Grace Thompson
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is a national voluntary membership organization for Catholic Charities agencies across the United States and its territories. It was founded in 1910 as the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) by men and women who believed that the collective efforts of the Catholic Church could help those in need and reduce poverty in the nation. CCUSA is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a worldwide federation of Catholic social service organizations. CCUSA has 167 member organizations nationwide, and its diocesan member agencies and affiliated ministries operate 2,598 service sites in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. CCUSA's mission is to provide service to people in need, advocate for justice in social structures, and call on the entire Church and others to do the same.
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What You'll Learn
The National Conference of Catholic Charities is founded in 1910
The National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) was founded in 1910 as "the attorney for the poor". The organisation was established as a meaningful and lasting national federation, with the aim of building skill and capacity at the local level.
The founding meeting of the NCCC took place at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and was attended by nearly 400 people involved in Catholic charitable work, including clergy, lay and religious men and women, social workers, and academics. The early leaders of the NCCC were Msgr. William J. Kerby, Msgr. John O’Grady, and Bishop Thomas J.
The NCCC was founded during a tumultuous time in US history, marked by great wealth inequality and widespread poverty. At the time, about half of the approximately 15 million Catholics in the United States lived in poverty. The NCCC was inspired by a vision of charity and justice, and sought to meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable.
The establishment of the NCCC built upon the work of various Catholic charitable groups and institutions that had been operating locally in the US since the 19th century. By 1900, there were over 800 Catholic institutions dedicated to the care of children, the elderly, the sick, and the disabled. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, founded in 1845, played a significant role in the formation of the NCCC and in its early local leadership. The Vincentians initiated many programs that became core services for NCCC diocesan agencies, such as home-finding bureaus for foster children, residential centres for youth, and emergency food and clothing services.
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Catholic Charities' response to disasters
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is a national voluntary membership organization for Catholic Charities agencies across the United States and its territories. It was founded in 1910 as the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) and changed its name to Catholic Charities USA in 1986. CCUSA is a member of Caritas Internationalis, an international federation of Catholic social service organizations.
CCUSA has a long history of responding to disasters across the country, providing immediate and long-term aid to communities devastated by natural and man-made disasters. They have responded to incidents such as the September 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Helene, and Milton, the Gulf Coast oil spill, and Superstorm Sandy.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, CCUSA played a crucial role in the relief efforts, receiving and distributing over $163 million in donations for disaster response in the Gulf region. CCUSA also provides disaster preparedness training through the Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE), preparing its network and staff for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
CCUSA's disaster response includes the deployment of disaster experts, technical assistance, and direct support. They coordinate in-kind donations and distribute basic necessities such as water, food, diapers, clothing, and shelter. CCUSA also offers financial assistance to those impacted by disasters, helping with utilities, auto payments, home repairs, and more.
CCUSA's Disaster Operations, led by Kim Burgo, coordinates the Catholic Church's response to disasters and grants relief funds to local Catholic Charities agencies. They are currently training 400 disaster case managers (DCMs) who can be dispatched through the Disaster Response app to provide humanitarian services, case management, and disaster training for local staff and volunteers.
CCUSA is committed to addressing human vulnerability, suffering, and poverty, striving to implement long-term sustainable solutions at various levels. Their Social Policy Team crafts legislative priorities and recommendations based on the needs of the vulnerable populations they serve.
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The Great Depression
During this time, Catholic Charities leaders advocated for public funds, calling on the government to provide relief, as outlined by Pope Pius XI in his 1931 encyclical Quadragesimo Anno. The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as president and his proposed legislation to combat the Depression presented an opportunity for dialogue about social justice. Msgr. John O'Grady, the second executive secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC), played a crucial role in advocating for workers, families, and the poor, contributing to the passage of significant economic security, labor, and public housing laws.
The impact of the Great Depression on Catholic Charities was profound, testing the organization's capabilities and underscoring the necessity of government intervention during times of widespread economic hardship. Msgr. John O'Grady's leadership during this challenging period was instrumental in shaping the organization's response and advocating for those most vulnerable.
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CCUSA's mission and work
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is a non-profit, voluntary membership organisation and the national office of 167-168 local Catholic Charities agencies across the United States and its territories. It was founded in 1910 as the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC) by men and women who believed that the collective efforts of the Catholic Church could change the course of poverty in the nation. It changed its name to Catholic Charities USA in 1986.
CCUSA is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a worldwide federation of Catholic social service organisations. It is headquartered in Alexandria, VA, and has more than 65,000 employees and 300,000 volunteers. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees, many of whom lead local Catholic Charities agencies.
CCUSA's mission is to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of goodwill to do the same. It provides valuable support and resources to its members, including financial assistance and in-kind donations, as well as joint grant opportunities, housing gap loan funding, and help for communities recovering from disasters.
CCUSA has a Disaster Response Team that coordinates the Catholic Church's response to natural and human-made disasters in the United States and grants relief funds to local Catholic Charities agencies. The organisation has responded to disasters such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf Coast oil spill, and Superstorm Sandy. It also provides support to migrants on the US-Mexico border.
CCUSA's members provide a wide array of programs and services, including pregnancy support and adoption, affordable housing, immigration and refugee support, integrated health, emergency food and shelter, direct financial assistance, counselling, and support for families recovering from natural disasters. They serve more than 15 million people in need each year, including the homeless, the unemployed, hungry children, isolated elderly people, vulnerable migrants and refugees, pregnant women, new mothers, and persons with disabilities.
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History of Catholic Charities of LA
The Catholic Charities of LA has a long history of serving the vulnerable and striving for a just society in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. The organization was first established in 1919 by Most Rev. John J. Cantwell, Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, as the Associated Catholic Charities. The organization's goal was to provide help and create hope for the poor and vulnerable in Los Angeles and the surrounding counties.
In 1921, the organization became the Bureau of Catholic Charities, linking all Catholic activities with state, county, and city departments, institutions, and agencies. This marked the beginning of a more formalized structure for the organization. In 1926, the organization was renamed the Catholic Welfare Bureau of the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego when Monterey and Fresno split off to form their own Diocese.
The Catholic Welfare Bureau continued to grow and expand its reach. In 1936, the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego was elevated to become the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, with the Catholic Welfare Bureau serving as its social service arm. The Bureau was incorporated in the State of California in 1937. Over the years, the Bureau developed and expanded its programs, serving the communities in its territory.
In 1985, the organization was renamed Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. This marked a new chapter in the organization's history, as it continued to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of the communities it served. The organization has since developed numerous programs and services, including homeless shelters, food pantries, youth employment services, counseling, and immigration assistance, among others.
Today, Catholic Charities of Los Angeles continues its mission to serve those in need. It operates 22 community centers and seven homeless shelters and provides over 50 programs to help the poor and vulnerable. The organization remains committed to finding permanent solutions to crisis situations and empowering individuals to achieve greater self-reliance and stability in their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) was founded in 1910 as the National Conference of Catholic Charities (NCCC).
It was founded by men and women who believed that the collective efforts of the Catholic Church could change the course of poverty in the nation.
The mission of Catholic Charities is to provide service to people, families, and communities in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire church and all people to do the same.
Catholic Charities agencies provide support to people without homes, those who are unemployed, children who are hungry, elderly persons who are isolated, vulnerable migrants, families recovering from disasters, and more. They also provide disaster relief and have responded to events such as the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the Gulf Coast oil spill.
