Catholic Charities Of Boston
| Last updated on February 1, 2013 |
Catholic Charities is building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.
Description:
For more than 100 years, Catholic Charities has continued its mission of building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.
As one of the largest providers of social services in Massachusetts, Catholic Charities offers approximately 100 programs and services in 29 locations from Gloucester to Lawrence to Brockton and Boston. Over 217,000 people are helped each year regardless of faith.
Our programs and services are provided in three major areas:
- As an anti-poverty agency, Catholic Charities responds to the needs of the poor and working poor in our communities. This is accomplished by providing or helping them access emergency food, fuel, utility, rental, and mortgage assistance.
- Catholic Charities provides a variety of support services for children and families in order to strengthen and preserve families and provide children with the opportunities they deserve.
- With a variety of multicultural and multilingual services for immigrants and refugees, Catholic Charities is working to help these populations adjust to their new surroundings and become active participants in their communities.
Catholic Charities is a self-supporting, non-profit organization that relies on public, private, and United Way contributions.
History:
A Mission of Hope
The story of Catholic Charities begins in 1903 with John J. Williams, Archbishop of Boston. After witnessing the appalling social conditions of Boston's immigrant and predominantly Catholic population, the Archbishop envisioned an agency that would provide assistance and hope to families in need.
The Challenges of Change
During the first half of the twentieth century, the agency began primarily as an adoption/foster care agency, then continued to expand and evolve in order to provide direct assistance to poverty-stricken families, the elderly, single pregnant women, and newly-arrived immigrants. Between 1916 and 1920, branch offices opened in Brockton, Lawrence, Lynn, Salem, Somerville, and Lowell to assist needy Catholics and to reach out to include non-Catholic immigrants.
During the Great Depression, Catholic Charities joined with local social service agencies of all faiths to form the Community Federation of Boston, directly assisting hundreds of thousands of needy individuals. Catholic Charities supplied food and clothing to thousands of families daily and continued to find homes for orphans and children in need. As the Depression ended, Catholic Charities shifted its emphasis from direct assistance to adoption, foster care, marital counseling, alcohol abuse treatment, and immigration and refugee services.
Becoming incorporated in 1945, The Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston then expanded again, opening a branch office in Haverhill and beginning the process of professionalism in the staff.
During the latter half of the 20th century, Catholic Charities started to reach a wider community. The agency continued its expansion throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the establishment of a Central Office in 1972, housing the agency's fiscal, administrative, development, and public relations functions. Between 1987 and 1992, the Archdiocesan agencies El Centro del Cardenal in the South End, the Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester, and the Labouré Center in South Boston became part of the agency. Through approximately 100 social service programs at 29 locations, Catholic Charities has positioned itself to meet the needs of people in every stage of life.
Today, Catholic Charities maintains the same strong commitment that has guided it for more than 100 years: providing hope for all. Moving decisively toward meeting the needs of a changing population and the challenges of the new millennium, Catholic Charities remains focused on its mission: building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.
Contact person: Holly Clark, Development and Volunteer Officer, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (617) 832-7490
Address:
Web Site: http://www.ccab.org
| Last updated on February 1, 2013 |
