Looking Forward to Mother’s Day on May 13th

Posted on May 8th, 2012

Each year, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago takes up its Annual Collection on Mother’s Day! This year, as the Church continues to celebrate the Easter Season and the Resurrec­tion of Christ, I ask you to consid­er how together, we can give new life to our neighbors in need.

How appropriate it is that—even as we honor our own beloved mothers, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Mother of the Church— we are generously providing help to poor and struggling mothers, fathers and children—and people of all faiths in need of the basic necessities of life throughout Cook and Lake Counties.

Let us consider the mothers who will be in great need on Mother’s Day, especially those who work outside of the home. They may not be able to focus on the joys of motherhood. They may be preoc­cupied with worry for their chil­dren, or feel overwhelmed by the demands of family life. The major­ity of women, 63 percent, work outside the home; and 77 per cent of all mothers with school age children work. One in four working families earns too little to meet basic needs.

On Mother’s Day and every day, these great needs of families drive Catholic Charities’ mission. “Love one another as I love you.” These words of Jesus from St. John’s Gospel (15:12) are Christ’s com­mand for every day of the year— and Catholic Charities lives them every day in our 157 programs at our 162 sites!

Thanks to the generosity of our donors last year, 1,910 members of homeless families were shel­tered and guided toward self-sufficiency. We offered quality, affordable day care for 1,577 poor children whose parents worked or attended school. We provided safe, affordable housing to 1,725 older adults living on fixed in­comes in our beautiful senior residences. We served nearly 2.2 million emergency meals to hun­gry individuals and families, and provided more than 20,000 hours of professional coun­seling.

If it were not for the gener­ous hearts and offerings of parishioners throughout the Archdiocese, on Mother’s Day and throughout the year, we would not be able to help so many people. We also owe tremendous grati­tude to the 5,000 volunteers who deliver meals, hold fundraisers large and small, read to the children in our family shelters, organize our donated clothing rooms for men and women, and assist Catholic Charities clients in job preparation and place­ment—among many other services!

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” May these words from the First Letter of John (4:7) summarize our faith and commitment to charity.

Thank you for your love and prayers for your neighbors in need and for your generosity during Catholic Charities’ Annual Moth­er’s Day appeal. Without your help, we could not meet the needs of our struggling neighbors.

May the love of Christ and His Blessed Mother bless your fami­lies and keep you close to each other and to God’s people in need.

Happy Mother’s Day to all our faithful readers who are mothers, grandmothers and great-grand­mothers! Enjoy your special day and God bless you!

92 percent of each dollar you give goes directly to help someone in need. To learn more about Catholic Charities, or to volunteer or donate, please visit www.catholiccharities. net

Catholic Charities: Celebrating 95 Years of Service

Posted on April 19th, 2012

“Christ is risen from the dead!

Dying, he conquered death:

To the dead, he has given life!”

This ancient prayer and eternal truth proclaims what the Church throughout the world believes: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!”

As you read this, the Church throughout the world is celebrat­ing – or preparing to celebrate – the Feast of Easter: The resurrec­tion of Christ from the dead, and the promise of eternal life for all.

This truth and this hope is what drives the work of Catholic Chari­ties as we serve all people in need. The hope of resurrection, of a new life of dignity and justice for our neighbors who are poor or strug­gling is our goal and our mission.

And through the grace of God, Catholic Charities of the Archdio­cese of Chicago has lived Christ’s mission for the last 95 years. As we celebrate, we look back in gratitude and we look forward with anticipation to the future.

April 10, 1917. On that historic day, as the United States prepared to enter the Great War raging in Europe, 300 representatives from Catholic parishes in Chicago met with Archbishop George Munde­lein of Chicago for one purpose: to increase financial assistance for the growing numbers of poor families and individuals living within their parish boundaries – of all faiths. The result was the founding of the Board of The Associated Catholic Charities and its coordination and service arm: the Central Charity Bureau. The nucleus of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago had been formed.

April 2012. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates our 95th Anniversary. The men who met with Cardinal Mundelein on that historic day in 1917 were members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the chari­table organization named for its 17th century founder.

For decades, they had served as the parish-based “safety net” for poor families and indi­viduals, the elderly, and the indigent. But they acknowl­edged the great need for the creation of a formal archdi­ocesan agency “to lessen the suffering of the widows, the orphans, the sick, the friend­less and the penniless,” and the Catholic Charities was founded.

Today, Catholic Charities serves more than a million people in Cook and Lake Counties with 157 programs at 162 locations that are administered by more than 2,500 staff members. Our mission is to people of all races and religions who are in need: those who are poor, hungry or unemployed. We assist elders and spouses who suffer abuse. We care for the children of low-income and formerly homeless working families, and assist immigrants as they strive to achieve financial independence, and education for themselves and their children.

“Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me!” These words of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew sum up the first 95 years of Catho­lic Charities’ service to the poor. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing the home­less, welcoming the stranger, strengthening families, protecting children, safeguarding seniors, offering recovery to the addicted, lifting up the discouraged, speak­ing up for the poor, the helpless and the unborn to the public and to presidents, restoring the hu­man dignity of all the children of God. …This remains our mission.

As we observe this historic milestone, we do so with great gratitude to God for the privilege of serving His people in need. Please keep Catholic Charities and all whom we help in your prayers. God bless you and your families! Happy Easter!

Child, Youth and Family Services: Hope and Light

Posted on March 1st, 2012

Those of us who endure the darkness and cold of a Cook or Lake County winter really look forward to Spring. We can’t wait for the sun to shine, the weather to warm up, and spending time outdoors instead of cooped up inside the house. During this Lenten season, it’s all about new life: the expectation of something better, of being able to come and go freely.

I think this is what it must be like for our Catholic Charities clients who live in the isolation of poverty or abuse or a family crisis. Except that they are not sure that Spring will ever come.

Children and youth are espe­cially vulnerable. They cannot vote; they do not hold positions of power; they do not have a voice. They are not able to advocate for themselves. Yet, they are our fu­ture. At Catholic Charities, we are their voice. In 2010, 32% of chil­dren in Chicago lived in poverty. Here are some of their stories, as reported by Catholic Charities’ Youth and Family Services Vice- President, Laura Rios.

Last year, Catholic Charities therapists in our Child, Youth and Family Therapeutic Services Program served over 670 children and adults, including children and youth exposed to violence and trauma. Staff in our maternal and child health and pregnant and par­enting teen programs are devoted and dedicated, going above and beyond. In addition, 700 children and 306 families received frequent home visits for case manage­ment and counseling from our Family Based Services workers who helped them to address the factors contributing to child abuse and neglect, as well as the result­ing trauma.

Our Child Development Centers continued to help prepare chil­dren for a successful transition to kindergarten and provided a safe, nurturing educational envi­ronment for children while their parents were at work. More than 1,500 children were served at our centers in 2011, which provided numerous activi­ties to strengthen and sup­port families. As a result of these efforts, more than 580 fathers participated last year throughout all our Child, Youth and Family programs, a highly successful outcome. Catholic Charities Maternity, Adoption and Post-Adoption services staff provided support in times of crisis, placed children in “forever families,” and helped to pre­serve and strengthen adop­tive relationships.

Several successful new programs have been initi­ated. Funding was sought and received from the Latino Policy Forum to hold the Abriendo Puertas parent involvement curriculum at St. Joseph Child Development Cen­ter and Our Lady of Tepeyac in Chicago. The Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership award­ed Catholic Charities a grant to receive Infant Mental Health con­sultation for our Roseland Adoles­cent Parent Program; the Chicago Community Trust awarded us a grant to pilot a father’s group in Roseland; and the Children’s Advocacy Center awarded our counseling department a grant to provide support for child victims of sexual abuse in the Roseland community.

Catholic Charities remains com­mitted to our mission of provid­ing compassionate, competent and professional services that strengthen and support individu­als, families and children. As we look forward to the beauty of spring and Easter joy, please keep the children and families we help in your prayers. God bless you!

Celebrating Success: Client Stories That Inspire Us

Posted on February 1st, 2012

As we endure the last blast of winter, I would like to share a few “success stories” of Catholic Charities’ clients, which will hope­fully warm your heart. Each year, Catholic Charities assists more than one million people in need, of all faiths, ages and ethnicities through 157 programs at 162 sites in Cook and Lake counties. Hundreds of these “good news” stories are periodically submitted by our case workers. I hope our readers, benefactors and volun­teers will share our pride in these few stories of hope and courage.

Addiction Counseling Education Services (ACES):

A client completed his out­patient services and brought a figurine of a panda with a suitcase in one hand and a passport in the other to his last session. Hesaid that, when he bought the figurine at the second hand store, it was broken and chipped in many plac­es. When I saw it, it was beautiful and looked new. His explanation was this: “When I first came here, I was broken and chipped in many places. You put me together and helped me find the right path and now I am on a path of recovery.”

Housing Case Management:

John, a 63-year old Hispanic gentleman, came to Catholic Charities for mortgage delin­quency and default resolution counseling. A Catholic Charities housing counselor met with John who wanted to avoid foreclosure of his “dream home,” where he and his family had resided for over 14 years. When John requested our services, he was three months behind on his mortgage payments due to illness and unemployment, the family had exhausted their retirement and savings, and they did not know where else to turn. He had received a summons to appear in court and was losing hope. Our housing counselor referred John to a respected Legal Services firm for legal representa­tion and assisted him in complet­ing a home loan modification application with his lender. During this time, John obtained full-time employment. When the modification was completed, the interest rate on the mortgage was reduced by half and John is now able to afford his monthly expenses. Catholic Charities’ hous­ing counselor is providing follow-up services to ensure that John can maintain his budget.

The LOSS Program:

Three months ago, Catho­lic Charities’ LOSS Program (Loving Outreach to Sur­vivors of Suicide) started a group in our Cicero of­fice for Spanish-speaking individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide. For decades, monthly meetings have been held at almost a dozen sites for groups of survivors grieving such a loss, but the LOSS program had only been able to offer individual counseling for Spanish-speaking survivors. While helpful for these individuals, they missed the heal­ing benefits and comfort of shar­ing with other survivors who were going through the same trauma. Although the LOSS program had been brainstorming the idea of a Spanish-speaking group for a few years, it was thought that cultural or legal factors might prohibit Latino participation. Fortunately, courageous families and individu­als were willing to seek the ben­efits of these professional, con­fidential services in a group led by one of our Spanish-speaking therapists. Today, this group has three Spanish-speaking women who have lost their husbands to suicide. They are able to mourn in the company of other widows in their native language.

In these and many more ways, Catholic Charities lives the Gospel of God’s love every day of the year assisting our brothers and sisters who conquer insurmountable ob­stacles with courage and grace.

Bringing Light and Hope In Darkness

Posted on January 11th, 2012

For most of us, the New Year brings a review of the “old” year’s accomplishments and a new start. So it is with Catholic Charities! Each year on November 11, Veterans Day, 1,100 of our more than 2,000 Catholic Charities employees gather at our Annual All Staff Meeting at Drury Lane in Oakbrook to celebrate our past, our present and our future. We review and recognize the professional achievements of our staff, who are the hearts and hands of the agency, and celebrate their anniversaries of employment. We take time to honor all American veterans, including our own staff members who are veterans of the Armed Services.

In 2011, thanks to our outstanding Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, staff, and thousands of generous donors and volunteers, Catholic Charities upheld the highest professional standards as we provided compassionate social and human services to the poorest of the poor, assisting more than one million people.

Whether these neighbors of ours are desperately poor, homeless, frail and alone, or in need of food, clothing and shelter; or better off financially, but suffering a devastating crisis, Catholic Charities strives to provide what they need. That could be food, clothing, housing, rental or emergency assistance; the skills to manage money, or counseling services to heal a personal or family relationship.

But it also takes the efforts of thousands of heroes in our very real “army” of volunteers, such as our Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, our young adult Junior Board, and parishes and parishioners throughout Cook and Lake counties, whose generosity and energy are astounding.

• For example, the hundreds of Catholic Charities’ young adult Junior Board members brightened the lives of countless seniors and children, recording over 5,300 volunteer hours last year and raising nearly $40,000 for Catholic Charities programs. Hundreds more board members and volunteers helped their neighbors in need by serving on the committees of our 31 annual agency-wide and regional fund-raisers such as “The Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball,” which support specific programs such as our Children’s Programs.

