Kathryn is a Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) member who will complete her year long commitment at Catholic Parish Outreach. She reflects below on why she wanted to become a Jesuit Volunteer and what her time at Catholic Charities has meant to her so far. I graduated college six months ago and the day is still a blur in my mind. A rainy day in Worcester, Massachusetts, I was anxious about the tearful goodbyes I had to make, I was nervous about leaving the familiarity of college life, and I was worried… Read More
Catholic Charities held its 2014 Community Partners Recognition Dinner on Thursday, October 30 at Saint Michael’s Parish Center in Cary. Cathy Penny, a member of the Catholic Charities board of directors, welcomed guests, and Fr. Douglas Reed, pastor of Saint Michael, said the opening prayer. The event included distribution of grants from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD.) Two national grant winners, Durham Economic Resource Center and Orange County Justice United, received grants of $50,000 and $35,000, respectively. Nine organizations received local grants which ranged from $500 – $3,000… Read More
On Thursday, October 30th Bishop Michael F. Burbidge presented the Bishop F. Joseph Gossman Community Leadership and Service Award to Mr. George Quigley of Saint Ann in Fayetteville. The award was presented during the 2014 Annual Community Partners Recognition Dinner at the Saint Michael Parish Center in Cary. Mr. Quigley, who is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, received the award for his work giving back to the community as a volunteer. A former member of the Catholic Charities board, Mr. Quigley is known for his sense of humor… Read More
On Thursday, October 30, Catholic Charities honored Alice Sontag with the 2014 John J. Carey Award for Outstanding Contribution to Charity and Social Outreach Ministry. A retired teacher, Ms. Sontag is a member of Saint Peter the Fisherman Mission in Oriental. Gary Skinner, executive director of Catholic Charities, presented the award at the Community Partners Recognition Dinner at Saint Michael’s Parish Center in Cary. He spoke about Ms. Sontag’s work on the pastoral council, building committee and fundraising committee at her parish. He noted that she once noticed that a local… Read More
The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security has announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Honduras has been extended. Eligible families must apply for this extension by December 15, 2014 to be considered. The current extension will last for an 18 month period, from January 6, 2015 through July 5, 2016. Families may receive assistance with the re-registration process from Catholic Charities. For assistance, please call the office nearest you to set up an appointment with a BIA accredited staff member. Centro para Familias Hispanas, Raleigh 919-873-0094 Tar… Read More
Astrid started her yearlong AmeriCorps commitment with Catholic Charities in September. She helps with administrative duties at the front desk, family case support, and assisting clients with employment services. Below is her reflection on what her time at Centro La Comunidad has meant so far. When I knew I wanted to volunteer and be part of my community, Centro la Comunidad immediately came to my mind. Soon I realized that Centro la Comunidad was not alone, and that it was part of an even bigger organization throughout North Carolina, Catholic Charities. I… Read More
Maria Rau has been working as a student intern in the Fayetteville Regional Office since June. Maria has been providing clinical counseling to individuals, families, and couples. She has also been engaged in teaching Parenting Classes, as well as Family Case Management. Below is her reflection on what her time at Catholic Charities has meant to her so far. Completing my internship with Catholic Charities has provided me with an incredibly fulfilling and intellectually challenging experience. Being an intern with Catholic Charities is about so much more than applying knowledge; it… Read More
On Friday, September 19th, the summer session of the Language is the Key program at Centro para Familias Hispanas was completed. Language is the Key is a 10-session program in which parents help their children to develop language skills through the use of games and play time. One session is held each week and consists of a group of twenty parents and/or caregivers with children ages 0 – 5. Most of the children participating in this program are at risk of having limited language skills due to either their parent’s… Read More
On September 10, 2014, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh announced the appointment of Ms. Consuelo Kwee to a newly established position, Director of Immigration and Disaster Services. In this position, Ms. Kwee will be responsible for Catholic Charities services in three areas: legal immigration services, assistance to child immigrants seeking to be reunited with family members, and disaster preparation and recovery services. The new position was established to address clear needs in our community. While Catholic Charities has always been able to provide immigration and disaster services, “This… Read More
Many children are coming to the United States, specifically Texas, seeking family members who previously immigrated to this country. This has been extensively reported in various media. Below is an initial overview of the situation, how the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh is responding, and what the faithful can do to support the teachings of our Catholic Faith. Overview of the Current Situation Unaccompanied children from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras are migrating to the United States in record numbers. While not a new phenomenon, the number of children who are… Read More
