A MESSAGE FROM DR. BEN DUET, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Dear Friends of Catholic Charities,
Hope is a powerful word. It isn’t simply something we long for today, but something we can hold onto for the future. It has a deep connection with faith. If we have something to look forward to, whether it be better days, new beginnings, or difficult times ending, our faith gives us hope that we will be victorious in our pursuits and in overcoming our obstacles and challenges.
Throughout this past year, much work has been accomplished at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (CCHT) that reveals how hope has been transferred to those in need within our diocese. It takes a collaborative effort to assist those in need who might need a hand up. I want to highlight some achievements and successes made possible by our supporters and wonderful donors as well as our staff at CCHT.
Through #iGiveCatholic we raised $98,985 for our 6 participating ministries and $120,000 to our endowment which placed us within the top 21 in the country.
Distributed 300 meals to families in the Morgan City area through a food distribution.
Hosted our inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.
Partnered with our Diocesan schools in creating Christmas artwork to place on food drive bags to spread holiday cheer.
Hosted a food packing party where staff and volunteers packed 11,216 meals to distribute in the local community.
Our friends with the St. Joseph lenten gumbo raised $32,000 for the Good Samaritan Food Bank of Thibodaux.
Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle granted $10,000 towards the Good Samaritan Food Bank and Thrift Store of Raceland and $55,000 towards the Individual and Family Assistance ministry.
There’s been so much success achieved within the past year, and yet, there’s still so much more we can accomplish. These milestones are only the beginning in our journey of living our mantra, “faith at work”. Through the good Lord’s guidance, and working collaboratively, we can continue to perform our crucial role in ensuring the needs of those in our communities are met. I’m grateful for your continued support to our ministries.
Many blessings to you and your families.
Sincerely in the Lord,
Benjamin J. Duet, EdD, MBA Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
MISSION
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF HOUMA-THIBODAUX PROVIDES AND COORDINATES SERVICES THAT MEET THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HONOR THE DIGNITY GOD INTENDED FOR EACH OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY ASSISTANCE
Through Individual Family Assistance we served:
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514 families assisted through a number of services, 19% of total requests
302 families with utilities (58.9%)
142 families with rent (27.6%)
70 other requests (13.5%)
242 families assisted with income tax preparation
25 homeless individuals with backpacks
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Offered family therapy and groups monthly ASSISI BRIDGE
HOUSE
Served 66 men through the 12-step program
FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
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CATHOLIC HOUSING SERVICES
Served 150 families and individuals
Provided essential knowledge on home ownership, credit, mortgage process, and foreclosure counseling Assisted 15 new first time home buyers
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23 active volunteers in Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne parishes within 1 day care center, 2 head start centers, and 9 elementary schools
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Assisted 48-98 students
88-92 students have shown improvement in literacy and math skills
Over 31,000 hours of volunteer service
FOOD BANKS
Four locations (Galliano, Raceland, Thibodaux, and East Houma)
Expanded Food Distributions to the Morgan City area
4378 households served annually with 7,213 individuals
Expanding delivery options to public schools backpack program
Providing healthier dietary options with a heavy focus on diabetic food items
to decrease the high diabetic rate within the region
ST. LUCY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Served 47 low-income families with childcare services
Provided accommodations with specialist and therapists for children with special needs
Type III license program with a 3-star proficient rating
SUCCESS STORIES
We are so proud of our teachers at St. Lucy’s Child Development Center! They continue to work hard to provide children and their families with the best childcare services as they help prepare them for Kindergarten readiness. In January 2024, our Pre-K teacher was nominated for the 2024 Teacher of the Year Award. In addition, this year, CLASS (classroom assessment scoring system for all toddler and Pre-Kindergarten publicly funded programs) observed St. Lucy's. Every teacher was observed and all scored above average! All of our teachers allow St. Lucy’s to grow and provide assistance for those families in need of affordable childcare services.
The Morgan City area is one of our most vulnerable populations in the area that suffer from 30-40% food insecurity. Through this distribution we learned that many people are living in their vehicles and using ice chests to store food for their families. We were able to serve meals to 300 families that day because of the great need within the area.
Everyone who received meals and food items that day were so thankful and joyful for all that was provided by Catholic Charities. More needs to be done. With your generous support, more WILL be done!
A MESSAGE FROM FR. SIMON PETER ENGURAIT, DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with profound gratitude and admiration for the immense dedication and compassionate spirit that defines our Catholic Charities community. This annual report is more than a summary of our accomplishments; it is a testament to the collective effort and heartfelt commitment that has driven our mission forward, even in times of great challenges.
As we celebrate these achievements, we look forward with renewed hope and a clear strategic vision for the future. This year, our board of directors has undertaken a comprehensive planning process to ensure that our efforts are not only effective but also sustainable and forward-thinking.
Our new strategic plan outlines an updated set of values & guiding principles that we plan to put into action in the coming year.
Respect: We honor all those we serve as children of God and support them in ways that uphold their human dignity.
Solidarity: We believe we are stronger together. We center our work on fellowship with our partners to fulfill the needs of our community.
Empathy: We listen and seek to understand those we minister to in order to devise effective ways to provide them with support.
Accountability: We own our work and exemplify commitment to our mission. We strive for a ministry of presence and responsibly steward our resources.
Mercy: We demonstrate love without condition for all and lead with the mercy Christ has shown to us.
Prayer: We make prayer a priority in our work and continuously seek a relationship with God which determines the actions we take.
This strategic vision is grounded in our unwavering commitment to our core values of compassion, dignity, and respect for all individuals. It is a vision that embraces the future with optimism and faith, confident that with God's grace and your continued support, we can achieve an even greater impact. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, we will continue to serve, uplift, and transform lives, building a future filled with hope and promise.
Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait Diocesan Administrator Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Catholic Charities is incredibly grateful for the support of our community partners. Together we are able to make a huge impact on our community locally.
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
Catholic Foundation of South Louisiana Bayou Community Foundation
Mother Teresa Women’s Giving Circle
Second Harvest Bayou Region
Catholic Charities USA
John Deere Foundation
Entergy Charitable Foundation
St. Vincet De Paul
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation
Thibodaux Family Church
Thibodaux Regional Health System
Nicholls State University Foundation
St. John Episcopal Church
Houma-Thibodaux Automobile Dealers Association
Louisiana Charities Trust
Raskob Foundation
OUR LEADERSHIP
Very Rev. Simon Peter Engurait Diocesan Administrator
Benjamin Duet, EdD, MBA
Executive Director
Karen David Chairman of the Board
Board Members
Mervyn LeBlanc
Sister Aracely Lobaton
Andree Buquet-Casey
Travis Chiasson
Devin Owens, M.D.
TOTAL ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET: