“Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.” Is 58:7
Do you know someone who would be interested in receiving the Weekly Digest? Share this email and subscribe!
Highlights from CCUSA
Visionary at the Helm: Envisioning Monsignor O'Grady's Bold Leadership
Visionary at the helm is a compelling one-actor play about Monisgnor John O'Grady, the founder of what we know today as Catholic Charities USA. The play was commissioned by CCUSA and first performed at the 2015 Annual Gathering in Omaha. Since then it has been featured at other Catholic Charities events, inspiring audiences with Msgr. O'Grady's vision, compassion and bold leadership that is still bearing fruit today.
The play is ideal for a variety of occasions, including fundraisers, retreats, parish gatherings and staff and volunteer formation events. Performances may be booked through the Still Point Theater Collective. Please refer to the flyer for additional details.
For those interested in a preview, a recording of the play's initial performance is available on the CCUSA YouTube channel.
Are You Participating in the CCUSA Innovation Challenge?
The Innovation Challenge seeks to inspire member agencies within the Catholic Charities network to propose a fresh workforce development–specific solution toward alleviating or reducing poverty. Proposals will be accepted in three categories based on agency size and must recommend new and innovative approaches rather than expand upon current programs. Applications are due Friday, February 10, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
To learn more about the CCUSA Innovation Challenge please visit CCUSAInnovates.org.
Daily Lent Reflections from CCUSA
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Once again, CCUSA will offer daily reflections throughout Lent, authored by Catholic Charities leaders and other social concerns ministers, and focused on each day’s Mass readings. The reflections arrive by email first thing each morning. To receive them, please sign up.
CCUSA Launches Nomination Process for 2023 National Volunteer of the Year Award
In recognition of the efforts made by volunteers at Catholic Charities agencies, CCUSA is honored to open the nomination process for the 2023 National Volunteer of the Year Award. The National Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who embodies the mission of CCUSA, provides critical services to those in need, advocates for justice in social structures and calls the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same. Catholic Charities agencies may submit up to three separate nominations. All nominators are required to obtain a high-resolution headshot of the nominee. The deadline for all nominations is Friday, February 24. For more information on the process and to submit a nomination, follow this link: 2023 Volunteer of the Year Nomination form.
Now Accepting Workshop Proposals for the 2023 Annual Gathering!
The 2023 Catholic Charities USA Annual Gathering will be held in-person October 3 – 5 in Cleveland, OH. Our schedule will include workshops and we ask you, the experts, to consider submitting a proposal for consideration. To submit a proposal through the Abstract Management form on the website and review the guidelines, visit the 2023 Annual Gathering Call for Proposals. Your proposal must be submitted by the deadline of Monday, March 13, 2023.
Events and Webinars
Strategies for Strengthening Families. February 8, 2023, 2:00 PM ET
Sylvia Loumeau and Jo Anne Farrell with Catholic Charities of Camden will describe the 6-week Strengthening Families program they designed and presented for parishes and parents in their diocese, which provides skills involved in bonding, setting boundaries against antisocial behavior, including drug and alcohol use, and how to monitor their children’s emotional well-being and activities. Research shows that strong families avoid many adverse outcomes: substance abuse, teen pregnancy, school failure, aggression and delinquency.
This webinar offers 1.0 Continuing Education Credit. To earn CE credit, participants must log in at the scheduled time, attend the webinar and complete an online course evaluation and CEC post-test. Certificates of credit will be emailed within 10 business days of each course completion. Register in advance for this webinar.
2022 CCUSA Annual Survey Preparation Webinar. February 9, 2023, 3:00 PM ET
In 2022, the Catholic Charities network provided help, hope and critical support to millions of families across the country. The 2022 CCUSA Annual Survey is a vital tool to capture the size and scope of the network's impact this past year, and the results illustrate the essential role that our ministry continues to play in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable. Your participation is crucial to collecting and reporting this data.
The 2022 CCUSA Annual Survey and CLINIC Survey on Immigration Legal Services will launch on Friday, February 10 and close Friday, April 14, 2023. To help prepare, we invite you to join us for this preparation webinar, where we will:
- Highlight notable changes to this year's instrument,
- Detail the submission timeline,
- Provide suggested data collection processes and
- Outline methods for technical assistance during the submission process.
The webinar recording and presentation slides will be sent directly to all registrants for later viewing. All staff or leadership contributing to or overseeing your agency’s submission are encouraged to participate in this instructional webinar. Please direct any questions or Survey contact updates to Kerry Glova, Director of Research and Evaluation. Register for the webinar.
SNAP E&T Overview. February 22, 2023, 3:00 PM EST
Join us for an overview of USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T), the agency's current priorities related to SNAP E&T and the latest developments in the program. Our presenters will explore how these programs also help to reduce barriers to work by providing support services as participants prepare for and obtain employment. In addition, we will look into the potential for Catholic Charities' affiliate sites that offer employment and training services to become SNAP E&T Third Partners with State SNAP Agencies. Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Outsmarting Poverty. April 13 and 14, 2023, in South Bend, IN
CCUSA is committed to building evidence about what works to reduce poverty in America. The Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) at the University of Notre Dame, a domestic poverty lab that helps social service providers apply scientific evaluation methods to better understand and share effective poverty interventions is hosting a 2-day event this spring to convene poverty-fighters from across the country for a time of learning and connection. Learn more and register.
O'Grady Advanced Leadership Institute (2.0): Discounted Registration Open
Register now to attend the Catholic Charities USA O’Grady Advanced Leadership Institute, to be held from May 22 – 26, 2023, at CCUSA’s O’Grady Conference Center in Alexandria, VA. The Institute offers an in-depth consideration of Catholic teachings that undergird Catholic Charities’ services, how Catholic moral methodologies can shape strategic planning and other subjects essential for effective leadership of a Catholic organization operating within an ethnically diverse and religiously pluralistic culture. It is designed for Catholic Charities agency directors, other senior leaders and those who have completed the foundational (1.0) O’Grady Leadership Institute (either virtually or in-person). Early action is encouraged, as space is limited. Thanks to generous donors, registration is offered at the discounted rate of $1,100, which includes hotel and meals. Learn more and register.
Employment Opportunities
View job opportunities at CCUSA and Catholic Charities agencies on our careers page. CCUSA members may post job opportunities through the submission form available on the members' portal. If you have any questions about the job opportunities submission form, please contact Christina Kilroy.
CCUSA Photo Gallery
Did you know that one of the benefits CCUSA provides to member agencies is access to a professional photo gallery? Visit our Flickr photo pagesto explore our albums and photos. If you would like a high-resolution version for your agency's use, please email CCUSAwith photo number.
