The mission of Catholic Charities is to build a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.

Description:
Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Program resettles about 300 refugees, asylees and Cuban/Haitian entrants in the Greater Boston area each year. Many of these people have experienced extraordinary suffering in their lives and are desperate to find a safe and comfortable place to call home. Our goal is to provide tools and services to empower refugees, asylees and Cuban/Haitian entrants in reaching self-sufficiency and advocating for their basic needs and protection.

History:
During the first half of the twentieth century, the agency began primarily as an adoption/foster care agency, then continued to expand and evolve in order to provide direct assistance to poverty-stricken families, the elderly, single pregnant women, and newly-arrived immigrants. Between 1916 and 1920, branch offices opened in Brockton, Lawrence, Lynn, Salem, Somerville, and Lowell to assist needy Catholics and to reach out to include non-Catholic immigrants.

During the Great Depression, Catholic Charities joined with local social service agencies of all faiths to form the Community Federation of Boston, directly assisting hundreds of thousands of needy individuals. Catholic Charities supplied food and clothing to thousands of families daily and continued to find homes for orphans and children in need. As the Depression ended, Catholic Charities shifted its emphasis from direct assistance to adoption, foster care, marital counseling, alcohol abuse treatment, and immigration and refugee services.

Becoming incorporated in 1945, The Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston then expanded again, opening a branch office in Haverhill and beginning the process of professionalism in the staff.

During the latter half of the twentieth century, Catholic Charities started to reach a wider community. The agency continued its expansion throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the establishment of a Central Office in 1972, housing the agency's fiscal, administrative, development, and public relations functions. Between 1987 and 1992, the Archdiocesan agencies El Centro del Cardenal in the South End, Emmanuel House in Roxbury, the Haitian Multi-Service Center in Dorchester, the Labouré Center in South Boston, and the Deaf Community Center in Framingham became part of the agency. Through approximately 130 social service programs at more than 35 locations, Catholic Charities has positioned itself to meet the needs of people in every stage of life.

Today, Catholic Charities maintains the same strong commitment that has guided it for more than 100 years: providing hope for all. Moving decisively toward meeting the needs of a changing population and the challenges of the new millennium, Catholic Charities remains focused on its mission: building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people.

Contact person: Maureen Wagner, (phone), (email)

Address:

75 Kneeland St., 8th Floor Boston, MA 02111 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: South Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 7 For maps or information, please see http://www.mbta.com