Celebrate Catholic Charities Sunday

Catholic Charities USA will celebrate its Centennial anniversary on Sept. 25, 2010. This anniversary provides a once-in-a- lifetime platform from which to proclaim the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the person and call all individuals, families, communities and organizations to work together to eliminate oppression and build a just and compassionate society.

In honor of the centennial, the U.S. Catholic Bishops designated Sunday, September 26, 2010 as National Catholic Charities Sunday. National Catholic Charities Sunday provides parishes with the opportunity to celebrate Catholic Charities' long standing efforts to provide help and create hope for millions of people in need each year and to advance a vision for our society in which individuals and communities can reach their God-given potential.

Catholic Charities USA has developed materials to help parishes celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Catholic Charities by reflecting on the Gospel and the witness of Catholic Charities, raising their voice to advocate for life and dignity for all, and responding to need and injustice in their communities. These materials are available in English and Spanish here.

At the same time, hundreds of staff and board members from Catholic Charities agencies from throughout the country will be gathering in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Centennial with workshops oriented toward Catholic Charities’ mission. They also will visit Capitol Hill, to ask legislators to partner with Catholic Charities USA toward achieving the goal of cutting poverty in half by 2020.