Meeting the needs of people in the area for almost 60 years a

• To build a new Assisi Bridge House – a halfway house for men struggling with alcoholism – and to implement an effective program for residents.

• To continue the traditional services of the agency, upon request, which include adoptions, foster home placements, maternity home placement, emergency assistance, and counseling.

Each goal was met, some by Catholic Social Services alone and others in partnership with other agencies. Over the years, new programs and initiatives have been added.

• In 1983, Catholic Community Center was opened to meet the growing demand for services in South Lafourche.

• In 1984, Catholic Social Services moved into its present location at 1220 Aycock Street in the offices formerly occupied by the Pastoral Center offices.

• In 1985, the Independent Living Program was added to the services offered by the Assisi Bridge House.

• In 1987, the Good Samaritan Food Banks and the Thrift Store were established.

1990s

Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, diocesan disaster services officially became an agency responsibility. With Catholic Charities USA’s long-term recovery funding following Hurricane Andrew, CSS formed Catholic Housing Services and CENTS. The Foster Grandparent Program started in 1996 in response to the needs of at-risk children and the desire for meaningful volunteer opportunities for low-income elderly people. It was the first new FGP program started in Louisiana in several years.

In 1999, Robert D. Gorman, who started with the agency in 1982, was named executive director of Catholic Social Services and made “Putting Children and Families First,” from the U.S. Bishop’s pastoral of the same name, the guiding agency theme.

2000s

A Catholic Voice for Justice, a legislative advocacy network, was launched in 2000 and became the most prominent Catholic network in the state.

In 2005, during Hurricane Katrina, the Matthew 25 Disaster Preparedness and Response Ministry was organized by the agency and continued through repeated disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, Isaac and the BP oil spill. CCHT distributed over $7,400,000 between 2005-2017 in relief to local families.

In 2008, the Catholic Charities Endowment was created to raise $500,000 in five years. The Catholic Charities Endowment provides funding, in perpetuity, for the charitable works of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Catholic social teaching education, social justice advocacy, social services, and community organizing are all supported through the endowment. Donations may be designated to a specific agency program or to support all agency programs. In 2009, to take advantage of the growing national recognition of the Catholic Charities name, Catholic Social Services changed to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. In 2012, CCHT was instrumental in forming the Bayou Community Foundation, a community foundation similar to the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Greater Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

In 2019, Dr. Nicole M. Bourgeois, Ph.D., LMFT, was named executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux (CCHT). Dr. Bourgeois established the Caritas Food Pantry located in East Houma. The guiding focus during Dr. Bourgeois’ tenure was mental health awareness, and the theme became “Faith at Work,” delivering services under the following four pillars: Food, Clothing, Shelter and Comfort. In 2020, the world was a impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in CCHT providing telehealth services. In August 2021, the Tri-Parish area was affected by Hurricane Ida.

In 2022, Chamon L. Williams was named the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux after a 14-year departure working with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Jackson, MS. Presently, Catholic Charities is actively providing relief assistance to families and individuals affected by Hurricane Ida. In addition, Catholic Charities Houma-Thibodaux continues to provide services via Assisi Bridge House, Catholic Community Center, Catholic Housing Services, Individual and Family Assistance, Foster Grandparent program, Good Samaritan Food Bank of Thibodaux, Good Samaritan Food Bank of Raceland, St. Lucy Child Development Center, and Thrift Stores located in Galliano and Raceland.

“We are grateful to be available to serve the communities of Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary and Jefferson parishes after all these years. It is our goal to continue to evolve as the needs of our community evolve,” says Williams.

Please visit our website at www.catholiccharitiesht.org and our Facebook page at catholiccharitiesHT for updates.

Should you or someone you know need assistance or further information on the services we provide, please contact us at (985) 876-0490. BC