep me in yours...peace, brian
MONDAY JUNE 22
Greetings from Rome. Sorry for the brevity but relying on my blackberry for this update since internet connection at the religious house we are staying at located in Vatican City is limited.
On Sunday we celebrated Mass in the Clementine Chapel located next to the bones of St Peter. We went to the noon Angelus and then solemn vespers in the chapel of the Chair of Peter located below that wonderful picture made of alabaster of the Holy Spirit. At Mass we remembered all of our fathers and, in a special way, those who asked to be remembered from the CCUSA website.
On Monday we met with Leslie Anne Knight the general secretary of Caritas Internationalis. She gave a great presentation on role of NGOs in global poverty reduction. We also had a great presentation on human trafficking especially related to domestic workers.
The Bishops of Sudan were meeting at Caritas also.
We then toured the sites of ancient Rome. We saw the Mamortine prison, the site of Peter and Paul’s imprisonment and the church dedicated to St. Mark the evangelist who wrote the gospel while in Rome. Then we had a private tour of the Vatican museum. Today we visit the major basilicas and Christian sites of Rome.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
TODAY IS BLOG DAY ON POVERTY: WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Poverty in America: What are you going to do?
We call upon all Americans, especially those who are most impacted by poverty, to be active participants in increasing awareness and developing solutions to reducing poverty.
Here are a few things you can do:
Endorse
Make a public statement that you support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America and are committed to taking action.
Advocate
Read and respond to our Action Alerts and take part in shaping policies that help individuals and families transition from poverty to self-sufficiency.
Read Twenty things you can do and learn about Poverty USA
Volunteer
Donate your time and talent as a volunteer at a local Catholic Charities agency.
Pray
Pray for God's assistance in alleviating the pain and needless struggles of our brothers and sisters in need.
Educate
Read our policy papers and become familiar with the issues.
Share
Post a comment on our Blog and spread the word about the Campaign.
Participate
Take part in local field activities -- write a letter, attend a local or Capitol Hill briefing, or host a special event.
Donate
Make a donation to support the work of the Campaign. Your donation helps Catholic Charities in their work of providing help and creating help.
We call upon all Americans, especially those who are most impacted by poverty, to be active participants in increasing awareness and developing solutions to reducing poverty.
Here are a few things you can do:
Endorse
Make a public statement that you support the Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America and are committed to taking action.
Advocate
Read and respond to our Action Alerts and take part in shaping policies that help individuals and families transition from poverty to self-sufficiency.
Read Twenty things you can do and learn about Poverty USA
Volunteer
Donate your time and talent as a volunteer at a local Catholic Charities agency.
Pray
Pray for God's assistance in alleviating the pain and needless struggles of our brothers and sisters in need.
Educate
Read our policy papers and become familiar with the issues.
Share
Post a comment on our Blog and spread the word about the Campaign.
Participate
Take part in local field activities -- write a letter, attend a local or Capitol Hill briefing, or host a special event.
Donate
Make a donation to support the work of the Campaign. Your donation helps Catholic Charities in their work of providing help and creating help.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Catholic Charities USA: Hurricane Relief Efforts/Call for Donations
Charity Responding to Hurricane Gustav
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, SEPT. 1, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- As Hurricane Gutav batters the Gulf Coast, Catholic Charities USA stands ready to respond with humanitarian relief.
The storm hit the coast of Louisiana today as a Category 2 storm. The 110 mph winds and torrential rains generated by Gustav have left more than 1 million without power in the region.
After the storm, local Catholic Charities throughout the region plan to open community resource sites. The bulk distribution sites will offer water, basic food essentials, cleanup supplies, personal care kits, and other items to meet the communities’ recovery needs.
In addition, teams will be deployed into the affected areas to make damage assessments and identify unmet needs in the communities. These assessments will help Catholic Charities determine how best to tailor their response efforts in the days, weeks and months to come.
Kim Burgo, senior director of disaster response for Catholic Charities USA, stated, “Using our experience from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we stand ready to respond to Gustav with speed, reliability, and a long-term commitment to helping the impacted region recover."
For local information on how you can donate to these efforts, contact Brian Corbin or visit the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities webpage.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, SEPT. 1, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- As Hurricane Gutav batters the Gulf Coast, Catholic Charities USA stands ready to respond with humanitarian relief.
The storm hit the coast of Louisiana today as a Category 2 storm. The 110 mph winds and torrential rains generated by Gustav have left more than 1 million without power in the region.
After the storm, local Catholic Charities throughout the region plan to open community resource sites. The bulk distribution sites will offer water, basic food essentials, cleanup supplies, personal care kits, and other items to meet the communities’ recovery needs.
In addition, teams will be deployed into the affected areas to make damage assessments and identify unmet needs in the communities. These assessments will help Catholic Charities determine how best to tailor their response efforts in the days, weeks and months to come.
Kim Burgo, senior director of disaster response for Catholic Charities USA, stated, “Using our experience from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we stand ready to respond to Gustav with speed, reliability, and a long-term commitment to helping the impacted region recover."
For local information on how you can donate to these efforts, contact Brian Corbin or visit the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities webpage.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Catholic Charities: US Has Too Many Poor
Census Shows More People Living in Poverty
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, AUG. 28, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The president of Catholic Charities USA said it is "unacceptable" that there are 37.3 million poor people in a nation as prosperous as the United States.
Father Larry Snyder said this in response to statistics released Tuesday by the United States Census Bureau, which revealed that 800,000 more people are living in poverty in the United States this year.
"It is unacceptable that in a nation that is as prosperous as ours that 37.3 million people, including 13.3 million children, continue to live in poverty," Father Snyder said. "At 12.5%, the poverty rate indicates that reducing poverty is not a priority for this nation."
The priest said his organization and its member agencies serve nearly 8 million needy people a year.
"The poverty rate is not just another economic statistic," he said. "This unacceptable figure represents the millions of families we see each and every day who are struggling just to make ends meet."
Father Snyder affirmed that the downturn in the U.S. economy has worsened the situation.
"Across our nation, Catholic Charities agencies are seeing more and more people having to choose between putting food on the table, paying their utility bills, or making their rent or mortgage payments," he said. "Needing help with food, rent, clothing and prescriptions are all symptoms of much larger problems facing the poor and vulnerable in America, such as low wages and the lack of affordable housing and health care."
The charity organization has launched a campaign to cut the poverty rate in half by 2020. They are urging Americans to demand that their political representatives make poverty a priority.
"In this election year, candidates for public office -- especially our presidential candidates -- must move from rhetoric to action and propose comprehensive plans to address the needs of more than 37 million people living in poverty in the United States over the next decade," Father Synder said. "We call on all Americans to ask their candidates, 'If elected, what will you do to address poverty?'"
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, AUG. 28, 2008 ( Zenit.org ).- The president of Catholic Charities USA said it is "unacceptable" that there are 37.3 million poor people in a nation as prosperous as the United States.
Father Larry Snyder said this in response to statistics released Tuesday by the United States Census Bureau, which revealed that 800,000 more people are living in poverty in the United States this year.
"It is unacceptable that in a nation that is as prosperous as ours that 37.3 million people, including 13.3 million children, continue to live in poverty," Father Snyder said. "At 12.5%, the poverty rate indicates that reducing poverty is not a priority for this nation."
The priest said his organization and its member agencies serve nearly 8 million needy people a year.
"The poverty rate is not just another economic statistic," he said. "This unacceptable figure represents the millions of families we see each and every day who are struggling just to make ends meet."
Father Snyder affirmed that the downturn in the U.S. economy has worsened the situation.
"Across our nation, Catholic Charities agencies are seeing more and more people having to choose between putting food on the table, paying their utility bills, or making their rent or mortgage payments," he said. "Needing help with food, rent, clothing and prescriptions are all symptoms of much larger problems facing the poor and vulnerable in America, such as low wages and the lack of affordable housing and health care."
The charity organization has launched a campaign to cut the poverty rate in half by 2020. They are urging Americans to demand that their political representatives make poverty a priority.
"In this election year, candidates for public office -- especially our presidential candidates -- must move from rhetoric to action and propose comprehensive plans to address the needs of more than 37 million people living in poverty in the United States over the next decade," Father Synder said. "We call on all Americans to ask their candidates, 'If elected, what will you do to address poverty?'"
Monday, January 21, 2008
Catholic Charities USA Calls for National Commitment to Address the Challenges of Race and Poverty
Catholic Charities USA Calls for National Commitment to Address the Challenges of Race and Poverty
Released : Monday, January 21, 2008 11:00 AM
New Paper on Race and Poverty Released on Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
DETROIT, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA today marked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by calling for a renewed commitment to address the intertwined problems of racism and poverty that undermine America's fundamental promise of liberty, economic security, and justice for all.
The call to action was made today during a holiday Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit where Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, released a new paper on the issue: Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good.
"In order to adequately and seriously address poverty in this country, we must have a candid conversation and subsequent action that changes the impact race has on poverty," Father Snyder said. "We realize that racism is an uncomfortable subject for many people, but we also believe that Catholic Charities must be willing not only to talk about racism, but to initiate and lead a conversation that is desperately needed if we are going to truly provide help and offer hope to those we serve."
The paper intends to start, enrich, and inform a conversation within the Catholic Charities network and throughout the country by compelling every individual to serve, educate, and advocate for programs and policies that will foster unity in communities, eliminate racism, and significantly reduce poverty. The paper is part of Catholic Charities USA's Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, an effort which seeks to cut the U.S. poverty rate in half by 2020.
While whites make up the majority of the poor in the U.S., poverty rates are highest among minorities. U.S. Census figures show that in 2006, the overall national poverty rate was 12.3 percent, with the rate for African Americans at 24.3 percent, nearly three times higher than the 8.2 percent poverty rate for whites.
"Local Catholic Charities agencies across the country help nearly 8 million people a year," said Fr. Snyder. "Every day, we see the faces of the poor across America, and we know firsthand how race and poverty are interconnected."
Father Snyder acknowledged that great strides have been made in addressing racism in the United States, but emphasized that more can and must be done.
"Poverty is a moral and social wound on the soul of our nation, and the ghosts of our nation's legacy of racial inequality continue to haunt us," he said. "Racism fractures the unity of the human family, violates the rights of individuals, mocks the God-given equal dignity that everyone deserves, and is absolutely incompatible with our Christian faith and belief."
The paper contends that racism entails more than conscious ill-will, more than deliberate acts of avoidance, exclusion, malice, and violence perpetrated by individuals. Racism also describes the reality of unearned advantage, conferred dominance, and invisible privilege enjoyed by white Americans, to the detriment, burden, and disadvantage of people of color. The paper states that this network of racially conferred advantages and benefits, which has been termed "white privilege," also must be addressed.
Catholic Charities Seeks Change in Federal Programs
In addition to examining the reality and history of racial injustice in America, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good also calls for a renewed commitment to racial equality as a national priority. It urges Congress and the Administration to strengthen laws that address poverty that is racially caused or aggravated. These include:
-- Adoption of progressive affirmative action programs for education and employment;
-- Passage of programs that promote quality educational opportunities for the poor;
-- Making critically needed investments in public schools and in safety net programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, and Medicare;
-- Comprehensive immigration reform;
-- Wide-ranging criminal justice reforms;
-- Improved fair housing laws;
-- Increased federal funding for affordable housing;
-- Enactment of tougher laws to punish predatory lenders; and
-- Adoption of measures that help the poor get access to low-cost Internet service.
"Our battles against poverty and racism will not be easy, and success will be measured in years, not days or months," Father Snyder said. "It is my hope that our work can make a difference, even if it is just laying the foundation that others may build upon. We ask others to join us in our effort to fight racism and cut poverty in half so that together, we can make our country whole."
The paper, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good, can be found online at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Catholic Charities USA's members -- more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic background. For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org.
SOURCE Catholic Charities USA
Copyright 2008 PR Newswire
Provider:
PR Newswire
Keywords:
Top World News, Americas, North America, Health, Education & Welfare, USA, Government, Minority & Ethnic Groups, Race Relations, Social Issues, Social Welfare, Michigan, U.S. Welfare News
Released : Monday, January 21, 2008 11:00 AM
New Paper on Race and Poverty Released on Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
DETROIT, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA today marked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by calling for a renewed commitment to address the intertwined problems of racism and poverty that undermine America's fundamental promise of liberty, economic security, and justice for all.
The call to action was made today during a holiday Mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit where Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, released a new paper on the issue: Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good.
"In order to adequately and seriously address poverty in this country, we must have a candid conversation and subsequent action that changes the impact race has on poverty," Father Snyder said. "We realize that racism is an uncomfortable subject for many people, but we also believe that Catholic Charities must be willing not only to talk about racism, but to initiate and lead a conversation that is desperately needed if we are going to truly provide help and offer hope to those we serve."
The paper intends to start, enrich, and inform a conversation within the Catholic Charities network and throughout the country by compelling every individual to serve, educate, and advocate for programs and policies that will foster unity in communities, eliminate racism, and significantly reduce poverty. The paper is part of Catholic Charities USA's Campaign to Reduce Poverty in America, an effort which seeks to cut the U.S. poverty rate in half by 2020.
While whites make up the majority of the poor in the U.S., poverty rates are highest among minorities. U.S. Census figures show that in 2006, the overall national poverty rate was 12.3 percent, with the rate for African Americans at 24.3 percent, nearly three times higher than the 8.2 percent poverty rate for whites.
"Local Catholic Charities agencies across the country help nearly 8 million people a year," said Fr. Snyder. "Every day, we see the faces of the poor across America, and we know firsthand how race and poverty are interconnected."
Father Snyder acknowledged that great strides have been made in addressing racism in the United States, but emphasized that more can and must be done.
"Poverty is a moral and social wound on the soul of our nation, and the ghosts of our nation's legacy of racial inequality continue to haunt us," he said. "Racism fractures the unity of the human family, violates the rights of individuals, mocks the God-given equal dignity that everyone deserves, and is absolutely incompatible with our Christian faith and belief."
The paper contends that racism entails more than conscious ill-will, more than deliberate acts of avoidance, exclusion, malice, and violence perpetrated by individuals. Racism also describes the reality of unearned advantage, conferred dominance, and invisible privilege enjoyed by white Americans, to the detriment, burden, and disadvantage of people of color. The paper states that this network of racially conferred advantages and benefits, which has been termed "white privilege," also must be addressed.
Catholic Charities Seeks Change in Federal Programs
In addition to examining the reality and history of racial injustice in America, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good also calls for a renewed commitment to racial equality as a national priority. It urges Congress and the Administration to strengthen laws that address poverty that is racially caused or aggravated. These include:
-- Adoption of progressive affirmative action programs for education and employment;
-- Passage of programs that promote quality educational opportunities for the poor;
-- Making critically needed investments in public schools and in safety net programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, and Medicare;
-- Comprehensive immigration reform;
-- Wide-ranging criminal justice reforms;
-- Improved fair housing laws;
-- Increased federal funding for affordable housing;
-- Enactment of tougher laws to punish predatory lenders; and
-- Adoption of measures that help the poor get access to low-cost Internet service.
"Our battles against poverty and racism will not be easy, and success will be measured in years, not days or months," Father Snyder said. "It is my hope that our work can make a difference, even if it is just laying the foundation that others may build upon. We ask others to join us in our effort to fight racism and cut poverty in half so that together, we can make our country whole."
The paper, Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good, can be found online at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Catholic Charities USA's members -- more than 1,700 local agencies and institutions nationwide -- provide help and create hope for more than 7.8 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic background. For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. For more information, visit www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org.
SOURCE Catholic Charities USA
Copyright 2008 PR Newswire
Provider:
PR Newswire
Keywords:
Top World News, Americas, North America, Health, Education & Welfare, USA, Government, Minority & Ethnic Groups, Race Relations, Social Issues, Social Welfare, Michigan, U.S. Welfare News
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