A Run in With God’s Love

By Sean DeWitt

Working at the Angels of Hope Food Pantry every Friday, I am blessed with the opportunity to work face-to-face with those in need. Mostly through my comic attempts to speak Spanish, I try to give a bit of hope to those I serve. One of my favorite things to do is to visit with the many Spanish speaking children that tag along with their moms. It is a joy to talk to them because they speak on my level (in Spanish at least).

This past Friday I met a beautiful Mexican family. The mother was very young and she had four children: two boys, and twin two year old girls. They were the last household we were serving that day, so I took the opportunity to talk to the mother and her children.

Having two younger brothers myself, I tried to talk to the boys first, but they were too interested in the action figures they had brought. I guess Wolverine and the Red Power Ranger are much more interesting than a boring 20 year old. Have I reached the boring age already?

I turned to the twin girls. They were in matching pink shirts and bowties, and were sitting in their stroller. The little girl in the back seat was putting her chubby little feet in her sister’s hair, while the other girl tried to grab them. They were adorable.

I tried to think of what to say, but was at a great loss of words. “Hola, Senorita,” I said and they both turned to look at me. “Como estas,” I continued, and they quickly turned away, putting their little hands over their faces. I looked up to their mother, who was watching intently. She was turning bright red.

She quickly bent over and whispered to the two girls, but they shook their heads in disapproval. She looked up to me and said they were shy. I agreed with her and asked for the names of the girls. I tried one more time and said, “Hola, Ashley y Maria, como estan?” Maria turned away again, but Ashley cocked her head and smiled at me. I glanced up at the mother and she was glowing. Ashley cooed at me and showed her sparsely placed teeth. I said, “Donde estan sus dentes” or where are your teeth? Her mother laughed and spoke for her child saying in high pitched voice, “yo no se” or I don’t know.

At this point, Maria was becoming more interested in what was going on. Maybe that big man wasn’t so mean and scary, she probably thought. She chimed in, making one of those lovely baby babbles though when I turned to speak to her, she retreated back behind her tiny little hands. Her mother was smiling from ear-to-ear. The love she had for her little girls was amazing. She literally glowed.

The next moment they were called to get their food and they were out the door. I sat down to take a break. I couldn’t help but smile. I was happy. One of my co-workers looked at me and I stopped smiling because I didn’t want them think I was weird. But that big grin soon returned. Why was I smiling, I thought to myself.

Looking back on that day, I know now why I was smiling. I had ran into God’s Love. The mother of those twin girls was overflowing with it. While I was there, trying to show this family God’s love through my service, it was they, the mother and her kids, who were showing me true Love—a love that I can only hope to reciprocate someday. It was as if those children took their mothers love and amplified it like a megaphone, except they were amplifying a whisper.

Instead of a loud and moving love, their love was quiet, shy, gentle, warm, and had red cheeks. It didn’t make me want to go shout from the top of mountain, or stand up and preach on the street corners. Yet it gave me an innermost joy, a joy that wouldn’t leave me. It was the kind of love that is present in a wink between two friends, or a mother’s humming to a restless child. No words are needed.

And perhaps that is why I find it so hard to capture it in words now. God’s love is beyond words. And though that maybe, I can tell you one thing: the love I felt through that mother and her children gave me hope, reassurance, and confidence that God truly is.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas Statement on HealthCare

Catholic Charities of Central Texas, serving the Diocese of Austin, is a not for profit social services agency meeting the needs of poor and vulnerable residents in 25-Central Texas counties. We work with the uninsured on a daily basis and see that greater access to health care is needed by many. Catholic Charities is a proponent of changes in health care policies that are in line with the teachings of our Church and supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Access to health care for the people of central Texas, the state as a whole, and our country, is intrinsic to upholding the dignity of the weak and the vulnerable in our society.

“With this need for health care reform comes a great responsibility to continue to uphold the dignity of human life at all stages. Genuine health care reform that protects the life and dignity of all is a moral imperative and a vital national obligation," said Bishop William F. Murphy of Rockville Centre, N.Y., as he outlined the policy priorities of the USCCB on the issue of health care in a July 17 letter to Congress. The letter supported efforts to pass health care reform, but warned against inclusion of abortion.

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured people in the country with almost 25 percent of the population living without insurance (U.S. Census Bureau); One in four Texans has to make the difficult decision of going to the doctor, buying medicine or paying other bills. These Texans live precariously wondering if their next doctor’s visit could devastate their family finances.

Changes in health care policies are needed in order to improve the health of all Central Texans. We must ensure that quality, compassionate care that works for everyone is available for all of our brothers and sisters in need. However, as stated by Bishop Murphy, any changes in health care policies must uphold the sanctity and dignity of life at all stages.

Jeff's Farewell Address

Hello faithful readers, you haven’t heard from me in awhile. Sean has done a great job with the blog and promoting what Catholic Charities does and why we do what we do. I have taken on many other projects while Sean has been working on the blog. I wanted to write one, however, because this is my last week at Catholic Charities, and I wanted to tell the readers what I have been up to.

I began to do a lot of work for Meg Kee, the Coordinator of the Angels of Hope food pantry here. I helped organize files, enter some data and some other smaller projects for the pantry behind the scenes. We keep track of all clients who come to the pantry in order to show how many people we serve, for grant purposes. I have been very active in participating in the operation of the pantry on Thursdays for our senior and disabled clients, and on Fridays for the general public. That has been a great experience, to have the opportunity to serve those in need, to see Christ in my fellow man and to help them however I can. I have also been seeing clients who come into our office and helping them in their time of need, and to being a patient ear and voice of hope for them. This direct service has been great for me to live out my baptismal call to practice charity in love.

I also created a Powerpoint presentation for use by the Mission Council of the Diocese to clarify what mission is and to promote it, both at home and abroad. I also worked with Sean to modify a presentation on end of life issues for use in the Symphony of Faith that is coming up in August. I primarily created slides about the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and a way to promote reception of the Sacraments at the end of life. One of my favorite projects that I was able to do was to read Pope Benedict’s first Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love). Cynthia Colbert, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Central Texas, asked me to prepare a presentation on the Encyclical. This involved a careful reading of the Encyclical, and it was great to see what the Holy Father has to say about love, the love God has for man, the love that man has for each other, and ultimately how the Trinity is the ultimate source and summit of all love. I had the great opportunity to present it in front of the Catholic Charities staff meeting this week. It was well received and a great reminder on why love is an essential part of charity.

It has been great working with all of the wonderful people here, both staff and clients. I have learned a lot that will help prepare me for ministry in the Priesthood or in whatever capacity that God calls me to. I will be leaving Austin on August 11th for Convocation, a gathering of all the seminarians and many priests in the Diocese. On the 14th I will drive to St. Joseph’s Abbey Seminary College, a college seminary and Benedictine monastery in Covington, LA, about 45 minutes north of New Orleans. Orientation is the following day and classes start on the 18th! It is a very quick transition, and I am excited, nervous and everything in between. The campus is beautiful and secluded, with 1200 acres of surrounding forest. I will be studying philosophy for two years there, before moving to St. Mary’s in Houston for theology I look forward to deepening my relationship with Christ and discerning His call, whatever that may be. Thank you for following this blog, and for all your prayers for Sean and I.

Responding to a comment…

An anonymous source asked: “Now, how about telling us—the audience—how to best serve Catholic Charities. Faith, Hope and Love are all verbs! Please round out this beautiful message by informing us, regardless of our physical proximity and economic status to Catholic Charities, in specific examples of Faith, Hope, and Love—how we can also serve!”

The comment was left in response to the article on Faith, which ended a trilogy on Faith, Hope, and Love. And Anonymous makes a great point. We here at Catholic Charities serve because of our Faith, Hope and Love in the Lord. But how does this carry over to everyone?

Keeping in mind that the mission of Catholic Chariites of Central Texas is to work towards strengthening individuals and families by provide direct services, engaging in community collaboration and advocating for social justice, then there are many ways to help out. Certainly, anyone is welcome to serve with us by volunteering, donating, or applying for any job openings we have at the moment, but seeing that our audience has reached across the state, our country and even the globe, direct aid might not be a possibility for some. Do not fear. There are many other ways to help Catholic Charities meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable.

Pray. The easiest and most profound way to help our cause is through prayer. As St. Paul says, we are to pray without ceasing, keeping our brothers and sisters in Christ close to our hearts (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Catholic Charities can always use your prayers. Pray for the people we serve – our brothers and sisters who have been impacted by poverty, sickness, homelessness, domestic violence, etc. We hope that through the intercession of saints, especially Our Lady’s, and the prayers of the human family that our actions maybe blessed by the grace of God.

Volunteer. Another way to contribute to Catholic Charities would be to assist any of the organizations or communities that we collaborate with, extending any charitable cause, since our mission is part of the larger mission to serve God’s people around the world. Whether you are in Austin, Round Rock, Bryan, Waco, Houston, California or in the UK (quick shout out to our UK readers), there are Catholic Charities in your areas or other charitable organizations that you can help with. In other parts of the world, Caritas Internaionalis, Catholic Relief Services and other ministries need your time and talents. Right here in the Diocese of Austin, there are many faith-based and other nonprofits that we collaborate with on a daily basis. Examples are St. Vincent de Paul society, VinCare, Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the Gabriel Project Life Center, Anunciation Maternity Home, and the many soup kitchens and homeless shelters. But, as I mentioned, our collaboration is not limited to this small list. Because of our mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, we are united with charities across the globe in particular the Roman Catholic Church.

Donate. There is no doubt that it takes financial and in-kind donations to keep our doors open in service to our Diocese. Our funding comes from a variety of sources, and one of the most important are contributions from individuals and organizations. Eighty-seven cents of every dollar we receive is used to directly help people in need. In-kind donations for food and other items are also extremely helpful. With the holidays approaching in just a few months, our organization will need additional food and gift donations to help families in need.

Advocate. Discipleship demands that all Catholics work with others to build a civic society aligned with Catholic Social Teachings in which all people are able to reach their fullest calling in both personal and community life. We align ourselves with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who state: Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith.... Because this commitment to social justice is at the heart of who we are and what we believe, it must be shared more effectively. We encourage you to contact local, state and federal legislators to make your voice heard on legislative issues and work for more just social policies.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas thanks the many volunteers, donors, and workers that have made it possible for so many people to be served. We hope that we can continue to serve God’s people and love them through the hard work and dedication of the individuals who work with Catholic Charities. We also extend our gratitude to those who help and support other charitable ventures. We recognize the effect of your hard work and hope to continue to work together in solidarity to end poverty world wide.

Ironically Ending on Faith

By Sean DeWitt

Having done a post on Hope, and on Love, I cannot resist the temptation to finish the trilogy and do a post on Faith. Standing as the first of the three, Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God, without which we are starved of the truth that is the Lord Jesus Christ. While Hope drives us and Love forms our very being, Faith adds meat to our bones, so to speak. Faith is the reason why.

Love is the manifestation of our Faith though it is not a mere product of our Faith, since Faith without Love is hindered in its growth. This is easily seen in the example of a tree. If a tree is healthy, it produces fruit. If our Faith is true, we will perform acts of Charity for others. Likewise, if the tree is sick, it will produce rotten fruit or none at all. And if our faith is not true, our acts of charity will be empty of God’s true Love. It is not that Faith or Love is preceded by the other—the chicken and the egg argument need not apply here—but that they are part of the same action: belief in God. Faith is both fulfilled by Love and increases the capacity for Love. As Pope Benedict XVI says in Deus Caritas Est:

Faith, hope and charity go together…faith tells us that God has given his Son for our sakes and gives us the victorious certainty that is really true: God is Love! It [Faith] transforms our impatience and or doubts into the sure hope that God holds the world in his hands…Faith, which sees the love of God revealed in the pierced heart of Jesus on the Cross, gives rise to Love. [39]

The Pope is envisioning a melding of the three virtues. Our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is comprised of Faith in Him, Hope in our resurrection through Him, and Love—the Love that God is and truly shares with us.

Using the tree analogy again, Faith is the roots, the trunk, and the branches, which are nourished by God’s love and grace. Our Faith receives this nourishment as assurance or Hope in His endless Love. As the tree, our Faith, feeds on God’s love and mercy, the trees roots grow deeper and the branches stronger, so that we might withstand the greatest drought—a drought that is only self inflicted since God’s grace is always sufficient. In turn, our Faith—fed by Hope—produces boundless amounts of fruit, honoring our Lord by reciprocating His Love through works of Charity. The three virtues are different, yet they are all parts of the same tree—our belief in Christ.

Catholic Charities understands the unity of the three virtues in particular the inclusion of the first: Faith. Being a faith-based non-profit, we serve in light of our faith. Though I will not attest to the individual faith of our employees, Catholic Charities on a whole understands the moral and ethical implication in its service and stands firm in its Faith, the Catholic Faith. In every person we serve, through every service we provide, and in every person who serves, we protect the dignity of the human family. We hope that the Love we share with those we serve will be a testament to our Faith.

Volunteers Give Testament to Service

Every Thursday and Friday, Catholic Charities is blessed with the presence of over 30 volunteers. Serving mainly through the Angel’s of Hope Food Pantry, these volunteers stock shelves, interview clients and bag groceries, while honoring the dignity of each person they serve. Their contribution is a true miracle to both the people they serve and Catholic Charities because without them such services would not be provided.

Fortunately, some volunteers were willing to give a testament to their service here at Catholic Charities.

One Volunteer said:
I have been volunteering in the Catholic Charities food pantry for the past two and one half years. It has been a most rewarding experience to help in my small way…

Another said:
I must admit that I was very skeptical at first. I did not understand these client’s need for food, and for loving care. I could not comprehend how or why they did not pursue employment to better their situations. However, it was made very clear to me when I started coming on Fridays that “I was there to love these people and not to judge them.” But more than that, I soon became aware of the suffering and hopelessness that many of these people experience due to lack of education, formal training and the lack of acceptance in the work force in the city of Austin, Texas.

That same volunteer went on to say:
It is such a privilege to be part of the Angels of Hope Food Pantry. Once I set my pride aside and began to relate with those who come each week, I began to love them for who they are and not to judge them for what they lack. My job, each week, is to interview and to help them fill out their food requests. But more than that however, I am there to encourage them and to love them.

The sentiments of these volunteers are only a snap shot of the wonderful core of volunteers that serves here at Catholic Charities. Other volunteers work in ILS (Immigration Legal Service), ACT (Access for Central Texas) and other areas do great work for those in need. We thank these volunteers with our most sincere gratitude for both their service and their commitment. Because of them, Catholic Charities is able to serve the poor and impoverished in the central Texas area. Thank you.

For information on how you can volunteer, please visit our volunteer page here.

Job Opening through AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a Federal National Service program that matches interested individuals with opportunities to serve those in need for an 11-month period. This program offers people with compassion the ability to learn professional skills while contributing to local nonprofit agencies and the people they serve. A stipend, benefits and training are provided. Put your faith in action.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCTX) has an opening for part-time AmeriCorps member to provide help for survivors of natural disasters. Start date is August 1st. All positions end May 31st, 2010.

Stipend and benefits for half-time (910 hours per year):
· Stipend: $ 5,700/year
· Education Award: $2,362.50 (can be used for future education or to repay student loans up to 7 years after AmeriCorps service)
· Mileage Reimbursement if Member uses car for work activities

Positions available:
— Case Manager: (1 Half-time position available in Austin) Provide comprehensive needs assessments, devise recovery plans in conjunction with clients, determine how to effectively meet immediate, short-term and long-term needs, refer to job training and employment counseling, help clients enroll for public benefits, ensure affordable, stable housing and perform community outreach. This position will also work with clients who are in need of emergency assistance which involves fielding calls, determining eligibility, meeting with clients and distributing one-time emergency assistance for rent or utilities. A bachelor’s degree is required for this position. Bilingual preferred.

— Food Pantry Assistant: (2 Half-time positions in Austin): Assist with food distribution, oversee the stocking & replenishing of Pantry shelves, take inventory, place and pick up food orders, prepare statistical reports, interview clients, determine eligibility for the food pantry, and enter client information into a database. Opportunities to utilize Spanish in this position. This position does not require a bachelor’s degree. Must be available to work on Thursdays and Fridays.

— Intake/Information & Referral Specialist: (1 half-time position in Austin): This member would be knowledgeable of all Austin based programs of CCCTX. As disaster victims and other clients are served by one program, this member would be the linkage to other programs to ensure the client is receiving a more holistic approach to any barriers that inhibit the client being self-sufficient. Other roles would be as a liaison, advocate, referral source, facilitator, etc. For example, on Fridays this member would be serving in the food pantry connecting clients with other agency programs and providing follow-up. On other days, this member would be providing services in another program. A bachelor's degree is required for this position. Must be bilingual in Spanish and English.

Requirements:
— A bachelor’s degree is required for some positions (see job descriptions above)
— A desire to work one-on-one with individuals and families in need
— A willingness to learn
— An ability to make a one year commitment
— Strong organizational skills
— Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals or lawful permanent resident aliens

Submit an Application:
Application can be found at http://www.ccctx.org/ Submit completed application acmember@austindiocese.org Deadline is August 5, 2009.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas (CCCTX) is a collaborative organization with programs that address the diverse needs of people in Central Texas. CCCTX is accountable to the communities it serves and guided by principles which celebrate diversity and cherish the dignity and potential of every person. Contact Melanie Ann Watson at acmember@austindiocese.org if you have further questions.

