Charity & Volunteering

Catholic agencies focus on food, water in hurricane’s wake
Jul 26 2008
WASHINGTON – Food and water were among the primary needs Catholic aid agencies were trying to meet as thousands of households remained without power and some remained under water July 25 in the wake of Hurricane Dolly.

Churches in Chad, Sudan, Djibouti appeal for more priests, religious
Jul 16 2008
NAIROBI, Kenya – Catholic leaders in Chad, Sudan and Djibouti have appealed for more priests and religious.

Knights install new state deputy
Jul 06 2008
Richard V. Siejack was installed as state deputy of the Maryland State Council Knights of Columbus during a July 5 Mass at St. John the Evangelist in Hydes.

Bush calls faith-based initiatives crowning triumph of his presidency
Jun 28 2008
WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush told a room full of leaders of religious social organizations June 26 that his faith-based and community initiative has been one of the most significant programs to come out of his administration and urged them to continue saving the lives of those in need in the U.S. and abroad.

A New Pentecost, A New Evangelization… The Challenge of Pope Benedict
Jun 17 2008
Our role at the Catholic Center, where the offices for the central services of the Archdiocese are located, is to provide the support that will allow the outstanding work of our parishes, schools and other institutions to continue for the benefit of those we serve. I have been extremely impressed by the dedication of the fine people who show up at 320 Cathedral Street each day striving to serve God by supporting the many valuable ministries of this Archdiocese. Seeking to better understand the efficiency and effectiveness of this support, as well as to bring a sense of definition and clarity to our local Church called “Archdiocese,” led me to commission a study of the daily operations. The Mission Study, which involved interviews with dozens of people at the Catholic Center, as well as individuals from parishes, schools, and other institutions, indicated several areas for improvement. Most notably, communication, both among the various departments within the Catholic Center and with the institutions we support, as well as clearly defined expectations for success are chief among them.

Midwest parishes escape floods, but some parishioners not as lucky
Jun 13 2008
WASHINGTON – Parishes in Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana escaped serious damage after several rounds of storms June 7-8 brought record flooding and devastating tornadoes to large swaths of the Midwest. Some homeowners, however, were not as fortunate.

Archdiocese forms archbishop’s council
Jun 10 2008
In a June 10 gathering of Catholic Center employees, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien announced the formation of an archbishop’s council that will provide guidance on setting a course for the future of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Speakers laud faith-based groups for efforts to rebuild Gulf Coast
Jun 03 2008
NEW ORLEANS – Speakers at a New Orleans conference on disaster relief and preparedness May 29 and 30 lauded the efforts of faith-based organizations in leading Gulf Coast recovery efforts in the two and a half years since Hurricane Katrina.

Esperanza Center gives hope to immigrant clients
May 21 2008
As Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien prepared to bless Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center in Fells Point May 20, he described it as “one of the many jewels” he has inherited as Baltimore’s archbishop.

Esperanza Center gives hope to immigrant clients
May 20 2008
As Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien prepared to bless Catholic Charities’ Esperanza Center in Fells Point May 20, he described it as “one of the many jewels” he has inherited as Baltimore’s archbishop.

Chinese Catholics observe silence to mourn quake victims
May 19 2008
CHENGDU, China – Catholics joined other Chinese in observing three minutes of silence May 19 to pray for and mourn those killed by the earthquake that hit southwestern China a week earlier.

National coalition promotes collaboration to better serve needy
May 18 2008
WASHINGTON – Competitive and territorial barriers that once kept Catholic agencies from working too closely together are slowly breaking down in communities across the country in favor of stronger collaboration to better serve clients in need, according to a national organization that promotes the benefits of cooperation among church-based ministries.

Bishop: Balance needed when deciding liability claims in civil cases
May 04 2008
WASHINGTON – Multimillion-dollar awards in civil lawsuits place a burden on the free exercise of religion and undermine the Catholic Church’s ability to continue its charitable works, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Chicago told the National Diocesan Attorneys Association.

Spiritual reflector guide volunteers carefully and prayerfully
Apr 25 2008
Richard Horwitt is a very busy guy. The 64-year-old retiree works three days a week driving an adult day care center van. He tutors English for the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) at Catholic Charities’ Hispanic Apostolate in Fells Point. He’s involved with the Service, Justice and Life Commission in his parish, St. Joseph, Sykesville. He’s a prison volunteer. He travels to Peru every other year to St. Joseph’s partner parish, and he has a wife, two kids and six grandchildren.

Text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks to U.S. bishops
Apr 17 2008
WASHINGTON – Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks to the U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: