For my pastoral experience during my first year of theology in September of 1968, I was assigned to work at Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia. Since that time more than 40 years ago, my appreciation has only deepened for the great gift that Catholic Charities has been to those it serves, to the wider society, and to our Church. During that first experience, I was able, with proper supervision, to help prepare couples to adopt a child and also was given responsibility, in what was then called “case work,” for a few young adults who were struggling in school and pretty much everywhere else.
Two things remain in my memory. The first is the actual experience of entering into the life of another; in a sense, walking in the shoes of someone whose life and opportunities were so different from my own. Here was a big city and the “ghetto” of North Philadelphia, and I was from a small coal town. My “clients” were only five or six years younger than I was at the time, but their life experience was vastly different. It is an overused phrase, but this experience was truly “eye opening.”
The other memory involved the serious preparation and care taken to help me help others. I was introduced to a supervisor, a Missionary Sister of the Blessed Trinity, who was a trained social worker. She showed me that helping others can be complex and that it called for great diligence, including keeping notes and records and following up on promises made.
Later after I was ordained, the bishop asked me to study social work and prepare for full time ministry at Catholic Charities. This early experience whetted my appetite and allowed me to say yes enthusiastically. As I became involved more deeply in Catholic Charities, I began to see the broader perspective of service. Of course, there is always the concrete individual or family to whom we reach out in need, and I learned that caring for others in that
way requires and demonstrates a deep concern and respect for the dignity of each person we encounter.
This broader perspective, however, called for attention to other aspects of service to others. These aspects — self-help
and attention to systems — were emphasized in the 1972 Cadre Report, which shaped the renewal of Catholic Charities nationwide. I am sure you are familiar with the quote: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This summarizes well the need to empower individuals to help
themselves. The other emphasis called us to review and seek to improve the political, economic, and social systems that can sometimes keep people at a disadvantage. I was fortunate to be able to have this experience at Catholic Charities deepened by my study of the social encyclicals of the Church, which framed this service within the context of our faith tradition and sound moral doctrine.
I am sharing these memories because this Sunday marks the centennial anniversary of Catholic Charities USA and so provides a great time for each of us to reflect on the gift of Catholic Charities. Our local archdiocesan Catholic Charities is a leading agency within the Catholic Charities movement. As part of this celebration, we are asking all parishes to stand in solidarity with us in this moment of celebration and recommitment by hosting National Catholic Charities Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
Two ways you can thank Charities for its service include:
■ Honoring Catholic Charities for its long-standing efforts to provide help and create hope for millions of people in need each year.
■ Deepening your individual commitment to serve those most in need and build a more just and compassionate society. Go to the web site for Catholic Charities USA (www.catholic charitiesusa.org) and view the history portion of the “About Us” section of the web page. You will see that Catholic charitable work in the United States is older than the nation itself and that Catholic Charities USA is one of the largest associations of social service agencies in the
country, providing assistance to more the 9 million persons in 2009. This web site contains all of the materials you need to celebrate during the Mass and carry the spirit of Catholic Charities Sunday forward in your outreach efforts. You also can learn about our local efforts and find out about volunteer opportunities at our archdiocesan Charities website: www.cclou.org.
During this time of our Catholic Services Appeal, we focus on our call to serve, pray, and teach. With its commitment to act on the call of the Gospel by bringing dignity and respect to all people and advocating for justice and peace, Catholic Charities is a stellar example of Church ministry at its best.
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz
The Record
September 23, 2010