Catholic Charities of Central Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, or religion.

Love and Charity

By Sean DeWitt

It has come to my attention that my use of the words Love and Charity in the article “What’s Hope got to do with it?” may have been slightly confusing. In my error, I wish to give a reflection on those two words: Love and Charity.

Love, as I talked about in the article on Hope, is the spoiled child of the three theological virtues. It is talked about almost without ceasing and for good reason. It is the greatest of the three (1Corinthians: 13). Unfortunately, most of that talk focuses on the emotional aspect of Love. Though a good concept to understand, the lovey dovey feel good image of what Love is falls short of its truth. All of this talk of Love as an emotion, has left us with many different kinds of love. As Pope Benedict XVI says in “Deus Caritas Est”:

Let us first of all bring to mind the vast semantic range of the word ‘love’: we speak of love of country, love of one’s profession, love between friends, love of work, love between parents and children, love between family members, love of neighbor and love of God. [2]

We often hear kids play with the semantics, making fun of their friends. “I love basketball.” “Ha, ha, Jimmy loves basketball. He wants to marry basketball.” “No, I don’t silly.” Unknowingly, kids realize the half truth. Love is not simply pleasure. Though closely tied to Love, certainly pleasure is not only felt in Love. Thus, the concept of tough Love, doing what is best for each other even though it may hurt a bit.

Along side this emotional driven love is Charity. Charity has been labeled as the action of Love—the verb of Love if you will. Most concretely seen in titles of charitable organizations, charity is any and all good works. Much like love, the action of Charity has mostly been attributed to material or basic needs assistance: food, clothes, shelter, medicine, etc… Though such aid is good, the ‘charity’ only serves half of our human needs. Again, Benedict pinpoints the problem beautifully:

The Church can never be exempted from practicing charity as an organized activity of believers, and on the other hand, there will never be a situation where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary, because in addition to justice man needs, and will always need, love. [29]

The Pope is talking here of the human need for Love, which should be present in charity (note the lower case ‘c’), or good works. As the Pope says: Love will always prove necessary, even in the most just society. [28] This is because Man will always have to battle loneliness, depression, and despair, the metaphysical equivalents of homelessness, hunger, and sickness. True Charity serves both parts of Man, honoring his dignity through genuine solidarity with his fellow man.

Ironically, Catholic Charities helps manifest the indistinguishable connection between Love and Charity. In fact, Love and Charity are one in the same. Catholic Charities, or Catholic Love we might say, recognizes the incomplete nature of material charity and emotional love. Yes, we provide funds, food and education. They are a necessary part of our service. And yes, we take pleasure in our service to others. That is why we work here. However, Catholic Charities provides material aid because of what it represents—the blossoming of God’s gift of Love to others [17]. We work because we can authentically Love people even when it may be difficult.

Catholic Charities exists because Charity is Love and Love is Charity. To talk of one is to talk of the other. A distinction of sorts could be made, but it would be love with a lower case ‘l’ and charity with a lower case ‘c’, not the fullness and truth of Love and Charity, which are one in the same.

Interesting Reads

The past week has proved very eventful on many levels. Here are some interesting reads on Christian persecution, the USCCB, and President Obama. Enjoy.

ILS (Immigration Legal Services) Job Opening

Organization:
Immigration Legal Services

Posted:
Jul 9, 2009

Contact:
Carmen Cortes-Harms

Phone:
512-651-6100 ext 110
Fax:
512-949-2520

Email:
DioceseJobsHR@austindiocese.org

Description:
Responsible for case management and legal representation of immigrants in their immigration cases before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Reports to Director of Immigration Legal Services, and operates under general supervision with wide latitude for the use of independent judgment and initiative.This job is a full-time position and candidates must be bi-lingual (English/Spanish).

For more information on duties, skills, and qualifications check here.

Testimonial

--Sometimes we all just need to hear a bit of good news--

When John lost his high tech job of 10 years, John and Maria thought that they might lose their house as well. They used up their savings trying to stay current on the mortgage, but had fallen two payments behind. After a six-month search, John had finally found a job, but they were unable to catch up and didn’t know where to turn. Attending Catholic Charities’ Tactics for Tough Times workshop changed all that. John was able to take the information he learned in the workshop to develop a new budget and then negotiate a repayment plan with his mortgage company that allowed him to catch the past due amount up over a twelve month period. “I was ready to give up and just walk away from my house and then I s aw the flyer for Tactics for Tough Times. Thank God Catholic Charities was there in this time of need.”

President Obama in Primetime

Don’t miss President Obama’s press conference on the Health Care Bill tonight at 7:00 central standard time. The press conference is very timely, as the bill quickly comes to a vote. If you just can’t wait and want to read up what President Obama might touch on tonight, here is a very candid interview that Katie Couric held yesterday. The transcript can be found here.

A Word on the Encyclical

By Sean DeWitt

Having finished Pope Benedict’s new encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, I felt slightly obliged to say at least a few words. Though there is a difficulty in saying just a few words, because of the depth in which Pope Benedict writes. I do believe, however, that I can at least put the encyclical into context with the other social encyclicals and point out its major theme: human development.

Following in the tradition of the social encyclicals started by Rerum Novarum, Pope Benedict XVI set out to protect the entirety of man, saying that while

The Church does not have technical solutions to offer and does not claim ‘to interfere in any way in the politics of States.’ [11] She [the Church] does, however, have a mission of truth to accomplish, in every time and circumstance, for a society that is attuned to man, to his dignity, to his vocation. [9]

Caritas in Veritate—Love in truth—reflecting and honoring the 40th anniversary of Popularum Progressio, addresses the dignity and vocation of man by addressing the issues of ‘human development.’ The encyclical adds to the tradition by taking the Church’s understanding of man and applying it to the current issues of the world in this case globalization.

