April 26, 2024 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI
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FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Catholic Charities’ staff and volunteers improve the lives of people across 46 counties in western North Carolina through their work at locations in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Lenoir, Murphy, North Wilkesboro and Winston-Salem.
Catholic Charities celebrates 75 years of helping people in need Caridades Católicas celebra 75 años ayudando a personas necesitadas
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As it launches its 75th anniversary celebrations during Catholic Charities Week (April 28-May 4), Catholic Charities continues to inspire hope and advance the Church’s mission of serving the most vulnerable among us with more than two dozen specialized services – from weekly food pantries, to help for homeless veterans and pregnant women in need, to refugee resettlement, to mental health counseling, to social advocacy and more. Catholic Charities’ work impacts the 46 counties of the diocese through its strategic locations in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Lenoir, North Wilkesboro, Asheville and Murphy. In the past year alone, the agency served nearly 23,000 people, distributing over 600,000 pounds of food and aiding nearly 900 refugees. Numerous other highlights are detailed on pages 18 and 19. “Catholic Charities exists because of the dedicated efforts and sacrifices of thousands of volunteers, donors and staff over the past seven decades,” says Executive Director Gerard Carter. “Our commitment today is to continue that legacy of authentic, charitable ministry by living out our passion statement: ‘The love of Christ impels us to serve our neighbors in need – we cannot do otherwise.’”
Al iniciar las celebraciones de su 75º aniversario durante la Semana de Caridades Católicas, del 28 de abril al 4 de mayo, Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte continúa inspirando esperanza y avanzando en la misión de la Iglesia de servir a los más vulnerables entre nosotros con más de una veintena de servicios especializados, desde despensas semanales de alimentos hasta ayuda para veteranos sin hogar y mujeres embarazadas en necesidad, reasentamiento de refugiados, asesoramiento en salud mental, defensa social y mucho más. El trabajo de Caridades Católicas impacta en los 46 condados de la diócesis a través de sus ubicaciones estratégicas en Charlotte, Greensboro, WinstonSalem, Lenoir, North Wilkesboro, Asheville y Murphy. Solamente el año pasado, la agencia atendió a casi 23,000 personas, distribuyendo más de 600,000 libras de alimentos, y ayudó a casi 900 refugiados, entre muchos otros aspectos destacados detallados en las páginas 18 y 19. “Caridades Católicas existe gracias a los esfuerzos dedicados y sacrificios de miles de voluntarios, donantes y personal durante las últimas siete décadas”, dijo el director ejecutivo, Gerard A. Carter. “Nuestro compromiso es continuar ese legado de ministerio auténtico y caritativo viviendo nuestro apasionado lema: ‘El amor de Cristo nos impulsa a servir a nuestro prójimo necesitado, no podemos hacer otra cosa’”.
or more than seven decades, hundreds of thousands of people have found help and hope thanks to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.
urante más de siete décadas, cientos de miles de personas han encontrado ayuda y esperanza gracias a Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte.
ROOTED IN CHARITY
Catholic Charities’ roots were planted in 1948, when Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters founded the first Bureau of Catholic Charities to provide social services and assistance across all of North Carolina. Within a year, sisters from the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity (MSBT) opened a Charlotte branch to provide pregnancy support, maternity care, foster care and adoption services to people living in the western half of the state. In those early years, the agency also helped resettle CHARITIES, SEE PAGE 16
Celebrating 75 years of charity As Catholic Charities celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024, the Catholic News Herald is launching a special series showcasing the many ways that Catholic Charities impacts the lives of thousands of people across our diocese – strengthening families, building communities and reducing poverty. Over the coming months, we invite you to learn more about how Catholic Charities puts into practice the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. We hope you are inspired to join the mission, sharing the love of Christ with your neighbors in need. Go to www.ccdoc.org/volunteer to learn more about how you can get involved.
ARRAIGADOS EN LA CARIDAD
Las raíces de Caridades Católicas se plantaron en 1948, cuando el Obispo de Raleigh, Vincent S. Waters, fundó la primera Oficina de Caridades Católicas para proporcionar servicios sociales y asistencia en toda Carolina del Norte. Al cabo de un año, las Hermanas de las Misioneras Siervas de la Santísima Trinidad, MSBT por sus CHARITIES, PASA A LA PÁGINA 17