• Family and Parish Support Services: In Fiscal Year 2011, our housing programs brought light to the darkness of homelessness by providing 458,747 nights of stay for homeless individuals and families; and 80% of our clients achieved stable permanent housing upon leaving these programs. We provided services to 4,502 veterans; and 2,352 domestic violence victims benefited from many of our services, including housing and counseling. Our Homelessness Prevention Call Center and Central Information and Referral programs answered 139,943 calls for help, keeping people housed.

• Seniors have always been a very high priority at Catholic Charities, so I am proud to say that last year our Senior Services helped 99,005 older adults with 2,154,098 units/hours of assistance. In addition, we built and manage 1,533 safe and dignified apartments for seniors, the disabled, and veterans; and have broken ground for the new 42-apartment All Saints Residence for seniors in Roseland.




• Catholic Charities’ Community Development & Outreach Services runs several community food and nutrition education programs promoting health and prevention services, while developing a variety of job training programs for youths and unemployed adults. This past year, we gave 176 at-risk youth an enhanced quality of life through employment and leadership opportunities. Our “Lunch-n-More Catering and Food Service” enterprises provided 730,678 fresh, healthy meals for children and families, (a 289% increase from previous year).
• New initiatives that provide job training for Catholic Charities’ clients include our Painting Enterprise, Child/Adult Care Food program (CACFP), and the Mentoring Plus Jobs program. Nutrition programs for families include our WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Centers, now offering fresh produce. This past year, our nutrition program for Seniors, Mothers and Children distributed more than 159,000 nutritious food packages.

These are just a few of our 157 Catholic Charities programs at 162 sites that provide food, clothing, housing, rental assistance, counseling services, emergency assistance and hope to people of all faiths and means throughout the year.

As we launch into this New Year with renewed faith and charity, I remain deeply grateful for the light that your prayers and support bring to our neighbors who need our help to live lives of dignity and hope. Thank you for bringing your light of love and hope into the darkness of their poverty and despair. May God bless you and your families!

Celebrating The Season Of Giving: Making The Season Bright

Posted on December 1st, 2011

It was 64 years ago that the parents who had adopted their children through Catholic Charities Adoption/Maternity Department decided to have a big Christmas Party for their children. But instead of receiving gifts, the children and their parents brought gifts for hundreds of children whose families were struggling in poverty and receiving assistance from Catholic Charities. While the children had great fun and treats at what became an annual celebration, they were learning the art of giving at the “Toy Shower”!

Today, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Catholic parishes, donors and individuals of all faiths throughout Chicagoland, that beautiful, time-honored tradition of giving and receiving continues in Cook County for thousands of children and families as Catholic Charities celebrates our 64^th Annual “Celebration of Giving and Toy Shower!”  More than 10,000 children will have a “merry and bright” Christmas as they receive presents of toys, games and dolls under their trees. More than 500 low-income families will receive new winter clothing and household goods through our “Sponsor-a-Family” program.

Catholic Charities’ “Toy Shower” in Cook County welcomes all new, unwrapped toys and gifts for children and gifts of clothing in original packaging that will be distributed to children in our 156 programs. This year, we are deeply grateful to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for their generous donation of 12,000 square feet of available space to serve as Catholic Charities’ “Toy Room” to store and sort these gifts.

The Chicago firefighters and paramedics will hold their 11^th Annual Toy Parade on December 3, culminating at the IBEW Hall on West Washington Boulevard. Thanks to the charity of these courageous men and women, the Hall will fill with toys and bicycles to warm the hearts of hundreds of children.

In Lake County, Catholic Charities participates in a community-based “Christmas Giving” program that will provide gifts for 13,000 children. Catholic Charities has never failed to be there for families and individuals in tough economic times, thanks to the great generosity of the people of the Cook and Lake County communities.

A thoughtful and unique program that originated 10 years ago with a group of women in Lake County today provides beautifully wrapped new nightgowns and pajamas to low-income women and men in Catholic Charities senior residences and to moms in need in Cook and Lake Counties.

For our staff and volunteers who organize these programs, and the thousands of generous volunteers and donors who pitch in, this is an extraordinarily joyful and busy time! Everyone is invited to “get involved!” For those who look forward to giving, and for those families who depend on our charity to make Christmas a joyful time for their children, it is a special time indeed.

This Advent and Christmas season, I am deeply grateful to the members of Catholic Charities’ Board of Advisors and Junior Board, and our generous donors; as well as to the numerous Catholic parishes, schools and other institutions who contribute in so many ways! Special thanks are due the local corporations and businesses who generously support us. But above all, we appreciate our energetic legion of volunteers! Together, we make it all happen – and Catholic Charities could  not accomplish all these good works in Cook and Lake counties at Christmas and throughout the year without every great-hearted person who cares about his or her neighbor in need.

May God, who sent His only-begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary, to show us the true meaning and joy of life, bless you and your family for your charity year-round; and may you and your families have a most blessed Advent and a joyous Christmas!

St. Vincent De Paul: Living God’s Love

Posted on November 15th, 2011

It is a privilege to serve the poor. It is Christ’s command to the whole human family: “Love your neighbor as yourself!” – and there are no exceptions to that rule. Christ calls us to be his hands and heart today.

“When our hearts stop burning with love, others will die of the cold.” This motto of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in the Archdiocese of Chicago and throughout the world reminds all of us that to love God means caring for His people in poverty. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago has wholeheartedly shared this Vincentian mission of charity for 94 years by providing professional and compassionate social services and basic human needs to more than one million people each year. Recently, I had the great privilege of accepting The Saint Vincent de Paul Award, the highest accolade bestowed by DePaul University, the country’s largest Catholic university, founded and staffed by the Vincentians, based on the works of Catholic Charities.

St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission in 17^th century France. His charism, and that of St. Louise de Marillac—direct service to the poor through works of charity—continues today. In 1813, Frederic Ozanam, who became the founder of the charitable “Society of St. Vincent de Paul,” began his college career at the Sorbonne in Paris. He never imagined that he and his colleagues would begin a worldwide organization of volunteers dedicated to serving those living on the edges of society–the poor, the hungry, the homeless and desperate.  Yet, God did …

Since 1857, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States, and especially in Chicago, “has cared for those in need regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political opinions.” Vincentians cared for Confederate prisoners at Camp Douglas in Chicago who were starved and dying due to inhumane conditions. They were instrumental in helping the Catholic bishop and pastors in opening new schools and caring for the aged.

The Society helped the Archdiocese of Chicago raise funds to purchase the property in Des Plaines, Ilinois, where Maryville Academy now stands. Vincentians fed and housed victims of the Great Chicago Fire. They fed the hungry during the Great Depression and are still feeding the hungry today.

Vincentians follow the first responders in natural disasters. They were there when Katrina struck. Their HOPE Truck was sent to help the victims.  It fed over 10,000 people. Members also helped and continue to help in natural disasters here and abroad. They are still collecting funds for Haiti.

Vincentians to this day visit the sick, the lonely and imprisoned, and provide encouragement and spiritual sustenance.  In other words, “Hope” – the hope that springs forth out of a mission dedicated to living, loving and serving others as called forth by the Gospel. Vincentians are Servant Leaders. Their mission: “Spirituality, Friendship and Service.”

In the Archdiocese of Chicago—Cook and Lake counties—there are over 2,265 Vincentian volunteers in 127 parishes and they run 40 food pantries. Last year, St. Vincent de Paul parish conferences, thrift stores and councils served over 425,000 people with an estimated $4 million value in services and donations.  The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is truly a “network of charity” and has 750,000 members in 146 countries. Members donate millions of hours of service to those in need – all in the name of Love itself.

Our largest food pantry fed over 90,000 people last year. This year this food pantry will exceed this amount by 30-40%.  Staggering numbers…unfortunately, the side effect of a distressed economy. One hundred percent of all donations to conferences are used to support those in need.  Many Vincentians not only donate their time and service, they donate from their own funds.

Poverty in America is growing by leaps and bounds.  A new catch phrase is on the rise:  “Today’s poor is yesterday’s middle class.” This is frightening.

2010 Census Bureau Statistics bear this out:

-  46.2 million people living in poverty – the largest number in 52 years – 15.1%.

-  Rising rate of child poverty:  22% in 2010, up from 20.7 in 2009.

-  Median household income declined by 2.3% in 2010, while the number of uninsured increased by nearly 1 million.

The need is great—so are the hearts of the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  New members are always welcome.  For more information, see the Vincentian website: www.svdpchicago.org; or call (312) 655-7181. To advocate for the poor with state and federal lawmakers, join the Voice of the Poor Capwiz Email list; and visit the Voice of the Poor Advocacy Page: www.svdpusa.org.

Feeding Our Hungry Neighbors

Posted on October 3rd, 2011

Much of our work at Catholic Charities revolves around food and feeding people. Last year, our Emergency Assistance Programs provided nearly 2.5 million meals to people in Cook and Lake Counties, and more than 200,000 meals at our nine emergency food pantries to people with critical needs. 2010 census statistics recently released show that nearly one-in-six people live in poverty. People are hungry.

Why and how do we manage to feed so many individuals and families in need of food, this basic necessity of life – year-round? A recent comment by Michael McDonnell, Catholic Charities Director of Volunteer Relations and coordinator of the now 10 year-old Evening Supper Program at Catholic Charities, tells a wonderful story of every-day charity.

“As the economy continues to sputter, the Supper has become even more important, not only as a place where one can get a nutritious, hot meal five nights a week, but also as a destination that provides respite and camaraderie for our clients, as well as for our donors and volunteers. I’m often asked the question: ‘How do you decide who can come in for a meal?’  I always reply that hunger knows no color, creed, nationality, gender, orientation, or social status. If someone comes looking for a meal, then, by the Grace of God, and of course, human generosity, they will leave St. Vincent Hall with their stomachs full and their spirits lifted.”

The Gospel of Charity is lived every day at Catholic Charities’ 159 sites and 156 programs throughout Cook and Lake Counties. But it is highly visible at our River North location. Five nights a week, every week, summer, winter, spring and fall, at 5 p.m., (earlier in severe weather), we open our front doors at 721 N. LaSalle Street to welcome 130 supper guests who are hungry, homeless or living on low-incomes. We supplement that with 50 additional “to-go” suppers for those beyond our seating capacity. A coalition of four organizations provide the food and the volunteer servers at the weekly suppers: Holy Name Cathedral hosts and serves two evenings. Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago HELP Initiative, and Catholic Charities each provide one evening’s supper each week, assisted by the generosity of 30 restaurants throughout the year. Catholic Charities partners with numerous parishes who provide the food and the volunteers for our Tuesday Night Supper.

After our supper guests are seated, announcements are made about programs that may be helpful to our guests. Social workers are available to meet with guests weekly, with legal and medical assistance available on a bi-monthly basis. Each night, a supper guest volunteers to offer his or her own “Prayer before Meals.” While homelessness or a transient life-style tends to isolate people, the supper brings them together with others who understand. Most of our guests are male, and most are either homeless or living in rental units, hotels or shelters that do not allow electronic appliances such as hot plates or refrigerators to cook or store food.

At Catholic Charities, we track our programs in systematic ways. In 2009, we found that the vast majority of guests surveyed were walking from one to five miles or more to the suppers, and attending a supper 4-5 times a week for more than a year. Our 2011 survey showed an increase in the number of guests coming for less than a year, but walking the same distance. Most of our guests are men in their 50s, followed by those in their 60s and 40s. Predominantly African-American, with fewer being Caucasian and Hispanic, they use several Catholic Charities services: primarily emergency assistance, health screenings, and legal assistance, followed by Streets-to-Home, a housing program for previously homeless people.

Over the years, a spirit of camaraderie has developed among the supper guests. Mutual respect is expected. Friends have been made; and we have mourned the deaths of some of our guests. In a recent survey, our predominantly male guests expressed appreciation for the companionship they enjoy with other guests, for the volunteers who serve the meals, and for the Catholic Charities social workers who are on hand. A majority of supper guests do receive food stamps or have requested to speak to a case manager about receiving them.

Generous parishes, parish volunteers, donors, a coalition of organizations and restaurants from all over the Chicago area have been the key to “feeding our hungry neighbors” through the Supper Program. Major holidays are well-staffed by volunteers, including employees from local restaurants that are closed for the day, but who want to share the spirit of the season by helping others! Well-organized, overseen by a committee of Catholic Charities staff, and fueled by a fantastic spirit of charity from everyone involved, the evening suppers at Catholic Charities feed bodies and souls, creating health, hope and human dignity.

To learn more about Catholic Charities or to volunteer, please visit www.catholiccharities.net.

Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence

Posted on September 2nd, 2011

Imagine being a recently arrived immigrant in the United States – living in Cook or Lake County. While your dream of living in the U.S. has been realized, there are many unexpected stresses on you, your spouse and your children. The culture, the language and customs at work and at school are different from those at home; the neighborhood is not the same as the town you left. You are struggling to feed your children and pay rent. The children do their homework in a different language in a very different school system.

Sometimes frustration erupts and tempers flare in the family. Hurtful things are said and perhaps blows are struck. And in the experience of Catholic Charities and our partner agencies, it is most often the wife and mother of the family who bears the brunt of the anger and frustration, physically and emotionally. But domestic violence, the silent member of the family, is a destructive force on every family member.

Since Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago was founded 94 years ago, we have assisted women suffering from domestic violence. Often hidden, a “family secret,” it was – and remains today – a source of great suffering for women and children, and less frequently, men, trapped in homes with abusers. But spousal abuse and its culture of silence lives on in the lives of thousands of men, women and children.  This is especially true among immigrant families as women and children face additional language, cultural, and legal barriers to their safety.  Immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault represent one of the most marginalized populations in our midst as they frequently do not know help is available.

Last October, in order to address this problem, the Catholic Charities Immigration and Naturalization Department formed a partnership, The Immigrant Survivors Project (ISP), with several other social service agencies: Sarah’s Inn, Greenhouse Shelter, Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), and Catholic Charities Legal Assistance Program, to provide comprehensive, specialized legal services for women and men who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence or stalking.

The partner agencies meet quarterly to cross-train each other in their respective fields. Catholic Charities departments train specialized victim agencies (Sarah’s Inn and Greenhouse Shelter) on legal issues, and specialized victim agencies equip legal service providers to represent clients in a victim-centered manner.

Each organization contributes services according to their mission: providing shelter for victims, court advocacy, specialized support services, family law advice and representation, immigration law advice. For instance, Catholic Charities Immigration and Naturalization Services (CCINS) provides legal counsel and representation to those whose insecure immigration status often contributes to their victimization. Sarah’s Inn, one of our formal partners, provides court advocacy, crisis intervention, emergency shelter and specialized support for victims, including safety planning, and assisting Catholic Charities in gathering the necessary documents such as police reports, orders of protection, and medical records in order to move forward with an immigration case.

A two-year Legal Assistance for Victims grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women, a collaborative project, was awarded as a result of the vision of Catholic Charities’ Department of Immigration, whose director and specialists noticed a growing need.

Catholic Charities Department of Immigration and Naturalization Services, a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized program was established in 1972 to provide low-cost, quality legal advice to guide newcomers to the United States through the immigration process. With a full range of legal services to assist immigrants, Catholic Charities has assisted in providing legal family reunification to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents with family members from all over the world: including Poland, Russia, Iraq, Nigeria, Mexico, Vietnam and Central and South America – people of all faiths.

Congress has provided immigration laws to protect immigrant victims of domestic violence by securing their immigration status, thus eliminating a common barrier to freedom and safety from their abuser. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first established in 1994 and re-authorized in 2005, enables many individuals in an abusive relationship to a U.S. citizen to seek independence through lawful permanent residency, thus gaining authorization to work and the security to fight for their children in custody and child support matters. The U VISA legislation passed in 2000 helps victims of violent crimes to assist law enforcement by encouraging victims to report and prosecute the perpetrators.

The Immigrant Survivors Project has enabled the Catholic Charities Immigration and Naturalization program to expand their VAWA and U Visa case load by over 300%.  In the last 10 months, more than 300 women (and their qualifying family members) have been assisted by ISP in obtaining U Visas or VAWA protection, and 75 of those victims (mostly women and children) are currently receiving intensive counseling and other services to assist in their recovery. Catholic Charities’ Legal Assistance Program provides family law counsel and representation to immigrant victims regarding such matters as orders of protection, child support, and custody issues.