In the encyclical, Benedict places material development in the context of a proper understanding of the human person. Love in truth captures the idea that there is a right and wrong way to exercise charity, depending on how it serves the dignity and vocation of man. As Benedict says:

Only in charity, illumined by the light of reason and faith, is it possible to pursue development goals that possess a more human and humanizing value. [9]

In other words, service to others has moral and ethical implications, and how the needs of man are achieved really matters. True development should serve to further the dignity and vocation of man as given to him by God. Development for the sake of development is not right.

Benedict takes this principle and directly confronts the movement of globalization by pointing out a fallacy that has arisen out of the global movement.

The sharing of goods and resources, from which authentic development proceeds, is not guaranteed by merely technical progress and relationships of utility, but by the potential of love that overcomes evil with good, opening up the path towards reciprocity of consciences and liberties. [9]

Closely linked to materialism, this fallacy misunderstands what it means to develop a human. Material exchange, or equality, is not true development. Certainly, such generosity of goods is a starting point for charity. However, it is only a starting point. Thus such goods and services should be used to open up an exchange of ideas and knowledge, which will further the development of the man in his ‘dignity’ and his ‘vocation’.

Benedict sums up his point in the first chapter:

The truth of development consists in its completeness: if it does not involve the whole man and everyman, it is not true development…Integral human development on the natural plane, as a response to a vocation from God the Creator[48], demands self-fulfillment in a “transcendent humanism which gives[to man] his greatest possible perfections: this is the highest goal of personal development. [18]

In this passage, Benedict reiterates the goal of development that is the advancement of man on the ‘natural plane’—his vocation here on earth—in turn allowing our fellow man to flourish and grow in his ‘transcendent humanism’—his dignity as God’s creation.

Catholic Charities in more ways than one recognizes the dignity and vocation of man. We firmly believe that the development of man, and the charity required for such is manifested in service to their ‘natural,’ or vocational needs, while honoring their ‘super-natural,’ or dignified, existence. The love that we share with those we serve is always in the context of truth.

What’s Hope Got to Do with It?

By Sean DeWitt

faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love—1 Corinthians 13

If the three theological virtues were siblings, Hope would be the underappreciated middle child. Faith, the oldest of the three, is given great amounts of responsibility, including the ability to invite his friend Reason over to the house for a play day. Love, the youngest, is given the run of the house and is clothed, fed and looked after constantly. Hope on the other hand sits in the middle of the two and does chores all day. He doesn’t complain, nor does he put up a fight. Hope just does his work quietly, reveling in the fact that it is because of him that everything happens.

From Abraham and his hope to be father of God’s chosen people, to Moses keeping hope while wondering the desert. From the Apostles hope in Jesus’ resurrection, to generations of soldiers hope in their leaders leading them to victory. And from laypeople’s hope in their clergy as Shepard’s of the flock, to the people’s hope in the change their political leaders will bring. Hope is what drives people to action.

While we study and reason our faith, and experience God’s love and compassion through prayer and devotion, we live and act because of hope. Charity, or good works, happen when we manifest our faith through an act of love. Equally as important is that we make an act of faith and love, because we have hope that our actions will bring us and those we help, closer to Christ.

Pope Benedict’s new encyclical iterates this point perfectly:

Hope encourages reason and gives it the strength to direct the will [87]. It is already present in faith, indeed it is called forth by faith. Charity in truth feeds on hope and, at the same time, manifests it. As the absolutely gratuitous gift of God, hope bursts into our lives as something not due to us, something that transcends every law of justice. [34]

It is through hope that we move ourselves to act, expressing our love and manifesting our faith in Jesus Christ. In giving a witness to our hope through our actions, we honor God’s gift of hope. Whether we directly help someone by bettering their lives and giving them hope for a better future; or we provide an example for someone by acting as a beacon of light for them to follow; our hope in Jesus Christ drives us to actions of faith and love, while our actions give witness to that same hope. Through our witness of hope, we allow Christ to continue that gratuitous gift of hope through us.

For Catholic Charities ‘Providing Help [and] Creating Hope’ is more than just a slogan, it is our mission. Our faith strengthened by our hope in a better future for the poor, moves us to serve the poor, providing love and compassion to those in need. Through advocacy of social justice and direct service, we continue that gift of hope, hope in a better future. It is through that hope that the poor will begin to work towards self-sufficiency, the goal of all social work.

God’s Creation

—Sixth and final in a series on the principle of social justice—
By Sean DeWitt

It may seem odd to start talking about stewardship or caring for God’s creation, in the same sentence as poverty, human dignity and other social justice issues. However, stewardship is crucial to affectively honoring the principles of social justice.

Going back to Genesis, God’s second command after be fertile and multiply was to fill the earth and subdue it [Genesis 1:28] (funny how almost all of these social justice principles can be tied to Genesis). God gave us, as a gift, this world and it is our job to further His creation to fulfill His plan. The responsibilities that come with stewardship are twofold: (1) communal and (2) generational.

1) Our communal responsibilities are focused on distributing the earth’s resources in order to serve the entire human family. Prudential, moderate and just use of the land and its resources is an integral part of caring for the poor and impoverished. Waste in the form of excess, improper use, or maltreatment of resources is detrimental to caring for the poor. As Benedict says in Caritas In Veritate: Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person, considered in himself and in relation to others [51]. Practicing charity necessitates care for the environment because we cannot hold up the principles of social justice in one hand, and neglect God’s creation with the other.

