May 10, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI
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By the Numbers Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte offers a variety of services to people in need regardless of their religious, social or economic backgrounds: adoption and pregnancy support, counseling, family outreach, refugee resettlement, immigration services, natural family planning, food pantries, teen parenting support, economic development, disaster relief, pro-life ministry, social concerns education and advocacy, and more.
In 2012, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte reported the following: The Charlotte Regional Office served a total of 8,347 clients. The Piedmont Triad Regional Office served a total of 4,750 clients. The Western Regional Office served a total of 3,736 clients. The Justice and Peace Office served a total of 2,893 clients. The Family Life Office served a total of 1,790 clients. The Refugee Resettlement Office served a total of 839 clients.
Services were provided to the following numbers of people: Counseling: 362 Pregnancy Support and Adoption: 311 Refugee Assistance: 1,015 Immigration Legal Assistance: 509 Education and Enrichment: 4,476 Social Support: 381 Food Pantry: 15,454 Clothing Assistance: 2,339 — Source: Catholic Charities USA 2012 Annual Survey
Frequently Asked Questions Why have you chosen to be called Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte? The name Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte connects this ministry of the Church more closely with the biblical foundations of charity and the history of response to the needs of the poor and the marginalized, which have been an integral mark of the Church. Incorporated in 1948 by Bishop Vincent Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh (which then spanned the state), the Church’s charitable work in North Carolina was initially known as the Bureau of Catholic Charities. In May of 1949, the Raleigh diocese opened a branch of the Bureau of Catholic Charities in Charlotte. Following a mid-century trend in some dioceses, in 1962 Bishop Waters changed the agency name to Catholic Social Services Inc. Following the formation of the Diocese of Charlotte in 1972, Bishop Michael Begley created Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina Inc. in 1973. The return of this ministry to Catholic Charities reclaims our roots as a “caritas” ministry of the Church. As so beautifully presented by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in “Deus Caritas Est” (“God is Love”), we are called as individuals and as Church to live out “caritas” – “love” – of our neighbors in need. Our call to “caritas” is amply depicted in the Scriptures, especially through the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Last Judgment. In caring for the unknown neighbor in need, the Good Samaritan reflects the selfless love of God to which we are called to imitate and the parable creates “a standard which imposes universal love towards the needy” (no. 25). The centrality of our love of neighbor is also made clear through Jesus’ parable of the Last Judgment in which our love and care of others is intimately connected to our love of God: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me …” (Matthew 25:31-46). We serve as the Church’s diocesan-wide charitable outreach because the love of God impels us to strive more deeply to love our neighbors as depicted in Holy Scripture. As ministry of the diocese, we are called to be “caritas” with those whom we are privileged to serve. Our organized work of charity expresses a fundamental nature of the Church. Therefore, to be called Catholic Charities once again, better translates to the indispensable work we do to share the love (“caritas” or “charity”) of Christ with our neighbors in need through one of the three essential parts of the mission of the Church.
The logo design consists of a church with a clear focus on the Cross of Jesus. This is particularly salient because our work of charity flows from that sacrifice and our call as Church to put faith into action. The choice of the color blue dedicates our work to the Blessed Mother. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote in “Deus Caritas Est,” “In the saints one thing becomes clear: those who draw near to God do not withdraw from men, but rather become truly close to them. In no one do we see this more clearly than in Mary ... Mary, Virgin and Mother, shows us what love is and whence it draws its origin and its constantly renewed power. To her we entrust the Church and her mission in the service of love…”
What is the bishop’s role in Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte? Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is fully and completely a ministry which operates under the sole authority and direction of the bishop.
What is your relationship with Catholic Charities USA? Photo provided by Kathleen Durkin, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s food pantry in Charlotte now offers perishable goods to clients, thanks to several refrigerators that were recently set up in the pantry at the Diocesan Pastoral Center.
Are your services changing? No. We will continue to offer an array of services throughout the diocese: adoption and pregnancy support, counseling, family outreach, refugee resettlement, immigration services, natural family planning, food pantries, teen parenting support, economic development, disaster relief, pro-life ministry, social concerns education and advocacy. What will be changing is a new emphasis on increasing charitable outreach throughout the diocese, both through this ministry and in closer relationships with parishioners.
Who will Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte serve? Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte will continue to serve the poor, the vulnerable and those in need of our services. We serve all of God’s people regardless of their background. As so appropriately stated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “We don’t ask people for
their baptismal certificate, nor do we ask people for their U.S. passport, before we can serve them ... We don’t serve people because they’re Catholic, we serve them because we are, and it’s a moral imperative for us to do so.”
When will this name become effective? May 17, 2013, was chosen as the roll-out date to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the creation of the agency (May 17, 1973) by Bishop Michael Begley and in recognition of May as the month of Mary. Rather than being a break with the past, this name change heavily connects this diocesan ministry with its history, the history of the Church’s outreach to the poor and the vulnerable, and as a next step in re-energizing our efforts to meet the challenges of the future. This transition renews our roots in charity with an exciting future of service.
Why did you choose this particular logo?
As a ministry authorized by the bishop, we benefit from association with other Catholic Charities agencies through the nationwide Catholic Charities organization. Catholic Charities USA operates in very close relationship with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, with Bishop Michael P. Driscoll of Boise currently serving as episcopal liaison.
What will be your new website address? The website is www.ccdoc.org. For a period of time the old agency website address will be forwarded to the new website.
Who can I contact if I have questions or concerns? Dr. Gerard Carter is the executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and he welcomes your questions or concerns. He can be contacted via: Email: gacarter@charlottediocese.org Phone: 704-370-3250 Fax: 704-370-3298 Mail or appointment: 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003