Catholic Campaign for Human Development awards 23 grants totaling $45,000

By Raymond L. Delisle | diocesan Communications Ministry

“We have a man in his 70s sleeping in a storage shed. Can you take him into your shelter?”
“There are people coming to us who have never faced hardship like this before and need to learn how to cope.”

“This is Southbridge police and we have a domestic assault incident. Can you find a place for this man to sleep for the next few nights?”

These are just some of the experiences that were shared by Susan Howland of St. Luke’s Guesthouse, Lauren Morocco of Catholic Charities and Hope Schmitt of The Light of the Tri-Community at the annual gathering to distribute local grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development held on Oct. 27 at the Chancery library in Worcester. There were 23 grants locally awarded totaling $45,000 from the annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

“We are faced with sicker people in recent years,” said Liza Izzo who represented the Free Medical Programs at St. Anne, Shrewsbury and St. Peter in Worcester. “Clients have not had any medical care for years and that leads to a big increase in the number of lab tests we need to run and fund with grants like this.”

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, working to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ “... to bring good news to the poor ... release to captives ... sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free” (Luke 4:18).

“I think it is significant that the first thing Pope Leo XIV published, ‘I have loved you,’ addresses the intimate relationship between our faith and serving others,” said Bishop McManus after presenting the checks. “I thank God for so much good work being done by many volunteers in these 23 programs and pray that we will raise more money this year on the weekend of November 23 to expand the impact the programs have on our communities.”

The Southbridge Senior Citizens Latino Group is so grateful for the continued support they have received over the years, that they presented a check for $200 to start this year’s collection which was raised from their members. “If you want to receive, you also need to give,” said Severina Rios, a member of the group.

“A mother recently told our nurse that she thought her newborn baby didn’t like her because she wouldn’t smile at her,” said Sheilah Dooley of Pernet Family Health Service. “When the nurse explained as part of our home visit that newborns don’t smile, she was so relieved to know she was not being a bad mother. These grants make a huge impact on people’s lives.”
Dave McMahon of Dismas House spoke about how a man named Daniel, after serving his time, arrived at Dismas where staff supported him with regular meals, clothing, and so many other services. “CCHD has supported all of these aspects of our work in the past, helping stabilize people like Daniel so that they can find meaningful work, reconnect with family, and eventually move into their own home.”

The following grants were awarded:  
– $4,000 each to St. Anne Free Medical Program, Shrewsbury and St. Peter Free Medical Program, Worcester.  
– $3,000 each to Mary, Queen of the Rosary Parish, Spencer for emergency assistance and homeless prevention; St. James Outreach; and Our Lady of Hope Parish, North Grafton for food pantry assistance.  
– $2,500 each to three programs at Our Lady of Providence Parish, Worcester: the ESL Program, Bucky’s Food Pantry, and St. Bernard’s Gym with programs for youth outreach and support.  
– $2,000 each to The Light of the Tri-Community for emergency assistance in the Sturbridge area; the Southbridge Senior Citizens Latino Group for food and support programs,; St. Vincent de Paul, Uxbridge for rent assistance; St. Anne Parish Food Pantry in Shrewsbury; St. Luke’s Guesthouse in Southbridge for operational support of their shelter; St. Anthony’s Pantry & Food Pantry programs at Sacred Heart-St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, Worcester; and Pernet Family Health Service, Worcester for maternal and child healthcare.  
– $1,500 to Daily Bread Food Pantry, Inc. in Milford sponsored by Sacred Heart Parish.  
– $1,200 to Visitation House for food and assistance in their residential program.
– $1,000 each to Dismas House in Worcester for their residential program;  Catholic Charities Milford food pantry; Catholic Charities Southbridge food pantry; Catholic Charities Leominster utility assistance; and Catholic Charities Worcester utility assistance; Our Neighbors Kitchen at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Winchendon.  
– $800 to John 21 Community Breakfast at St. Patrick Parish, Whitinsville.  

Members of the local committee which review grant applications are Msgr. Francis Scollen, chair, Raymond Delisle, Patricia Halpin, Amie Neville and Edelmira Spence.

Since 1969, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has addressed poverty by attacking its root causes and funding community projects that promote independence as a means of finding a permanent end to poverty.

The CCHD collection is taken in parishes on the weekend before Thanksgiving. It is the primary source of funding for its anti-poverty grants and education programs. In the Diocese of Worcester, 75% of the collection is reserved for use with local programs. The remaining 25% is sent to the national office for national grants awarded around the country. Learn more at usccb.org/cchd.