Catholic Legacy Society

IMPACT HIGHLIGHT

Archdiocese’s “Mother Church” Continues Caring for Those in Need

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross underwent major renovations thanks to the Inspiring Hope capital campaign. As the “Mother Church” of our Archdiocese, and home to Boston’s Archbishop, the Cathedral is a beacon of hope to the surrounding community, serving a tremendously diverse population in Boston’s South End through countless programs. Some of these programs include: ■ Serving families through a food pantry ■ Offering help to homeless families transitioning from shelters to permanent housing ■ Providing free health services through the Cathedral Cares Clinic ■ Serving as an emergency back-up shelter for the Pine Street Inn and Boston Health

Care for the Homeless ■ Operating an off-site shelter for victims of human trafficking in collaboration with the

City of Boston ■ Hosting weekly AA meetings In addition to the above, and all that the parish does for the community, there are also 21 weekly Masses celebrated in four languages. We are blessed that donors to Inspiring Hope helped ensure this historic building will be there for years to come, not only to practice our faith, but to serve our brothers and sisters in need.

In 2020, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross renovation received the Preservation Achievement Award from the Boston Preservation Alliance.

“This community, which faces disparity and inequity every day, was among the most impacted by the pandemic. This grant helps us adapt to the times and the way of the future. I am so grateful – we could never have done this on our own.” − Fr. John Currie, Pastor

IMPACT HIGHLIGHT

Providing Funding for Parishes to Create Virtual Faith Formation Programs

When the pandemic hit, many parishes were well-prepared to pivot to the virtual world to keep parishioners connected to their faith. For St. Patrick, St. Peter and Holy Family Parishes in Dorchester however, the challenge was significant, as they serve a diverse, multi-lingual, and technologically underserved community. In the early days of the pandemic, these parishes struggled to continue faith formation programs for 650 children in grades 1 through 10 without the ability to gather in person. With a grant from the Catholic Community Fund through the John J. and Margaret M. Flatley Fund, the parishes now have the needed resources – laptops, cameras, and technical assistance – to continue their faith formation programs more effectively. The grant enables the parishes to design a program that also engages and supports parents in the learning process. It also gives them access to best practices in child protection safety protocols to help parishes and parishioners understand the safety issues facing children in the virtual world.

Catholic Health Foundation

The Catholic Health Foundation of Greater Boston, Inc. (CHF) provides financial support to non-profit organizations offering health care and healthcare services consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church within the 144 cities and towns that comprise the Archdiocese of Boston.

Grants are annually distributed in the following categories:

■ Bereavement ■ Building/Equipment ■ Cancer ■ Education (medical or health) ■ Employee assistance ■ Health or medical services for residents of Middleborough ■ Medical ■ Social needs ■ Unrestricted

No grants are made to individuals or government agencies, or for endowments or operating deficits.

Since making our first grants in June 2014, CHF has distributed 372 grants totaling nearly $4.2 million.

Catholic Health Foundation

Board Members

Patricia Kelleher Bartram President Executive Director Boston Catholic Development Services Archdiocese of Boston

John E. Straub Treasurer Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Archdiocese of Boston

Francis O’Connor, Esq. Secretary General Counsel Archdiocese of Boston Janice E. Healey, C.D.A. East Falmouth, MA

Patricia S. Jay, M.D., N.C.M.P. Dedham, MA

Rev. Arthur T. MacKay, O.D. Catholic Chaplain Lahey Hospital and MetroWest Medical Center

MC Sullivan, J.D., M.T.S., R.N. Chief Healthcare Ethicist and Director, Initiative for Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning Archdiocese of Boston

Executive Director Lisa Lipsett, Esq.

The nation’s oldest nonprofit child and family services agency, the Home for Little Wanderers works to ensure the healthy behavioral, emotional, social, and educational development and physical well-being of children and families living in at-risk circumstances.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHT

Home for Little Wanderers’ Safe at Home Program

The Safe at Home program supports children on the verge of out-of-home placement due to a mental or behavioral health crisis to enable them to remain at home.

Funded in part through a grant from the Catholic Health Foundation, Safe at Home staff members work with families to provide intensive, collaborative, home-based treatment centered around developing strengths and skills to provide a safe environment and prevent the need for placement in a group home or mental health facility. Through weekly or bi-weekly meetings, families learn how to improve their communication, recognize triggers before a crisis erupts, and develop ways to effectively handle crises that do occur. The process is a long one and requires individualized plans for each case. Many of these families are dealing with poverty, food insecurity, cultural issues, and/or deep trauma.

The pandemic presented new challenges to families already overwhelmed and under-resourced and forced Safe at Home staff members to transition to a remote, telehealth environment. During the pandemic, the program staff went above and beyond clinical therapy – not only providing sensory tools to help maximize telehealth sessions, but also delivering food to help families dealing with job loss and food insecurity. As reduced restrictions allow a return to more traditional visits, the program staff is preparing for the toll the pandemic has had on both families and clinicians. They continue to develop treatments and practices that will adapt to an evergrowing need.