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How is our work truly Catholic? By Ken Bresnan
We celebrate September 26th as Catholic Charities Sunday. Catholic Charities has
a rich tradition in our Diocese of assisting those in need. Many people are well aware of
our programs and our accomplishments but how is our work truly Catholic? Inspired by
“10 Ways Catholic Charities are Catholic: by Rev. Fred Kammer S. J., I would like to
explore that very question.
Our ministry is rooted in scripture. “Amen, Amen I say to you, whoever
believes will do the works that I do” (John 14:12). In the Jewish scriptures we see the
heart of the biblical concept of Justice, the care of the widow, orphan and stranger. And
still today we do much of our work as Christians with the widow, the orphan and the
stranger. In Mathew 25, Jesus tells his followers that the world will be judged by how
they treat him, found among the hungry, homeless, sick, imprisoned, and poor.
Catholic Charities has been an integral part of the Catholic Church for 2,000
years. From the work of the apostles with widows, the appointing of the seven deacons,
through the ministry of caring for the needy by the great monasteries, to the work of
organizations started by St. Vincent de Paul, St Francis of Assisi, St. Clair, St. Catherine
of Siena and Sr. Elizabeth Ana Seaton and others. Here in the New World, over 800
Catholic organizations were in existence by 1900. And today, Catholic Charities
continues in this rich tradition.
Catholic Charities promotes the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the
human person. Catholic Charities reaches out to the sick, disabled, poor, and radically
different which often society excludes. Our actions, rooted in Catholic Social Teaching,
reach out to these people with respect for their human dignity.
Catholic Charities are authorized to exercise their ministry by the Diocesan
Bishop. Bishop Richard Pates is charged in Church teaching and cannon law with the
responsibility for the apostolate within the diocese and therefore serves as the President
of the board of directors of Catholic Charities. Thus, Catholic Charities have a special
relationship to the Catholic diocese and to Catholic parishes: Catholic Charities assist
parishioners in the exercise of their baptismal commitment to the poor and needy.
Catholic Charities uses the hands and hearts of many parishioners and parish groups. We
at Catholic Charities can truly say to the parishes- “What we do, we do in your name.”
We reflect the teaching of the Second Vatican Council when we work hand-inhand with other religions and other people of good will to serve community needs. We
build coalitions to address new and long standing needs.
Hopefully in all that we do, in all that we do in your name, we are fulfilling part
of the mission that Christ left for all of us. In Mark 14:7, Christ tells us’ “The Poor will
always be with us.” Catholic Charities has a lot to do and will be with our Church for a
long, long time.
Note- taken in part from “10 ways Catholic Charities are Catholic” by Rev. Fred
Kammer, S. J. The full essay is available on line at www.catholiccharitesDM.org and
then click on Social Justice Consortium
Kenan Bresnan