Recently, it was my privilege to participate in a Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Cleveland. It was a celebration reflecting on our community?s efforts and the sacrifices of many people for more than 100 years who have given of themselves or their resources to serve others in need.
The deplorable conditions which existed in Cleveland in 1912 were what prompted the establishment of Catholic Charities. Bishop John Farrelly, who directed the founding of Catholic Charities, discovered that the institutions for orphans and others in need were decrepit, Dickensian. He also discovered that the orders of women religious who were dedicating their lives to serving the poor, homeless, and orphaned were competing door-to-door for any funds they could collect. Orphans were begging at ?street fairs? in order to raise money.
There were few organized charities in the United States at the time. The newly appointed board of Charities decided that the parishes should contibute $1.50 per family, a considerable amount in 1912 dollars.
Today, the Catholic Charities Campaign continues to focus on individual parish support. Capable leadership and the collective efforts of the priests, women religious, and parishioners from all the parishes have produced a charitable organization which the Vatican has declared the largest in the United States.
The basis of the effort continues to be the response to St. Mark?s Gospel where Jesus says, ?Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.? The leadership and the people of the Diocese of Cleveland have taken that message to heart for the past 100 years.
The expanse of Catholic Charities? works encompasses services for children, adolescents, families, older adults, people with disabilities, the homeless, and the working poor. Among the programs are parenting classes, treatment for substance abuse, family counseling, meals and transportation for the elderly, skilled nursing facilities, life skills training, camps, support and employment for people with disabilities, meals, shelter, and emergency assistance.
If you need quantitative results, Catholic Charities? impact on Northeast Ohio in the past year alone included: 330,006 people served, 3,278,734 meals served, 61,082 nights of shelter provided, 100,000 emergency assistance services provided, and 1,700 full-time employees working at more than 60 sites serving those in need in the eight counties of the diocese.
As a past executive director of Catholic Charities and now the pastor of an active parish, St. Basil?s in Brecksville, I have witnessed first-hand, people generously practicing their faith. The average gift of a Catholic Charities supporter, the people in the pews, is more than $165.00 annually. Many in Northeast Ohio are even more generous with their treasure and living out the Gospel call to help those less fortunate.
A recent campaign theme for the Catholic Charities fund drive centered on ?Hope.? That is what Catholic Charities brings to the people of Northeast Ohio. As noted in the appeal, ?Opening our hearts to Hope allows for amazing changes to take place once the hope of Christ is introduced into someone?s life. Hope allows us to celebrate joys and accept challenges with the confidence that God?s love knows no boundaries.?
Catholic Charities brings hope to our community and it is through the hope that we have for the welfare of our neighbors in need, Catholic and non-Catholic, that we find the motivation to care for each other as Jesus asked us to do.
(The above article was written by Fr. Walter Jenne, Pastor, St. Basil the Great Parish, Brecksville, Ohio.)