Joshua Bennett
Catholic Community Services is a non-profit, faith-based organization that offers immediate help by providing food and other assistance to anyone in need. Rooted in the Gospel message of love and hope, the organization serves those struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism. Founded in Salem in 1938, Catholic Community Services now offers 9 programs across 10 Oregon counties and serves more than 7,000 people annually. The organization empowers people in need to achieve self-sufficiency and provides support regardless of race, religion, or personal circumstances. It also offers refugee and immigrant services, and its values of love, justice, truth, and freedom guide its work in safeguarding the dignity of all people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of organization | Non-profit |
| Founding principles | Gospel message of love and hope |
| Year founded | 1938 |
| Location | Salem, Oregon |
| No. of programs | 9 |
| No. of people served per year | 7,000+ |
| No. of counties served | 10 |
| Focus areas | Poverty alleviation, intolerance, racism, self-sufficiency, immigration |
| Services | Food, financial assistance, housing, refugee support, trauma-informed care |
| Guiding principles | Love, justice, truth, freedom, nonviolence, emotional intelligence, social learning, democracy |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic Community Services is a non-profit
The organisation's mission is to empower individuals and families struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism. They provide immediate assistance in the form of food and other basic needs, as well as long-term support to help people gain self-sufficiency and control over their lives. Catholic Community Services also offers specialised services for refugees and immigrants, including legal assistance and support with citizenship and green card applications.
In addition to their direct services, Catholic Community Services is committed to environmental stewardship and care for creation. Their headquarters generates solar energy, and they actively track their impact on the environment. The organisation also prioritises diversity, equity, and inclusion, working to overcome any barriers to the inclusion of diverse individuals and communities.
Catholic Community Services of Lane County, for example, provided over $5 million in rent assistance and $2.4 million in energy assistance to more than 3,800 families in need during the 2023-24 fiscal year. They also distributed over 33,000 food boxes, making them the largest no-cost food distributor in Lane County. The organisation relies on the support of volunteers and donations to continue their work and provide these essential services to the community.
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Services guided by Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is a set of principles and beliefs that guide the Catholic Church's social and charitable work. It is rooted in the idea that all human life is sacred and that every person has inherent dignity and worth. This belief forms the foundation of all Catholic social teaching and is reflected in the Church's focus on helping those struggling with poverty and the effects of intolerance and racism.
One of the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching is the importance of marriage and the family as the central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened. The Catholic Church believes that human dignity can only be protected and a healthy community can only be achieved if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. This includes the fundamental right to life and the right to those things required for human decency.
Catholic Social Teaching also emphasizes the importance of caring for the earth and protecting the environment. Pope Francis has referred to this as integral ecology, recognizing that all of creation is interconnected and that humans are dependent on the environment. This belief is not just an Earth Day slogan but is a requirement of the Catholic faith.
Catholic Community Services is an organization that embodies these principles of Catholic Social Teaching. For example, Catholic Community Services of Utah has been empowering people in need since 1945, regardless of race, religion, or personal circumstance. They provide support and service to vulnerable individuals and families, such as refugees, and help them achieve self-sufficiency. Similarly, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington focuses on serving individuals, children, and families struggling with poverty and the impacts of intolerance and racism.
Caritas Internationalis is another organization guided by Catholic Social Teaching. They work to put young people's beliefs into action by providing opportunities for volunteer coordination, peacebuilding, campaigning, and emergency response. Caritas also provides free healthcare to vulnerable communities, such as in the Gaza Strip, and supports agricultural and economic development initiatives in places like South Sudan and the Amazon.
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Providing basic needs and refugee support
Catholic Charities Community Services is a non-profit organisation that has been at the forefront of refugee resettlement since 1975. The organisation helps refugees and vulnerable immigrants who have fled their countries due to violence, persecution, war, and natural disasters. They provide a range of services to meet the basic needs of these individuals and families and help them achieve self-sufficiency.
One of the key services offered by Catholic Charities is finding and setting up apartments for refugees. They ensure that the apartments are furnished and stocked with essential items such as kitchenware, food, hygiene products, and bedding. Additionally, they provide transportation from the airport to the refugee's new residence.
Case managers, trainers, and job developers play a crucial role in helping refugees navigate their new environment. They assist with learning English, finding employment, and understanding various systems and processes in the United States. Catholic Charities also offers community and cultural orientation sessions that cover topics such as cultural adjustment, education, financial literacy, health, housing, transportation, and U.S. laws.
