Each month in this Jubilee Year, I am dedicating a column to an organization or ministry in our diocese which gives hope and inspiration to our people.
Last month, I reflected on our schools and religious education programs as sources of light and knowledge for our children and young people. This month, I reflect on the blessing of Catholic Charities.
Serving our communities
As the charitable arm of the diocese, our Catholic Charities serves the varied needs of thousands of people right here in our own communities. The homeless, the elderly, those overcoming addictions, those challenged with disabilities, shut-ins in our parishes, and the hungry, brothers and sisters all, receive love, support, and practical help from the presence and service of Catholic Charities.
Shawn Carney has been a humble and transformational leader of our Catholic Charities since 2021. He and his talented and dedicated team have worked hard to clarify its mission, raise its profile, and amplify its diocesan alignment.
The Catholic Church has always led the way in her contributions to the common good and in living out Christian charity in the public square, especially in the areas of health care, social services, and practical assistance to those who struggle with great material and/or psychological need.
Our Catholic Charities is a noble example of this rich Catholic tradition of social engagement and transformation.
The Beacon, a day center for homeless people in downtown Madison, is a primary ministry. Welcoming hundreds of people every day, The Beacon provides food, shelter, and respite during the daylight hours to folks who literally have nowhere else to go.
In addition, many social agencies provide wrap-around services at The Beacon — job training and opportunities, counseling, medical assistance, and permanent housing possibilities.
Thankfully, the city of Madison and Dane County provide some resources to fund The Beacon, and we are proud of those helpful partnerships.
Anytime I have been blessed to visit folks there, I come away with a deep sense of admiration and gratitude for the dedication and generosity of the staff and a profound sense of Christ’s presence in the people which The Beacon serves.
Rightfully named, this sacred place in the heart of the city offers light and hope to many.
5 Door Recovery offers residential treatment to folks who are struggling to overcome deadly addictions and literally have no other place to turn.
Through an integrated program of recovery and healing, 5 Door transforms and saves lives.
When I stop to visit there, at least one client assures me that they would literally be dead, if it was not for 5 Door.
The loving concern and generous professionalism of the staff makes this recovery program a spiritual and loving experience for people who have often lived without hope or light.
Both in Madison and Janesville, Catholic Charities operates day centers, both for older folks as well as those who have physical or cognitive disabilities.
Meals, activities, games, and prayer constitute days spent together in these sacred places in which our brothers and sisters find a welcoming home, loving hearts, and a community of support.
Again, the wonderful staff make these centers places of light, hope, and love for our brothers and sisters who often feel alone and isolated.
The Community Living Program, based in Marquette and Green Lake counties, provides residential services to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Additionally, in partnership with 10 parishes throughout our diocese, Catholic Charities operates mobile food pantries that serve our rural communities.
Care Team Ministry is a partnership between Catholic Charities and many of our parishes, whereby parishioners receive training, formation, and support to be a loving presence and a helpful support to folks in our parishes who often live in loneliness and isolation.
The resources Catholic Charities offers help our parishes to create, maintain, and grow these nourishing relationships within their own boundaries, as we love and serve each other in the name of Christ and His Holy Gospel.
Catholic Charities has also taken over the direction and implementation of Walking With Moms in Need, a diocesan initiative designed to help each of our parishes to offer accompaniment, support, and resources to women who are challenged with a pregnancy or the parenting of young children.
In this way, a mother or a family can approach any parish and find the help they are seeking in the moment. Every parish then becomes a place of welcome and resource to help these struggling mothers and families.
This effort is a beautiful part of our effort to live out the Gospel of Life.
Faithful efforts
As you can see, the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Madison is a source of hope, light, compassion, and support to so many people in our local communities.
Our prayers, volunteerism, and financial support enable our dedicated staff to do this remarkable work as we seek to both encounter Christ in and be Christ for our brothers and sisters in need.
I am very proud of our Catholic Charities and look to it as a sign of God’s healing and saving presence in our midst.
I am grateful to Shawn, the staff, the volunteers, and all our benefactors who make this great work of charity a living and luminous reality.
May the Lord continue to be glorified in these heroic efforts.