2) Our generational responsibilities dominate the news in discussions on climate change and preservation of non-renewable resources. However most discussions are short sided in their scope, pertaining to the next generation and leaving out the true meaning of stewardship, which has a proper understanding of the whole human family, both now and for thousands of generations to come. As Abraham was thinking about his ancestors that would number the stars while he searched for the promise land, we too must look to the vast expanse that is the human family, serving and honoring the dignity of everyone that will follow us including the poor and impoverished. In fact, by taking care of God’s creation we ensure that there will be resources for those in later generations to serve the poor, affectively giving them the gift and the capacity to love.

Pope Benedict XVI captures these two ideas perfectly:

Human beings legitimately exercise a responsible stewardship over nature, in order to protect it, to enjoy its fruits and to cultivate it in new ways, with the assistance of advanced technologies, so that it can worthily accommodate and feed the world’s population. On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity , through the help of nature itself—God’s gift to His children—and through hard work and creativity. At the same time we must recognize our grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations in such a condition that they too can worthily inhabit it and continue to cultivate it. [50]

Though Catholic Charities does not directly work to promulgate this message, we do practice and support the protection of God’s creation. Recycling efforts, using extras from local grocers to feed the hungry, and teaching prudential living habits in self help classes, are a few indirect way in which Catholic Charities lives out our responsibilities to care for God’s creation. In the end, stewardship, being a Catholic initiative, is a direct concern for Catholic Charities in how we carry out our business practices. You can help our efforts to save paper by signing up for our electronic newsletter at http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001dCD0S6IuBsbjzWfdjxy4pk6yiI793Wf0

Solidarity

—Sixth in a series on the Principles of Social Justice—
By Sean DeWitt

Standing as one of the most important principles of social justice, Solidarity remains one of the hardest principles to understand. The reason for the difficulty is that Solidarity serves very much as the synthesis for all of the social teachings of the Church. Just as the Dignity of the Human person stands as the foundation for social justice, Solidarity serves as the roof, which covers and makes the entire work of social justice function.

Solidarity, which has a great tradition in the Church and the Pope’s encyclicals, is so important because it is founded on the ‘golden rule’—You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). Though often times the meaning of Solidarity is misconstrued.

In the United States, the term is often applied to issues of race, ethnic, or economic disparity. Though this focus is not wrong, it is narrow and misses the fullness of the true essence of Solidarity. Rules, regulations, and guidelines that inundate our law codes to protect discrimination are good, but they only capture part of true Solidarity.

Solidarity is the recognition of the human family. As the U.S. Bishops say: We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers—A Century of Social Teaching. We have a duty given to us by God to care for our fellow man—to treat our neighbors with respect and dignity. Pope Benedict XVI describes Solidarity in Caritas In Veritate as ‘fraternity’ or ‘brotherhood’ among the human race. This is the true essence of Solidarity because as brothers and sisters, by sharing a fraternal relationship, we not only protect each others dignity, but we work to honor that dignity through charity, or service. Equality, or equal treatment, is only half of that fraternal love that makes up Solidarity. As Benedict says:

As society becomes ever more globalized, it makes us neighbors but does not make us brothers. Reason, by itself, is capable of grasping the equality between men and of giving stability to their civic coexistence, but it cannot establish fraternity. [19]

Here, the Pope is reflecting on a genuine concern for the human person. Solidarity does not stop at the material progress, or social status that makes us all ‘neighbors.’ Solidarity is love of one’s neighbor. It is a friendship, a brotherhood, based on genuine concern for the other’s physical and metaphysical being.

Catholic Charities strives to create Solidarity in particular with the immigrant community. Through our low cost and often times free legal consultation and service, we work our hardest to honor and protect the immigrant community. We strive to keep families and communities together, who would otherwise be separated. We hope to provide and facilitate stability and security within the immigrant’s lives, while loving them as people, creating that sense of fraternity and brotherhood. By accepting the immigrant community into our own community with open arms and with respect of their dignity, there comes a spirit of love and kindness, as we slowly become the human family that God intended us to be.

Pro-Life equals Pro-Human Development

By Sean DeWitt

Coming out of the last election, the issue of life has become the pivot point for many Christian voters—a point of reference to polarize candidates. This great distinction is mostly based around the issue of abortion. In some cases, the division has made the pro-lifers seem more like anti-abortionists than people with a true respect for life.

But reading the Pope’s new encyclical, Caritas In Veritate, one is reminded of the scope of the respect for life movement. Benedict says:

One of the most striking aspects of development in the present day is the important question of respect for life, which cannot in any way be detached from questions concerning the development of peoples. [28]

The Pope reminds us that pro-life means pro-human, pro-people, and pro-community. The issue of life intricately connects conception, life (without poverty), natural death, and criminal justice. Though the Pope writes in great detail about the issue of abortion and contraception, citing the spread of an anti-birth mentality, Benedict keeps life in the context of human development. As he says:

Openness to life is at the centre of true development…The acceptance of life strengthens moral fibre and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life…they [wealthy or developed peoples] can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual. [28]

Catholic Charities prides itself on furthering the development of people, their families, and their communities. We do this by fighting poverty on all fronts through direct service, community collaboration and advocacy of social justice. Here at Catholic Charities we respect the life of every individual and do our best to protect and honor the dignity of every person we serve.

Dignity of the Worker

--The Fifth in a Series on the Principles of Social Justice—
By Sean DeWitt

One of the greatest gifts that God gave us was the opportunity to participate in His creation. From the naming of the animals to His command to subdue the earth, God bestowed on us, His people, the right and the responsibility to work. Because of this gift, work becomes more than a means to make a living. Work becomes an end in and of itself; part of the very being of man. As the Bishops say:

Work is more than a way to make a living; it is an expression of our dignity and a form of continuing participation in God’s creation—A Century of Social Teaching

Why, then did God make work such an important part of our being? The answer comes in looking at the two kinds of work: (1) transitive work and (2) intransitive work.

