Collaborating with other Ministries is Essential

On January 1, 2010, we celebrated a new year and the beginning of a new decade. New beginnings are exciting – we have the opportunity to set new goals, have a fresh start and look at new possibilities. But there is no doubt that we also carry with us the challenges of the past and what challenges we have faced as a nation, a state and a Diocese.

Many of the new challenges we are facing in 2010 are the result of the prolonged economic recession. In October, 2009, our Angels of Hope Food Pantry fed more people than in any other month in our history: 719 households or 2,637 people. More people called for rent, mortgage and utility assistance than ever before. And we are not alone. Catholic Charities USA conducted a survey and received responses from 74 Catholic Charities agencies from around the country and covers the third quarter of 2009. The survey indicated that 70 percent of agencies saw an increase in demand for food stamps; 85 percent reported increased requests for rent or mortgage assistance; and 42 percent saw an increase in demand for counseling and mental health services. According to Fr. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA, the driving force behind the increased demand is the loss of jobs; noting not only the high unemployment in urban areas like Detroit but also the diminishing number of jobs in rural areas.

We can’t meet all the needs that come to us. That’s why collaborating with other Catholic ministries like St. Vincent de Paul, Mary Catholic Worker House, Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Vincare, to name a few, is very important. But with your help and the help of our partners, we can continue to strengthen families by providing help and hope to our brothers and sisters here in the Diocese of Austin. Thanks for all you do to serve Christ and the Church through your ministry at Catholic Charities.

I hope that 2010 is a great year for all of us!