Catholic Charities History
With the earliest settlers, Catholic missionaries cared for society`s sick, widowed and orphaned. These caregivers were the first Catholic " charities ". Some of the milestones included:
• 1727 Ursuline sisters begin taking in orphans
• 1809 Sister Elizabeth Seton opens an orphanage and free school for poor children
• 1800`s Ethnic parishes provide services for immigrant peoples
• 1800`s Religious orders establish child care and aging institutions
By 1900, more than 800 Catholic institutions served society`s most vulnerable- dependent children, prisoners, the elderly, the sick and those with disabilities. Motivated by a need to build solidarity, a group of Catholic social service providers met in 1910. Billed as the first National Conference for Catholic Charities, this group believed it their mission to be " attorneys for the poor ". At this meeting, a network for Catholic Charities bureaus was formed. By 1922, 35 bureaus opened across the nation. In 1937, the number grew to 68.
Today, more than 1,400 agencies, institutions and organizations make up the Catholic Charities network. Catholic Charities USA is the nation`s largest network of private social service providers.
History of Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Locally, the commitment to organize Catholic charitable work took root with the establishment of orphanages by Father Bernard Donnelly in the Kansas City Diocese in 1879 and the St. Joseph Diocese in 1880. In 1917, Bishop Thomas Lillis merged several Catholic charitable institutions into a single diocesan effort. These early charities included orphanages, homes for the aged and young women away from home.
Over the years, the name has changed from the Catholic Welfare Bureau to Catholic Community Services to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. However, despite the name changes, the organization has remained true to the Church`s mission- to bring Christ`s love into people`s lives in a tangible way.
Code of Ethics
Catholic Charities Code of Ethics is based on a fundamental ethical value that our agency carries out its moral obligations as a corporate entity which is, essentially, to implement the social mission of the Church and to assure that all of its policies and activities are conducted in an ethically responsible manner.
Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph, Inc … Catholic Charities
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