Syrian Refugee Crisis

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany has a website devoted to providing information about the Syrian refugees and the European migrant crisis. They explain that the situation is not new.

For more than four years, Catholic Relief Services and its local partners have been working to assist more than 600,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and northern Iraq. They are also working in the transit countries of Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, where resources to help the migrants are limited. In response to the Holy Father’s call to help resettle migrants in Europe, we are working with Caritas Germany to resettle refugees by providing accommodations, job assistance, early-integration activities and volunteer training.

Many people have asked what their parishes can do to help refugees being resettled in America. Currently the U.S. is accepting very few Syrians. Catholic Relief Services and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops are working together on advocacy opportunities to expand U.S. policy on accepting refugees from Syria and Iraq, provide more U.S. funding to refugees in neighboring countries, and exercise leadership for diplomatic efforts to end the fighting.

Catholics are urged to contact President Obama and their members of Congress today and urge them to lead the world in a coordinated response to save the lives of refugees. The United States must do its part to resettle many more Syrian refugees here, and provide more humanitarian and development assistance to refugees in the Middle East who hope to return home or to remain in the region. Finally, our nation should lead a concerted diplomatic effort to finally end the fighting in Syria so that refugees can return to their homeland in safety.

The Catholic Charities’ website also has links to background information about the situation as well as things that we can do now.

Free family concert on March 20

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany is helping Catholic Relief Services mark the 40th anniversary of the Lenten Rice Bowl Program with a free family event at Carondelet Hospitality Center, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road in Latham.

The event, scheduled for Friday, March 20 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., will include a simple supper and concert event to showcase the work of CRS Rice Bowl and bring Lenten giving to life. The event will feature family-friendly music from ValLimar Jansen and Ken Canedo and a stirring talk by CRS’ Thomas Awiapo.

ValLimar Jansen has sung sacred music since she was five-years-old. She has sung and toured professionally throughout the United States, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and Japan. She played the role of Beneatha, with the Broadway touring cast, in the European Premier of Raisin. ValLimar went on to co-author a one-woman musical about the life of Ethel Waters that received a special commendation from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

            Ken Canedo is a liturgical composer whose songs are sung in Catholic churches around the world. Long involved with spiritandsong.com, a contemporary Catholic music website, he is the voice behind the popular weekly Liturgy Podcast and also a Spirit Spot blogger. His most recent CD is Doxology, a collection of contemporary and traditional music to honor the Most Holy Trinity. He currently serves as a youth minister and pastoral musician for parishes in Portland, Oregon.

Ken writes frequently for Today’s Liturgy magazine. His first book, Keep the Fire Burning, was just released by Pastoral Press.

            Thomas Awiapo tells a truly inspiring story of survival and success. Orphaned before the age of 10, Awiapo survived bleak poverty and hunger in his small African village in Ghana. At age 12, his search for food led him to a school where Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – with funds contributed through the CRS Rice Bowl program – was providing lunch.

            Because of this food, Thomas survived and continued school, earning a master’s degree. Today, Thomas works for CRS and trains community leaders throughout Ghana. Thomas shows us how our participation in CRS Rice Bowl brings compassion, food and hope around the world.

Please RSVP to 518-453-6650 with the number in your group attending for the simple supper (soup, bread) so we can estimate food. Or you can e-mail Erica Kirkland at Erica.kirkland@rcda.org

Poverty panel Tuesday

Albany Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will discuss poverty in America on Tuesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in the Hospitality Center of St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road (Route 155), Latham.

Bishop Hubbard will discuss today’s conditions in light of his years of direct service to the poor as a priest in Albany’s South End, his long service with the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, and his current position as Chair of the United States Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Also speaking will be Chris Parsons, Director of the ASPIRE program for the Schenectady City Mission, who will present ideas on what local residents can do to assist those in need.

A free-will offering will be taken up for Catholic Charities’ emergency food services fund.

The session is sponsored by the Commission on Peace and Justice, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Biking to Florida

Don Berens, a parishioner at St. Pius X church in Loudonville, is pedaling his bicycle from Maine to Florida to raise money for the Emergency Assistance Program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany.

