SUNDAY,  MAY 15, 2005

May Pastoral Letter 2005
Call Catholic Charities!
Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan

A few years ago I received a call from a childhood friend of mine who still lives in Los Angeles. It was a frantic call, a call from a friend who found herself confronted with a distressing set of problems, job loss, rental crisis and personal anguish. A lack of finances had narrowed her options for help. I knew that she needed some direct and local assistance along with serious personal counseling. I assured her I would find her some resources, and as soon as possible I called Catholic Charities in Los Angeles.

I spoke with an administrator there and told him her story. Without knowing anymore about this person except my phone call, he directed the appropriate people to respond and they did so quickly and effectively. Although there were no magic fixes, she suddenly had a support group of caring and capable people to accompany her through the maze of her difficulties so that eventually she was able to deal with them successfully.

From time to time, I receive similar calls from people within our own diocese, as do the priests, religious and lay people who staff our parishes and institutions. In fact, I had one such call this past week. Our response to people asking for immediate aid and assistance, or longer term attention, more often than not is: Call Catholic Charities. The reason for our collective confidence comes from the fact that the Catholic Charities staff of the Diocese of Monterey will respond in a professional and compassionate way as my friend received from Catholic Charities in Los Angeles.

The size of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Monterey is certainly smaller than that of Los Angeles, but the quality of service is equal. Catholic Charities is the outreach arm of the Church of Monterey and the people of our four counties, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey and San Luis Obispo. Catholic Charities embodies the motivation described by St. Paul: "The Charity of Christ compels us." (2 Cor 5:14)

I ask you, the Catholic people of the Diocese of Monterey, to be generous in the annual collection and to place Catholic Charities at the top of your charitable giving. You are an incredibly generous people. For example, the collections that have been received for the tsunami victims were extraordinary, the highest level of giving for a special collection that I can remember. The needs of people in our midst are also grave and compelling. Please join with me to support the work and mission of Catholic Charities to the best of our ability.

After all, in a beautiful and special way, Catholic Charities is our collective Catholic self at its finest!