The year 2010 is indeed a very special year for Catholic Charities. It is a double Anniversary Year. On September 26th Catholic Charities USA will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary. Here in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Catholic Charities will be celebrating its 65th Anniversary. The announcement of the creation of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe was made on December 26, 1945, by the Most Rev. Edwin V. Byrne. Both organizations will be acknowledging their history and past service. More importantly we will be emphasizing our current service and our hopes for the future. We will be leading discussions of the needs of our communities and the obligation to be responsive to those most in need among us.
Here in the Archdiocese, Catholic Charities has completed its re-organization of services under five Centers for Excellence in Services: Center for Immigration and Citizenship Legal Assistance, Center for Refugee Settlement and Support, Center for Educational Opportunity, Center for Life and Family Skills, Development and Center for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Assistance. This has been a multiple year re-organization of our services and their development around core competencies. The Centers have their own identity, but all are firmly connected and are engaged in collaborative efforts. We have also strengthened our collaborative efforts with other community organizations thus combining the best of what they and we have to offer.
This year will be a difficult year for our communities; the national recession has created a year of challenges for us. The State of New Mexico is faced with a growing deficit and has started to implement reductions in funding and services that will decrease the availability of assistance to many in need. Unemployment and underemployment have swelled the ranks of those seeking aid from us.
Our partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Government continues to assist in the settlement of refugees from around the globe. In addition to the cultural and language barriers, Catholic Charities is faced with an expectation of quickly integrating these new residents into the community and teaching economic self sufficiency in a shrinking labor market. Other challenges of equal weight lay ahead for us.
Catholic Charities will not shrink from its obligations to be a force for positive development and hope in our communities. We will not forget that every person, every family has the right to be respected and treated with dignity. We will rise to the challenges put before us. We will not forget that we are an organization anchored in Faith and that through our actions we are demonstrating Faith and solidarity with our Human Family.
Catholic Charities is strengthened by the unity of our employees, volunteers and supporters in our vision to create: A community thriving in the abundance of God’s love as well as selflessly serving the needs of one another.