If this news gives you a sense of deja vu, it might be because, in 2008, Don rode his bicycle from Los Angeles to Boston for the benefit of the same program.
Don’s journey began on September 22 when he and other cyclists left Portland Maine. If all goes well, they will arrive in Daytona on October 15.

Don’s goal is to bike 1,600 miles through thirteen states in 24 days. The goal of Catholic Charities is to raise money for every mile that Don bikes. All 100% of the funds collected will be used to fund the Emergency Assistance Program which supplies emergency help with utilities, food, shelter, clothing and transportation to those in need, regardless of faith, in the 14 counties of the diocese in eastern New York.

From the website:

Don explains: “Bikers know that, no matter how well prepared we may think we are, we sometimes have emergencies on the road and we need others’ help with food, water, directions, first aid or shelter in a thunderstorm. Good Samaritan strangers have bailed me out of more than one bicycling jam. It is fitting that this ride will promote the ability of Catholic Charities to help our neighbors who need a hand.

The heart and history of Catholic Charities lie in its concern for and response to persons in the greatest need. Let’s rally as a community and join this remarkable journey by pledging funds to help those less fortunate.

You can follow Don's adventure on his blog, here, and can even make a donation.

Catholic Charities Clothing Drive

Catholic Charities is helping disadvantaged job seekers with a unique clothing drive:

From now until August 31, Catholic Charities Housing Office (CCHO)—homeless housing and emergency services provider—is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse to help disadvantaged job seekers get a boost of self-confidence during the fourth annual National Suit Drive, the country’s largest collection of gently used business attire.

This is Catholic Charities Housing Office’s first time joining Men’s Wearhouse and approximately 200 other charities to distribute the items collected at more than 900 Men’s Wearhouse locations. Items collected include men’s and women’s suits, shirts, jackets, ties, belts, and shoes. Residents of Albany may donate their gently used and cleaned items at Men’s Wearhouse, 18 Wolf Road, Colonie, NY.

“With nearly one out of ten working-age men unemployed in this country, the weak economic recovery has disproportionately hurt the male workforce,” said George Zimmer, Men’s Wearhouse founder and CEO. “By collecting and donating professional clothing, Men’s Wearhouse aims to help men ‘suit up’ for job interviews and give them an important boost of confidence that will help them reach their goals.”
. . .
To thank donors for their generosity, Men’s Wearhouse will reward them with 50% off a purchase at Men’s Wearhouse and will donate a tie for every suit received. What’s more is that for every “like” on Facebook, Men’s Wearhouse will donate a $1 to the cause, up to $10,000.

You can learn more here. You also can help by posting this flier at your place of business.

Catholic Charities Annual Report

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany responds to the needs of the many individuals and families that reach out for help. Their annual report is available here. Here is a list of their diocesan-wide services & ministries:

Social Action Ministries:
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• Catholic Relief Services
• Disaster Response
• Jail Ministry
• Public Policy
• Immigration/Citizenship
• Refugee Resettlement

Commissions:
• Aging
• Peace and Justice
• Restorative Justice

Housing and Property Management:
• DePaul Housing Management
• McCloskey

Community Services Corporation Alliance:
• Diocesan Community Health Alliance

Have fun helping refugees

Join adults and youth from throughout the diocese as they raise funds for the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program.

Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program and St. Pius X are sponsoring Hubbard’s Hoopla on Saturday, March 20th at 6:30 p.m. at Catholic Central High School in Troy.

Adults coached by Bishop Howard Hubbard will take on youth from throughout the diocese. There also will be games and activities for all during breaks in the action and halftime. Concessions will be available.

$5 per person

$20 per family (4 or more)

To sign players up contact Brian Evers spxyouth@hotmail.com

Catholic Charities Newsletter

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany has posted the latest issue of its Public Policy Education Network News here. The newsletter includes articles explaining the budget restorations and their importance to people in need in our communities. You'll also find information on other critical legislation we're following as the legislative session winds down. And you'll find an interview with David Hansell, Commissioner of the state's Office of Temporary and Disabilities Assistance, and information about the federal economic stimulus bill.