1. Transitive work is the effect of a worker on his work. When a worker makes something, he imparts part of himself on that thing. The easiest example of this is when an artist makes a work of art. The artist puts his thoughts, ideas and personality into the medium in such a way that allows you to see what the artist sees and think what the artist thinks.

The same is for anyone who works. Whether it is physical or mental work, everyone works differently and everyone will produce something different. This is part of the dignity of work, allowing a person to express himself through action.

2. Intransitive work is the effect of work on the worker. Just as a worker leaves a part of himself in his work, so to that work forms the worker. Taking up the example of an artist again, the artist after years and years of working with a particular medium perfects his craft. In this process, the medium with which he works not only changes his physique, building up muscles and motor skills, but the medium also changes the way the artist sees the world.

Again, whether physical or mental, work changes the worker. We learn to become stronger and perfect our skills through our work. And thus a certain dignity arises from the work itself. Work is an integral part of human dignity. In fact, work is the very ‘expression of our dignity’, as the Bishops state.

Though we don’t directly assist in job placement, Catholic Charities realizes the importance of work and provides resources for those looking for work. Our most direct service is in the Criminal Justice department headed by Deacon Doots Dufour. Although he is out for knee surgery this summer (keep him in your prayers), he has blessed Jeff Haecker and I with the opportunity to work with the ex-offenders. Deacon does many wonderful things for these people including writing recommendation letters, and providing work clothes and boots to those who are getting jobs. I have been blessed with the opportunity to help two of these clients. In both cases, I was able to provide the newly employed ex-offenders with work boots through an academy gift card. It wasn’t much, but it was enough—amazing to think that two pieces of rubber worth 25 dollars could stand in the way of exercising dignity.

The Audacity of the Pope

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/opinion/13douthat.html

Ross Douthat wrote a very sensible commentary for the New York Times on what the Pope’s new encyclical, Caritas In Veritate, means in terms of politics.

The Poor and the Vulnerable

—Fourth in a series on the principles of Social Justice—
By Sean DeWitt

'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'—Matthew 25: 40

Why does the Lord hold such a special place in His Sacred Heart for those who are poor? A simple question, but profound in its implications. Why must we serve the poor and the vulnerable? Certainly, Christ called us to serve His people, not just the poor. However, time and time again, Christ places the needs of the poor over other needs. Matthew 25 is probably the most explicit passage where Jesus puts the needs of the poor first. In fact, Jesus hinges salvation and eternal life with Him on service to the poor, the thirsty, the hungry, the naked, and the stranger. The U.S. Bishops’ tap into Christ’s message saying:

Our tradition calls us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our sisters and brothers, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response—A Century of Social Teaching, 6-7

But again, why?

The reason Christ and the Church gives such an ‘Option for the Poor’ is that these people lack the ability to participate in society. The poor are unable to hold the level of dignity that is due to every human being. The poor are unable to fulfill the rights and responsibilities that belong to them as human beings. And the poor are unable to participate fully in a group or society, satisfying their social nature. The poor, the impoverished, and the vulnerable are put in a situation that threatens their person and humanity. Thus, in serving the poor we are reestablishing and giving them (and ourselves) the gift of humanity. Serving the poor is to restore the society as a whole, not just one sect. As the U.S. Bishops say:

The deprivation and powerlessness of the poor wounds the whole community. The extent of their suffering is a measure of how far we are from being a true community of persons—Economic Justice for All

Catholic Charities places itself in the forefront of that effort to preserve and reestablish ‘a true community of persons.’ Whether it is direct service through the food pantry, disaster relief services, and application assistance with state benefits; community building through case management and life skill workshops; or advocacy through immigration legal services and pro bono legal services, Catholic Charities works to preserve the humanity of each individual person. Catholic Charities’ vision is expansive, seeing that both the needs of individuals, as well as the need for system change—needs that to be made in order to affectively help the poor. As Pope John Paul II said:

Love of preference for the poor, and the decisions which it inspire in us, cannot but embrace the immense multitudes of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, those without medical care and, above all, those without hope of a better future—On Social Concern

Pope gives reflection on new encyclical

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4plW8fGUrk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Encregister%2Ecom%2Fdaily%2Fpope%5Fensure%5Fethics%5Fshapes%5Feconomics%2F&feature=player_embedded

Earlier today during his general audience, Pope Benedict XVI gave a brief reflection in english on his new encyclical. He said:

Today I wish to reflect on my encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. Some 40 years after Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio, it too addresses social themes vital to the well-being of humanity and reminds us that authentic renewal of both individuals and society requires living by Christ’s truth in love which stands at the heart of the Church’s social teaching.

The encyclical does not aim to provide technical solutions to today’s social problems but instead focuses on the principles indispensable for human development. Most important among these is human life itself, the center of all true progress.

Additionally, it speaks of the right to religious freedom as a part of human development, it warns against unbounded hope in technology alone, and it underlines the need for upright men and women attentive to the common good in both politics and the business world.

In regard to matters of particular urgency affecting the word today, the encyclical addresses a wide range of issues and calls for decisive action to promote food security and agricultural development, as well as respect for the environment and for the rule of law. Stressed is the need for politicians, economists, producers and consumers alike to ensure that ethics shapes economics so that profit alone does not regulate the world of business.

Dear friends: Humanity is a single family where every development program if it is to be integral must consider the spiritual growth of human persons and the driving force of charity in truth.

Let us pray for all those who serve in politics and the management of economies, and, in particular, let us pray for the heads of state gathering in Italy for the G8 Summit. May their decisions promote true development, especially for the world’s poor. Thank you.

