Winter
The recent passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has brought renewed attention to his life of profound service to the Church. Among so many other ways, I believe one of his most important contributions is the encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” (“God is Love”), which focused on our understanding of the nature of God’s Love and of our response.
Holy Scripture tells us of God’s love for his creation – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). And, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16). Pope Benedict reminded us of our response to this gift of God’s Love – “One of the scribes….asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
We are called as the faithful to respond to the gift of God’s Love by extending that love to our neighbors. As Pope Benedict wrote – “Love of neighbour, grounded in the love of God, is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful, but it is also a responsibility for the entire ecclesial community at every level….As a community, the Church must practice love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community” (no. 20).
In this Newsletter, we’re highlighting some of the wonderful partnerships we have with parishioners and others of goodwill. Your gifts to the Vineyard of Hope provide Catholic Charities with the necessary funds to offer services and distribute goods to our neighbors in need here in the greater Charlotte metro area.
Thank you for your generosity and partnership with our ministry of charity. I wish each of you a very blessed 2023.
The Charlotte chapter of the University of Dayton Ohio Alumni group organized a wonderful Holiday Party for the children in our Refugee Youth Program. The kids had a blast making crafts, decorating cookies, playing games, eating pizza, and getting a special gift. A special thanks to St. Ann’s parish for allowing us to use their space for the holiday party.
Charlotte Catholic High School granted more than 100 wishes for children and families in need during the holiday season – a record number in the school’s long tradition.
Every homeroom adopted a family from among clients served by Catholic Charities through our food bank and other direct assistance programs. Over two weeks, the homerooms raised more than $13,000 in cash and gifts on wish lists from recipient families.
“What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this diocese than with the gift of giving for these young people and the granting of wishes for families who too often may go to bed cold and hungry and hurting. We are called to help other people because of our love for Jesus, who tells us: ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me.’” – Sylvia Sekle, Catholic Charities Direct Assistance Coordinator
Your gifts help support these local programs and services in the
Homemakers of Mercy volunteers and the St. Matthews Refugee Resettlement Ministry team set up apartments for six newly arrived refugee families. These families from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo were welcomed in their new country with household furnishings, supplies, a hot meal their first night, and food in the fridge!
The food pantry was able to serve a huge number of hungry individuals and families thanks to the generosity of St. Joseph Vietnamese Catholic Church. Their kindness is such a blessing to our brothers and sisters in need throughout the community.