For decades, Catholic Charities has offered legal assistance to newcomers to the United States as well as individual and family counseling. Now, thanks to the new Immigrant Survivors Project, our mission to help families in need of safety, health, justice and charity continues to protect and preserve families.

Success Stories That Inspire

Posted on August 2nd, 2011

The Gospels and Sunday readings are filled with scenes of Christ feeding hungry crowds, curing the sick and troubled, and comforting the sorrowful.  Jesus had compassion for the poor.

Based on the Gospel mandate to love our neighbor as ourselves, the mission statement of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is quite simple and direct: “Catholic Charities fulfills the Church’s role in the mission of charity to anyone in need by providing compassionate, competent and professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities based on the value and dignity of human life.”

Every day for the last 93 years, Catholic Charities has lived this mission of charity in service to our neighbors of all races, religions and nationalities who are suffering poverty or crisis. Today, as a fully accredited social service agency offering a wide range of 159 programs at 156 sites throughout Cook and Lake counties, we help more than a million people each year with food, clothing, housing and professional counseling.  But that’s not all. I’d like to share with you just three of these “success stories” of social services, loving care, great courage and renewed hope.

*A 20-year-old mother with two young children came to one of our residences for women. In order to deal with the physical and emotional abuse she had experienced as a child, she had become involved in drugs and gang activities. After the father of her children was incarcerated, she and her children became homeless and entered Catholic Charities Samaritan House. She became determined to make a positive change in her life. She met weekly with the Samaritan House Case Manager, working to obtain financial assistance to eliminate her outstanding electric bill and to receive domestic violence education services. The client wanted her children to have what she did not have as a child; to raise her children in a safe neighborhood where they would have the opportunity to attend a school with a strong academic reputation. As a participant at Samaritan House, she maintained her TANF benefits, enrolled in a college with an emphasis on the Medical Assistant program, and obtained housing through the Rapid Re-Housing Program.

*D. has been a resident of Catholic Charities’ St. Leo Residence for Veterans in Chicago for five years, and during his stay, he has been a model citizen.  D. is very friendly and is always lending a helping hand to another fellow veteran. Prior to coming to St. Leo’s, D. had a serious gambling addiction. Since D. has been a resident of St. Leo’s, he was referred to and has actively participated in Gambling Anonymous meetings and job training. He is now in recovery and is employed with an organization as an Outreach Case Manager, helping others.

*ACES is Catholic Charities’ Addiction Consultation and Educational Services program that provides counseling on an individual, family or group basis for adults 18 years of age or older who are affected with alcohol- or drug-related problems. Founded by Monsignor Ignatius D. McDermott several decades ago, the program has assisted thousands of people over the years.

Recently, a client was referred for outpatient treatment to ACES and was not very active initially. He seemed to have little connection with his family and stated emphatically, “THIS is my family.” As sessions continued, he participated a bit more. When asked about plans for an upcoming weekend, he responded, “It’s my birthday on Saturday and it will be the first sober one I’ve had in over twenty years.” On Monday, when it was his turn to share with the group, he said, “I stayed sober and it was the best birthday in my life. My family surprised me and came to visit and they brought me a cake and everything. It was the first birthday cake I can remember.” With that, there was silence.

There are hundreds more stories that I – or any of Catholic Charities’ million clients each year – could tell. Some inspire silence, some tears, some cheers.

The people we help are refugees from oppression, recovering from addictions or physical or mental illness, working their way out of homelessness or joblessness, trying to retain their housing, or striving to assure an education and bright future for themselves and their children.

It is all these brothers and sisters of ours in need of help who inspire the commitment, hard work and generosity of our staff members, counselors, program directors and leadership – as well as our donors, benefactors, volunteers, Board and Junior Board members, and numerous parish partners throughout the Archdiocese.

I am deeply grateful for the genuine love of neighbor that permeates and enlivens Catholic Charities, our partners in charity, and our work for those in need.  May God bless us all!