Catholic Charities USA celebrates 100 years

The umbrella organization of Catholic aid groups across the United States, Catholic Charities USA, is celebrating its centennial anniversary.

On September 25^th, 1910, it was founded as a national membership association, uniting Catholic charitable agencies and institutions across the country. Over the past century, it has worked to reduce poverty, support families and empower communities, as well as impacted public policy.

“Our founding people were very clear to say that while we have to certainly assist with the immediate needs of people, we also need to advocate for them, to be the voice for those who have no voice or, in the exact words they used, the be attorneys for the poor,” says Fr Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA.

“We intend to celebrate the history that we’ve had,” Fr Snyder told Vatican Radio about Saturday’s centennial. “But we’re also looking to the future. We have to leave a legacy that we continue to try to fight poverty in this country.

“At this point, poverty in the United States is up around 14 or 15 percent of our population. And while that may not sound much in comparison to other countries, it’s still a devastating experience for the people who are there. And I think in a country as richly blessed as ours, this should not be acceptable.”