November 15 • 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
There will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays. — Malachi 3:20
Across our country during November, envelopes are provided to parishioners to help finance the work of CCHD (Catholic Campaign for Human Development). The 52-year old CCHD is justice and charity in action through the Church.
CCHD funds local community groups that work to change the systems that keep them in poverty. Work is being done to fight poverty at its roots in places that offer inadequate education, tolerate unaffordable housing, and turn away from communities in need. Through CCHD and its beneficiaries, we manifest Catholic social teaching of the preferential option for the poor thus carrying out Jesus’ mission to “bring glad tidings to the poor. . .release to captives. . .sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free” (Lk 4:18). CCHD is the official domestic anti-poverty agency of the U.S. Catholic Bishops and works to break the cycle of poverty by helping people help themselves. Consider these words of Bishop Timothy C. Senior, Chairman, CCHD Subcommittee United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: CCHD empowers the powerless to make their communities better. It helps residents to think about neighborhood problems, propose solutions, and advocate effectively with local leaders and elected officials to make those changes happen. CCHD is designed to put Catholic social teaching into action, helping the poorest of the poor use the gifts that God has given them to improve their communities and care for those around them.
Right now, in the United States, 38 million people are classified by the federal government as living in poverty with 1.5 million children experiencing homelessness in a given year. A lot of factors can send a family below the poverty line—and keep others there who are already poor, such as a lack of adequate housing, health insurance or a living wage, underfunded education systems, challenging family environments, and racism.
CCHD is made possible by the support of Catholics in the United States, especially through this annual parish collection. Grants to local anti-poverty efforts are screened, awarded and monitored in partnership with local dioceses and require the approval of the diocesan bishop. Your support during the November collection this weekend will create lasting change. Be a ray of healing.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC