Content with tag catholic charities .

catholic charities

Cardinal joins Catholic Charities in serving Thanksgiving dinner

On Thanksgiving Day, over 250 people, many of whom are without stable housing, came to Catholic Charities, 720 N. LaSalle St., to celebrate the holiday with a meal and fellowship.

Serving mothers

When I began working at Catholic Charities last November, I was thrilled to join an organization rooted in faith tradition. Over these past months, the dedicated staff I have met and the outstanding services I have witnessed have only increased my excitement about working for such a dynamic and mission-driven organization.

Equal access to justice

Catholic Charities Legal Assistance (CCLA) department began nearly two decades ago to help address the shortage of legal aid services for low-income women and men. Given the great complexities of the legal system, those who cannot afford legal help are prevented from having equal access to justice — a problem that can significantly affect the trajectory of their lives.

Addressing housing insecurity

For decades, Catholic Charities has joined the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in speaking out about the crisis in affordable housing. Quite simply, wages of low-income workers have not kept pace with the rising cost of housing. That means that individuals and families must spend a greater and greater portion of their income on housing, leaving little for other necessities, let alone savings. That puts low-income households in a very unstable living situation, often being only one medical bill or lost paycheck away from homelessness — and for many, the pandemic brought both.

Answering Jesus’ call

Ever since I was a young boy, Matthew 25:35 has had a particular draw on my heart: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. … Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’’ (Mt 25:35-36, 40).

Trauma-informed therapy

When I began my career in therapeutic counseling more than 30 years ago, I chose to work at Catholic Charities because I deeply believed in the agency’s mission to care for others in a manner worthy of their God-given dignity. Catholic Charities works “one heart at a time,” offering not only our professional services, but also genuine mercy and hope as we accompany each person on their journey to wholeness, health and well-being.

Three lessons from the pandemic

The pandemic has compelled us, as individuals and as organizations, to reevaluate and prioritize what is most important — what is at the core of who we are. Catholic Charities is no different.

Food insecurity still high as pandemic continues, pantries say

When the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in West Humboldt Park reopened its indoor food pantry on July 13, people were lined up around the block to get in. The mission served 312 families, the highest ever for the indoor pantry.

¡Vámonos!

¡Vámonos! When COVID-19 began taking its toll, my colleagues and I started using this Spanish expression, which means “let’s go,” as a rallying call to get out into the neighborhoods to help those who needed it most. We used it with the connotation of “let’s get this done” and “we can do this” because there indeed was a lot to be done.

Supporting mothers

I have always considered mothers to be the quiet heroes of our lives. There is truly nothing like a mother’s love. I credit my own mother with so much good in my life, right down to my career choice.
1 2 3 4 5 >

Advertising