Caring for Our Neighbors: The Enduring Impact of Catholic Charities

By KRISTINA HAMMELL

From the banks of the Mississippi River in Winona to the open fields and prairies of Luverne, we touch the lives of those in need across southern Minnesota.

I often find myself highlighting to people that our Catholic Charities has faithfully served the communities of southern Minnesota for over 75 years. As the social services arm of the Diocese, we were initially formed to respond to the needs of orphaned children. Now, seven decades later, we've expanded to run more than a dozen programs, aiding those in need across our local communities. When talking about my work, some acknowledge our presence with remarks like, "Oh, I know about your homeless shelter down the road," or "Yes, my niece has been able to get help with diapers from Catholic Charities!" Yet, I'm still met with surprise when someone says, "There's a Catholic Charities around here?" I find it bewildering that, after 75 years, this can be so! So as I sit here today thinking about our upcoming Annual Appeal on Mother’s Day Weekend, with much hope for support, I wonder why some have heard of us while others haven’t.

One conclusion I came to was that it’s our longevity. While age often signifies wisdom and experience, it

can also cause us to not be in the forefront of people’s minds. To this, some acceptance is needed; age happens to us all, and we will continue to lead with our faith and knowledge of 75 years and care for people in their time of need. Let’s face it, Catholics understand more than most the wisdom of age after more than 2,000 years of carrying out God’s work!

I came to another conclusion: if you don’t need us you might not know us. How do we inspire people to support our Catholic Charities mission of caring for the poor and marginalized, if they themselves haven’t needed our help? For all of you who don’t know us, there are many who do. They are those in our communities that seek counseling during the long, isolating Minnesota winters or those facing the daunting prospect of medication costs, only to find relief through our prescription assistance program. You would know us if war separated you from your child for over 16 years until our resettlement team reunited your family; or if you’d considered adoption and found supportive staff at our agency whether you decided to parent or give a loving couple an opportunity to create a family.

You might know us through a renewed commitment to your health by joining our SAIL Active Aging classes. Or through advocates that have to make important decisions when those in our community can’t make them for themselves. You might never know what it’s like having to seek refuge from the bitter cold in one of our warming shelters, but we know that with wisdom comes the ability to understand that there are people in our communities that need our support. By supporting Catholic Charities you are helping your community and putting Catholic social teachings into action, as is articulated by our Parish Social Ministries program.

Maybe you HAVE heard of us, and after more than 75 years, we certainly hope so. We are YOUR Catholic Charities, dedicated to caring for your neighbors in southern Minnesota, and for you, too, if find yourself in a time of need. It's for this reason that we humbly request your donations and support during our Annual Appeal in the parishes May 11 and 12 - Mother’s Day Weekend. Learn more about Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota at www.ccsomn.org. Keep an eye out for our Annual Appeal mailer with stories from those in our communities that we have empowered to grow in their faith and their futures. Many thanks from your Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota.

Kristina Hammell Interim Director of Development Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota