WORCESTER – The Catholic Campaign for Human Development local grant award ceremony was held Monday in St. Peter Parish’s gym.
Bishop McManus distributed grants ranging from $300 to $900 to a number of ministries and agencies working locally with people in need. He led those gathered in prayer and gave a few remarks.
A reflection was given by David McMahon, co-executive director of Dismas House of Central Massachusetts, which helps former prisoners rebuild their lives. In addition to its local grant to feed and house former prisoners, Dismas received a one-year national CCHD grant this past July for its community organizing, which helps former prisoners and the homeless, Mr. McMahon said.
Msgr. Francis J. Scollen, St. Peter’s pastor and CCHD diocesan director, said that at the award ceremony he himself talked about St. Oscar Romero and Sunday’s Mass which packed St. Paul Cathedral for the first anniversary of the Salvadoran archbishop’s canonization.
CCHD, the national anti-poverty program of the United States Catholic Bishops, works to carry out Jesus’ mission “to bring good news to the poor...release to captives...sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free.” (Luke 4:18)
Central to CCHD is “the belief that those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them,” says the website www.usccb.org. “CCHD works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD offers a hand up, not a hand out.”
The CCHD collection taken throughout the United States each November helps provide grant money, part of which goes to the dioceses, said Msgr. Scollen. The dioceses choose how to divide it among local applicants.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development Local Grant Recipients:
$900
Linking Mothers and Infants to Support, Pernet Family Health, Worcester
ESL Program at St. Peter Parish, Religious of the Assumption, Worcester
Mentoring Program at St. Peter Parish, Religious of the Assumption, Worcester
Visitation House, Worcester
Southbridge Senior Citizens Latino Group, Southbridge
Marie Anne Center After School Program, Worcester
Marie Anne Center ESL, Worcester
$800
The Nazareth Gardening Program, McAuley Nazareth Home, Leicester
St. Bernard Gym, Our Lady of Providence Parish, Worcester
Refugee Artisans of Worcester
$400
Food/Fuel/Rent, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Winchendon
St. Paul Outreach, St. Paul Cathedral, Worcester
St. James Outreach, St. James Parish, Grafton
John 21 Community Breakfast, St. Patrick Parish, Whitinsville
St. Bernard’s Food Pantry, Our Lady of Providence Parish, Worcester
Our Neighbors Kitchen, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Winchendon
St. Anne’s Human Services Food Pantry, St. Anne Parish, Shrewsbury
Wheels for Change - Catholic Charities, Southbridge
Dismas House Hunger Grant, Worcester
Personal Essential Needs Service, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Milford
Personal Essential Needs Service, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Worcester
St. Anne’s Free Communications, St. Anne Parish, Shrewsbury
Head to Toe Personal Hygiene and Toiletries, Catholic Charities, Leominster
Our Neighbors Kitchen, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Winchendon
St. Anthony’s Pantry, Sacred Heart - St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, Worcester
Keeping People in Housing, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Uxbridge
$300
Kindergarten Buddies, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Worcester
Parish Nursing, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Worcester
We Care Fund, St. Mary’s Health Care, Worcester