Dear Parish Social Minister,

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is a proud member of Caritas Internationalis, a confederation of 165 national Catholic relief and development agencies around the world. Headquartered in Rome, Cardinal Tagle of Manila is the current president.

The Catholic Identity Committee of Caritas Internationalis (CI) is conducting a survey regarding charitable activities organized at the parish level. If you are responsible for social ministry at a parish, CCUSA would be grateful if you would complete this survey by September 15. The survey may be accessed at this link. Please note that this is but one of three questionnaires that comprise the study, the other two intended for the national and the diocesan level. 

In the survey, “parish caritas organizations” refer to charitable work at the parish level (food pantries, housing development corporations, funeral groups, etc.) as well by other Catholic organizations (like e.g. St Vincent de Paul, Basic Ecclesial Communities, depending on the local context) at the grass roots level, in as much as the diocesan Catholic Charities actively works together with them.

It is a ‘general’ questionnaire and it might refer to structures/situations not applicable to your situation. Describe as much as you wish, and mark non applicable questions with ‘N/A’. 

Here are other items of note:

It’s not too late to register for CCUSA’s upcoming Annual Gathering in Albuquerque from September 25-27. Be sure to sign up for a three-hour institute on PSM entitled “Building Up Parish Ministry: Overcoming the Poverty of Imagination” (scroll down to “6B”).

Registration is open for CCUSA’s annual Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE) from December 2-6 in Jacksonville, Florida. There will be a dedicated track for parish-based disaster operations, and a full review of CCUSA’s new PSM disasters toolkit.  

Catechetical Sunday is September 15. Catechetical resources on Catholic social teaching are available from the USCCB, CRS, and the Ignatian Solidarity Network.

Jesuit Refugee Services USA has updated its Refugee Action Team Toolkit and its Walk in My Shoes Toolkit, a refugee simulation.

On September 9, the Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities, the USCCB encourages prayer for peace and racial justice. Helpful resources include CCUSA’s Prayer for Peace in Our Communities and Prayer for Racial Healing, as well several tools on the US Catholic bishops page on healing racism.

In recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10, 2019), the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) invites faith communities across the nation to pray for those whose lives have been touched by suicide. Click here to explore resources.

The Catholic Labor Network is offering short programs on Catholic Social Teaching and social justice, followed by an encounter with workers and worker organizations in your community. Interested? Contact Clayton Sinyai at [email protected].

On Thursday, September 12, the USCCB is offering a webinar for parishes exploring this year’s respect life program: Christ Our Hope in Every Season of Life.

The Catholic Climate Covenant’s annual Feast of Saint Francis (October 4) program entitled “We Are All Connected: Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor” is now available. It encourages parishes to explore integral ecology, environmental and climate justice, and the rights of indigenous communities.

All of CCUSA’s parish social ministry resources – foundational documents, webinars and newsletters, and CCUSA’s PSM Leadership Team contact info – are freely and publicly available online.

If you have an inspiring or informative story about the work of Catholic Charities, please submit it to the CCUSA Storybank. These stories are used to promote the work of Catholic Charities through the media. Contributing agencies will be credited for approved stories. Email David Werning with questions. 

Do you know of others who would appreciate receiving these emails? Please share with them this link.

Peace,

Scott Hurd

Vice President, Leadership Development and Catholic Identity