Saturday, September 25, 2010, over 1000 representatives from local Catholic Charities agencies and partner organizations recreated the 1910 photo of the founders of Catholic Charities USA on the steps of McMahon Hall at the Catholic University of America.

Credits: Catholic Charities USA

Representatives from Catholic Charities (CCUSA - a Caritas member in the US) from across the US will visit Washington today to call on Congress to address the urgent needs of over 43 million people struggling with poverty in America.

Rev. Larry Snyder, CCUSA President, will make an address from the Capitol and call for politicians to tackle poverty. CCUSA representatives will then have a chance to speak one on one with politicians about the reality of poverty across America.

Fr Snyder said, “The national poverty numbers we see in are staggering, but unfortunately come as little surprise to those who have been working closely with the growing population for whom poverty has become a daily reality.”

The visit to the Capitol is part of CCUSA’s centenary celebrations this week. The festivities kicked off with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Francis George, President of the US Bishops’ Conference, on Saturday.

“Catholic Charities is an outstanding organisation which has comforted the poor and helped the marginalised for the past century in the USA,” said Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, President of Caritas Internationalis. “They have provided material support to the most vulnerable, and represented the voice for the poorest in the world’s richest country.”

CCUSA has also launched three books on the occasion of the centenary:
  • Catholic Charities USA: 100 Years and the Intersection of Charity and Justice
  • Think and Act Anew: How Poverty in America Affects Us All and What We Can Do About It
  • Catholic Charities USA: A Century of Service, Advocacy, and Convening
The celebrations will round up tonight with a gala concert with R&B singer Patti Labelle and mezzo soprano Denyce Graves.

Learn more about the centenary 

Catholic Charities USA was founded in 1910 "to bring about a sense of solidarity" among those in charitable ministries. Since 1910, Catholic Charities USA has encouraged professional social work practice, provided opportunities for training and networking, and served as a national voice and expert on poverty issues. The Centennial is a time to reflect on past accomplishments and renew the commitment to serve those in need.

For more information, please contact Michelle Hough on +39 06 69879721/+39 334 2344136 or hough@caritas.va