Unaccompanied refugee minors receive special support through foster care placements. These children are enrolled in school and receive medical and dental care, as well as counselling services. Catholic Charities provides ongoing case management to prepare them for independent living as they transition into adulthood.
The organisation also extends its support to vulnerable communities within the United States who are struggling with poverty and the impacts of intolerance and racism. Catholic Charities works collaboratively with government agencies, such as the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, to ensure that refugees receive the necessary assistance and protection.
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Practicing Gospel values of love, compassion, and hope
Catholic Community Services is a non-profit organization that has been serving people in need since 1945. The organization's mission is to practice Gospel values of love, compassion, and hope through service, support, and collaboration.
The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of compassion and portrays it as an essential virtue for believers to embody in their interactions with one another and the world around them. One of the most well-known passages about compassion is found in the book of Matthew, where Jesus teaches his disciples, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39, ESV). This commandment encourages us to treat others with the same care, kindness, and understanding that we desire for ourselves.
- Cultivate Empathy: Seek to understand others' experiences, perspectives, and emotions. Put yourself in their shoes to foster genuine empathy.
- Reflect on God's Compassion: Meditate on scriptures that highlight God's compassion, such as Psalm 103:13: "As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him." Allow God's compassion to shape your own heart.
- Practice Kindness: Look for opportunities to extend acts of kindness and mercy to those around you. Small gestures of love and care can make a significant impact.
- Be Attentive to Others' Needs: Pay attention to both the physical and emotional needs of those around you. Offer assistance and support when you see someone in distress or facing challenges.
- Practice Forgiveness: Show compassion by extending forgiveness to those who have wronged you. Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
- Serve Others: Engage in acts of service that meet the practical needs of others. Volunteer, help the elderly, or participate in community initiatives that support the vulnerable.
- Pray for a Compassionate Heart: Ask God to cultivate compassion within you and seek His guidance to love others with His unconditional love.
- Avoid Judgment: Refrain from making hasty judgments or assumptions about others. Instead, seek to understand their circumstances and extend grace and compassion.
- Share the Love of Christ: Let your compassion be a reflection of Christ's love. Show others the transformative power of God's compassion by sharing the message of salvation.
By practicing these Gospel values, we can make a positive impact on the lives of those around us and bring hope to those in need.
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Serving those struggling with poverty and racism
Catholic Community Services is a non-profit organization that has been serving people in need since 1945. With a focus on the Gospel values of love, compassion, and hope, they provide service, support, and collaboration to those struggling with poverty and racism. Their work is rooted in the belief that every person is made in God's image and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, religion, or personal circumstances.
Catholic Community Services offers a range of programs and services aimed at alleviating poverty and providing hope to those in need. They are among the largest providers of safe, decent, and affordable housing in the nation, with more than 38,000 permanent units for families, seniors, veterans, and others. They also offer temporary and emergency housing solutions for those in crisis.
In addition to housing, Catholic Community Services addresses food insecurity by providing healthy food options through food banks, pantries, schools, daycare centers, and community farms. They understand that hunger knows no bounds and strive to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious meals.
The organization also provides support for integral human development, caring for the whole person's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. They offer programs that improve individuals' potential in the workplace and contribute to poverty alleviation, such as social enterprise business models and workforce development initiatives.
Catholic Community Services of Utah, for example, shared the story of a refugee woman who sought their help after her immigrant husband was detained by ICE. Through their immigration team's dedicated work, they were able to help the wife achieve citizenship and the husband apply for his green card, keeping the family together and offering them a new start.
The organization firmly believes that both poverty and racism are affronts to the Christian conscience and endanger social peace and future prosperity. They invite others to join them in taking concerted action toward healing and addressing racial injustice and bias.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Catholic Community Services is a non-profit, faith-based organisation.
Catholic Community Services is based in Salem, Oregon, but has outreaches in Western Washington, Utah, and Lane County.
Catholic Community Services' mission is to practice Gospel values of love, compassion, and hope through service, support, and collaboration. They aim to serve those in need, regardless of race, religion, or personal circumstances.
Catholic Community Services offers a range of services, including food assistance, rent assistance, energy assistance, and immigration support. They also provide support for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Catholic Community Services relies on the support of volunteers and donations from the community. You can get involved by volunteering your time, donating financially, or providing items to those in need.
