Last week, members of the global Catholic Charities family (or Caritas, as Catholic Charities agencies are called in many countries), including a representative of Catholic Charities USA, had the great honor of meeting with our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. To anyone who has followed Francis’ love and commitment to... Continue reading

On May 1, Keith Styles joined Catholic Charities USA as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel following a 30 year career as a practicing attorney. In this guest blog post, Keith shares his thoughts about what called him to join the Catholic Charities movement and what his vision is for... Continue reading

On April 5, Catholic Charities USA President Fr. Larry Snyder was honored to deliver the opening prayer at the fourth annual White House Easter Prayer Breakfast. At the event President Obama and Vice President Biden joined Christian leaders from across the country who gathered to “pray, reflect and celebrate” the... Continue reading

Alleluia! He is risen! As we celebrate the joy of Easter, we can look back together over the 40 days of Lent and reflect on how they’ve changed us. On our journey to the celebration of the risen Savior, Lent gave us the opportunity to consciously be open to the... Continue reading

“Remember, you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These powerful words that are the traditional blessing with ashes at the start of Lent remind us of our mortality as we embark on our annual 40-day journey of sacrifice with Christ from the cross to the glory of resurrection.... Continue reading

I recently had the great privilege to follow in the footsteps of our Lord during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Seeing the hill of Calvary, praying in Bethlehem, and walking along the same seashore as Jesus Christ did 2,000 years ago filled me with a sense of wonder. That... Continue reading

As the New Year approaches, it presents us with a time of reflection. One that allows us to appreciate the year we have had and to enjoy the hope and promise that lies within the year before us. At Catholic Charities USA, this time of year is no different. To... Continue reading

An end of year message from Fr. Larry Snyder. Continue reading

As discussions to address the impending “fiscal cliff” continue, Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is working to ensure that policymakers are aware of how their federal spending decisions have the potential to significantly impact the more than 46 million individuals that are living in poverty in this country. As I stated... Continue reading

I’m always amazed by the strength of the human spirit. Having just returned from visiting Catholic Charities agencies in New York and New Jersey affected by Super Storm Sandy, I was touched by the acts of kindness and generosity I personally witnessed from staff, volunteers, and neighbors who just want... Continue reading

With over 46 million Americans living in poverty, it is a critical piece of our work to be able to internalize the struggles of our brothers and sisters in need as we continue our work to end poverty. If we take the time to put ourselves in their shoes, we gain the empathy we need and a deeper understanding for how to truly help. Continue reading

For most of us, the pain and tragedy of that cloudless day in September is still very raw. Reflecting on the eleventh anniversary of September 11th, 2001, it is impossible to forget the brave men and women who rushed in to the burning buildings to save those inside serving as heroes up until their last breaths, with no hesitation to respond in that moment of crisis. There were a lot of heroes that day. Continue reading

Seven years ago, our nation watched helplessly as Hurricane Katrina turned New Orleans and the Gulf Coast into a flooded disaster zone. As I look back today, on Katrina’s seventh anniversary, wondering what Hurricane Isaac will bring, I take solace in the fact that our country and residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are stronger and more prepared for this type of disaster than they were seven years ago – likewise, Catholic Charities agencies are poised and ready to answer the call for help. Continue reading

We here at Catholic Charities USA are eagerly awaiting our upcoming trip to Saint Louis, Missouri, for our 2012 Annual Gathering. As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I’m excited to once again visit the glistening Gateway Arch, take in a Cardinals game, and experience the hospitality of our friends at Catholic Charities of St. Louis, who will be celebrating their centennial anniversary by hosting this meaningful event. Continue reading

Independence Day is a day we associate with barbeques, fireworks, friends, family and…God? The last word shouldn’t throw you off. We often forget how deeply religious the founding fathers were and how large a role their faith in God played in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the ultimate formation of the United State of America. Continue reading

The Food Donation Connection (FDC) works with restaurants, primarily chains and restaurant groups, to create Harvest Food Donation Programs... FDC also links donors to food relief agencies in its Donor Recipient network...Catholic Charities agencies in more than 75 cities are among the recipients of Harvest Food donations...As of 2011 we have received close to 1 million pounds of foods to serve the hungry through our programs. Continue reading

Sargent Shriver is credited for being the architect behind President Lyndon Johnson’s "War on Poverty"...For those of you who may not be familiar with [him], I encourage you to read 'A Good Man' and be inspired by how one man was able to do great things for an even greater good. Continue reading

As families are busy planning annual Father’s Day barbecues and selecting yet another tie or tool for Dad, there is one group of fathers for whom this holiday is anything but a picnic--teenage boys who are now fathers of an infant or young child. A new report by Child Trends,... Continue reading

Through the Translation and Interpretation Network (TIN), bilingual refugees can secure highly paid part-time employment to supplement their incomes. It allows women with children, those with full-time jobs, and students to achieve greater self-sufficiency. In addition, TIN provides education and development opportunities for its interpreters that can enable them to run their own small businesses Continue reading

It began as a jobs program that provided an alternative to gang affiliation for young people. In 1992, a bakery was opened in a run-down warehouse. A tortilla stand in the downtown market was next. Before long Homeboy Industries was born. Fr. Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest, has spent more... Continue reading

When I heard there was a movie called “The Hunger Games” I thought I was hearing an April Fool’s joke. Those of us at Catholic Charities and thousands of churches and community groups around the country have seen far too many people who come to us because they are hungry. It’s no game for them. And yet I read that “The Hunger Games” just topped the box office for the fourth week in a row, bringing in an estimated $337.1 million in the US and another $500 million worldwide. Continue reading

One of the most well-known Resurrection passages in the Gospels is Luke’s depiction of the disciples on their way to the village of Emmaus, some seven miles from Jerusalem, on the evening of that first Resurrection Day. They are discouraged, confused and aimless as they recount to this unknown companion all the staggering events of the last few days. Continue reading

Do as I Have Done for You In the Middle East of Jesus’s time, shoes were rare. Sandals were the norm, or even bare feet. It was a warm climate, and dry. No need for the layers of socks and shoes and boots that we wear in the northern climate... Continue reading

A few weeks ago, as we entered the season of Lent, I wrote a blog post about the Poverty Top 40, citing a list of the 40 U.S. cities with the highest poverty rates. At the top of that list was Detroit. In the 1950s, Detroit was the 4th largest... Continue reading

When Pope Benedict XVI issued Caritas in Veritate in 2009, the world was still reverberating from the bank failures and global economic crisis that followed. His message was timely, and a piercing assessment of the personal and social, as well as economic, missteps that led to the crisis. But he... Continue reading