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Central
Region Programs Family Education Northern
Region Programs Get Involved Ethics Statement United Way of Central NM donors - Don’t for get to designate your donations to Catholic Charities! CFC Donors - Your donations can be designated to Catholic Charities Albuquerque & Santa Fe if you want the donations to be used in this area. |
| Our Mission: Guided by faith and love, Catholic Charities provides help and creates hope by supporting families, fighting poverty, and building community. |
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To learn about Sponsorship Opportunities, to volunteer, and/or to decorate a tree -- call Catholic Charities Development Office at 505-724-4621 or 505-724-4693. Please Click Here for pictures from last year's event. Catholic Charities Celebrates Sixty Years of Service in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Catholic Charities, a faith-based non-profit family service agency, has assisted individuals and families in New Mexico for sixty years. Its mission, “Guided by faith and love, Catholic Charities provides help and creates hope by supporting families, fighting poverty, and building community,” has provided a foundation as the agency has sought to reflect Catholic social tradition amidst the challenges of modern society. Throughout the decades since Catholic Charities was founded in New Mexico, it has been dedicated to finding solutions to some of the most pressing problems faced by families. The Most Reverend Edwin V. Byrne, Archbishop of Santa Fe, saw a need and established Catholic Charities in New Mexico. He said, “Christian Charity is not the concern of the few, but of the many. Catholic Charities must be taken to our hearts with the deep understanding that our work is done at the command of the Christ we worship, and in accord with the ideals He established for us.”
The agency quickly expanded as the first district office was opened in Albuquerque on January 15, 1948, under the direction of Rev. Patrick Kelleher, S.J., Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish. The mission of the district office was to provide direct services and to coordinate existing charitable organizations in the church. An Albuquerque office was opened in 1950, and in 1952 Catholic Charities Bureau of Albuquerque was incorporated. The 1950’s also saw Catholic Charities of Albuquerque become the first private agency to be certified by the state of New Mexico to facilitate foster care and adoption placements (1954), and Catholic Charities in Santa Fe was the second private agency to be certified (1959). In 1958, the Santa Fe Catholic Charities Bureau was incorporated. In 1960 C.F. Lucero was appointed head of Catholic Charities of Santa Fe and remained in that position until 1988 when he retired. In 1961 The Archdiocese held the first annual collection for Catholic Charities of Santa Fe. “Help Catholic Charities extend the hands of Christ to needy families” was the theme of the annual appeal for Catholic Charities in 1962. Catholic Charities Bureaus became Catholic Social Services in the 1970’s. In the 1980’s both Albuquerque and Santa Fe offices began providing services for immigrants. The 1990’s saw a time of growth and change. The Executive Director of Catholic Social Services of Albuquerque was also named the Executive Director of Catholic Social Services of Santa Fe and established mutually beneficial activities in Counseling, Immigration and Adoption programs. The Teen Parent Support Project and Proyecto La Luz, a housing program for homeless women and children, were both initiated. In Albuquerque, the 2010 Bridge building was purchased, and Santa Fe purchased 4985 Airport Rd. Many more programs were initiated in the 1990’s: Daycare; Mentor Mom Program; Childcare; Welfare-to-Work; Client Courthouse Advocacy Project; and Parish Social Ministry. In 1997, Greg Kepferle was hired as executive Director in Albuquerque. During his tenure agencies changed their names to Catholic Charities of Santa Fe and Catholic Charities of Central New Mexico to conform to the identity of Catholic Charities USA. Over 90 paid staff and 300 volunteers were carrying out the work of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Substance abuse programs were initiated in response to the Archbishop’s pastoral letter on substance abuse. Family Support Services and Infant Adoption Awareness Training programs were begun. Catholic Charities of Santa Fe and Catholic Charities of Albuquerque merged to form one Catholic Charities agency, with offices in both Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The Hibernian House Senior Apartments were completed, providing housing to 20 low-income seniors. The Stone Soup Collaborative grant gave wings and feet to other programs such as the Access to Recovery and Community and Parish Partnerships. The building at 1410 Coal Avenue was sold. Today, Catholic Charities continues the tradition of meeting the challenges of service in New Mexico’s many rural communities by working collaboratively with local churches and community groups to meet local needs. Catholic Charities often works as a catalyst in the community, bringing groups together to address pressing concerns. As programs and personnel and buildings have come and gone, Catholic Charities has been guided by the words of Jesus, “Whatever you do to the least of these, that you do unto me.” Catholic Charities has remained dedicated to the rich tradition of Catholic social teaching and continues to provide superior services. It has an excellent reputation among other service providers, government funding agencies, and the community. Catholic Charities is one of only three non-profit service agencies in the state of New Mexico to be fully accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Services for Children and Families. Remembering the words of Archbishop Byrne that “Christian Charity is not the concern of the few, but of the many,” Catholic Charities, with the growing support of parishes, businesses, individuals and the community at large, will continue to address and meet the challenging needs of the times. |
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Save the Date
On December 30, 1945, Archbishop Byrne, appointed Monsignor William Bradley as the Archdiocesan Director of Catholic Charities. A few days later on January 3, 1946, Catholic Charities Bureau of Santa Fe opened the first Catholic Charities office in the state. A social worker was hired, and provided social services for the Catholic clinic in Santa Fe.
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