THE TABLET
Nov. 17, 2007
CCHD Helps People Help Themselves

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is a social justice program created 37 years ago by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Interestingly enough, Bishop Francis Mugavero was one of the first members of the CCHD.  I, myself, am proud to have been a diocesan director for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development for my home Archdiocese of Newark.    

The Campaign has been a way that the Bishops of the United States have been able to address the grassroots causes of poverty and to seek to empower the poor, the disabled, minorities, workers and immigrants to assist themselves in changing their environments.  Each project is evaluated on its potential for causing institutional change in our society.  By supporting these grassroots efforts of community groups, the CCHD helps develop community leaders, enhances self-sufficiency and provides tools for permanent change that benefit all of society.

Each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, a collection is taken at the Masses in all the parishes in the United States.  The generous donations of Catholics in the Diocese of Brooklyn have increased steadily over the years and have been a source of economic development, which has enabled us to strengthen our own local communities and lower-income neighborhoods.

One-quarter of the local collection stays in the Diocese and the rest is distributed nationally by the CCHD office in Washington. During the past year, the diocesan office of the Campaign has funded one local project and has received funding from the national office for four other local projects deemed noteworthy.  The recipient of a local grant was the Churches United Corporation, which has established a reputation for reaching a landmark agreement with developers that requires them to create affordable housing in Williamsburg and Greenpoint.  This was a major victory for community residents who are slowly being phased out of their longtime neighborhoods because of the redevelopment of these areas.

Among the local projects that received a national grant was the Community Action Project (CAP) in association with the parishes in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn.  In collaboration with Catholic Charities, this coalition has been able to address the educational needs of the neighborhoods, while at the same time addressing fraudulent immigration services.

Another example is the Fifth Avenue Committee in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which provides direct services and advocates for job creation and affordable housing, among other issues.  A local community group of low-income Mexican workers has been able to be assisted by the Fifth Avenue Committee working closely with our parishes in the area.

When I look at the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, I always feel encouraged that the grants given, although small in comparison to some funding sources, do enable people to develop their own approaches to making changes that last.

We are fortunate to have in our Diocese Msgr. Alfred LoPinto, Vicar for Human Services, who was a former national director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington.  This Campaign, in our Diocese under the direction of Ms. Nina Valmonte, has enabled Catholic Charities to begin a new approach to funding our local requests and nationally funded projects.  I take this opportunity to thank both of them for their stewardship in this regard. 

Almost every penny of every dollar that is given to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is used to further fund the development of projects around our country, and we have benefited greatly in Brooklyn and Queens.   

At this time, I take the opportunity to ask your generous cooperation in this collection this weekend. This effort to help people help themselves is perhaps the most rewarding way that we can “put out into the deep,” knowing that our sacrifices can be readily turned into action that creates change.

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