Caritas In Veritate

Yesterday the Vatican released Pope Benedict XVI’s new encyclical Caritas In Veritate. The release couldn’t have been timelier and has sparked lots of interest from both religious and secular circles. Here are some links. The first link is to the text of the encyclical and the second two are commentaries.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html

http://hancaquam.blogspot.com/2009/07/media-spinning-new-encyclical-surprise.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/world/europe/08pope.html?ref=world

The Rights and Responsibilities of Man

--The Third in a Series on the Principles of Social Justice--
By Sean DeWitt

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness—Declaration of Independence, 1776

During the bombardment of the sky, the blasting of the cannons, the ringing of the bells and the sweet sounds of the orchestra in that 1812 overture, the 4th of July represents more than just our nation’s independence, but man’s independence and freedom. On that day, we remember those ‘self-evident’ truths that we hold so dear: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But as Americans, we also understand that with those rights comes great responsibility.

The Church also recognizes such rights and responsibilities as a part of the natural law that God established through His creation. As the U.S. Catholic Bishops so eloquently state:

People have a fundamental right to life and those things that make life truly human: food, clothing, housing…Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities—to one another, to our families and to the larger society

The Church has always held that such rights and responsibilities directly correlate to our creation for in creation God gave us certain gifts and talents. As humans, we have the right to a certain level of dignity. However, we also have the responsibility of using the gifts and talents God gave us to their fullest. God did not give men talents to go burry them in the sand. Both in Honor of our Creator and for the sake of our own happiness, we must exercise our talents for the good of mankind. For in that pursuit of happiness, there must be a sense of satisfaction. Though the end results may differ for each of us, the happiness that comes from performing to the best of one’s abilities is true happiness—happiness that is self-sufficient. This true happiness cannot be taken away by anyone, other than yourself.

In light of this responsibility, we here at Catholic Charities feel that our work is fulfilling those responsibilities. As Carmen Cortes-Harms the Immigration Legal Service Director said, “I believe God has given me the talent to speak in public and He has provided me with the education necessary to help people. It is my duty and responsibility to use those gifts.” This is the true essence of charity work. We reach a point in our lives where we realize God has given us the opportunity to practice and perfect our talents. In turn, we use those talents to give back to others so that they may reach the same level of self-sufficiency.

And truly that is our goal here at Catholic Charities—self-sufficiency. Most critiques of charitable work or any kind of aid claim that people become dependent on the help and fail to reach the desired goal of self-sufficiency. We avoid this in the way we operate our case management program and our food pantry. In the case management program, we work with clients for an extended period of time, usually three months to a year. In that time, we assist them financially, and in goal setting—the end goal being self-sufficiency. Through the case management we hope to work with clients to help them get their heads above water, so to speak. We give them a helping hand, yet we also teach them how to stay afloat.

Our food panty accomplishes the same goal by giving out food to clients twice a month for six months and then only once a month for another six months. This encourages clients to use our panty, knowing they will get plenty of help for a while, but that they cannot rely on our resources forever. Every visit clients are interviewed to see that they are doing well. We hope to encourage our clients to use the pantry as a temporary aid to the situation they are in, not a permanent fix.

Facebook and Religion

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/technology/internet/05twitter.html?_r=1&ref=technology

An interesting article on the new challenges social networking sites like facebook, blogger, twitter and, myspace, are posing to religious institutions. How should the Church incorporate such mediums of communication or should it?

Obama Meets with Catholic News Services

Here is an article that ran on Friday of last week about Obama’s meeting with several of the Catholic News Services. In the meeting, Obama revealed some interesting views including his view on the Pope, and the influence of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago. The round table meeting also talks a lot about social justice issues and what the Church and the Government can do to work together. It seems that with all the strife between the Church and Obama there is one thing we can agree on and that is social justice.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0903039.htm

Unemployment Report

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/03/business/economy/03jobs.html?hp

New York Times article gives a clear picture of what both private and public non-profits are up against in this economy. Rising unemployment and longer periods of joblessness for the unemployed, means that the need for food pantries, job assistance, and financial assistance will keep growing.

Communtiy and Family

A continuation of the principles of social justice
by Sean DeWitt

The human person in not only sacred, but social—U.S. Catholic Bishops, A Century of Social Teaching, 5

Having laid the foundation for social justice through the understanding of Human Dignity, the next building block is the social nature of humans, i.e. community and family.

Here at Catholic Charities, helping communities and families is one of the most important things we do. Our efforts with the food pantry, feeding kids through Mobile Loaves and Fishes, signing families up for welfare programs such as CHIP and TANF, and our classes on money management all work to preserve and form strong families and communities. Through direct support and education, Catholic Charities concerns itself with developing skills so that individuals and families can, as Pope John Paul II said, enter the circle of exchange and to develop their skills in order to make the best use of their capacities and resources.

The reason community in particular the family is so important is that community provides the venue for man to practice his most basic rights. As Pope John Paul II says in Rerum Novarum:

It is a strict duty of justice and truth not to allow fundamental human needs to remain unsatisfied…It is also necessary to help these needy people to acquire expertise, to enter the circle of exchange, and to develop their skills in order to make the best use of their capacities and resources.

These fundamental human needs are derived from God’s commands at creation: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it (Gen. 1: 28). The latter part of this command is where we get our urge to work, create, buy, sell, talk, argue, celebrate, honor, and worship. In our work, we subdue God’s creation and add to it, procreating with God through the ages. We impart ourselves on creation, leaving our finger-print on our work. And we share our work with others, who in turn honor and praise our work for what it is worth, leaving us with a sense of satisfaction.

Our families provide the first instance where we can fulfill these human needs and enter into that circle of exchange and develop skills. Think of the child who makes mud pies in the back yard and shares them with his mother. She praises him, giving him a sense of accomplishment for his work—the same that happens in a community.

The family also provides the first venue for man to practice his, as Aristotle would say, political nature. ‘A man’s house is his castle,’ providing him with the first and most basic form of rule. The parents of the house lay down the law and discuss decisions to be made, while the kid’s observe and give their dissenting opinions at the dinner table that evening. All members have the opportunity to enter that circle of exchange in the form of discussion and argument.