CSS C O N N E C T I O N S

VOL. 14, ISSUE 2 FALL 2011 A NEWSLETTER OF CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES

Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia was chosen from among scores of Catholic Charities agencies across the country to receive the 2011 Catholic Charities USA/Annie E. Casey Family Strengthening Award. This national award recognizes exemplary and innovative social service programs in support of families and communities. Along with a $25,000 prize, the award sponsors other Catholic Charities agencies to visit the three Philadelphia-based service sites to witness their best practices firsthand. The CCUSA Board of Trustees will present the Family Strengthening Award at the Catholic Charities USA Annual Gathering in Fort Worth, Texas in late September 2011.

Rev. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA, spoke of the rationale for these programs being recognized: “By connecting families to the support and opportunities that they need to be economically stable,

these programs are helping people build better lives and, as a result, strengthening communities across the

country." James Amato, Deputy Secretary for Catholic Social Services, commented: “We are proud and grateful to receive this award which reflects the work we do daily to provide help and create hope. Our Family Service Centers exemplify the ongoing Archdiocesan commitment to serve those most in need.”

CSS highlighted three family service centers operating in Philadelphia in its application for this prestigious award: the Northeast Family Service

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• Sister Pat Kelly, MSBT: Guiding Parish Social Outreach • Strengthening Families Program

• In Gratitude for Their Years of Service • Postcards from CSS Summer Camps

• St. Gabriel’s System: Most Graduates Ever • Befriending Men at St. John’s Hospice • Cardinal Krol Center Activities — Now That’s an Adventure • Del-Voc Students “Learn to Earn” • CSS Trainee to Certified Nursing Assistant • Around and About CSS • Make CSS Your United Way Donor Choice

IN THIS ISSUE

CSS Receives National Award from CCUSA for Family Strengthening Initiatives

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES �� A DIVISION OF CATHOLIC HUMAN SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA �� 222 N 17TH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

There are times in each of our lives when we are confronted with overwhelming tasks or needs and may be tempted to ask, “How much more can I do?” We may be dealing with a serious illness, extended unemployment,

or a challenging relationship. In the face of such trying circumstances we may feel that we have reached the end of our rope, that there is no more “gas in the tank” – no more left to give.

Without doubt this is the experience of many social service providers across our state and nation as we face significant reductions in government funding due to large deficits in state budgets. The sad reality is that some providers will simply close up shop, unable to absorb such cutbacks. Fortunately, throughout its history Catholic Social Services has benefitted from both a solid partnership with government and the generous support of private donors and volunteers who share a common concern for the most vulnerable and poor members of our community, particularly women and children in need. These “partners in mission” ensure that despite hardships we will continue to provide help and create hope every day for thousands of our brothers and sisters facing tough times or difficult situations.

Jesus himself was often faced with circumstances in which the needs presented to him must have seemed overwhelming. His consistent response was to entrust those burdens to his heavenly Father, for he knew that ultimately these were God’s children and His Father would provide for them all. This enabled our Lord to give of himself without reserve, and to challenge his disciples to do the same. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says that when someone asks for your shirt, give them your coat as well, and if someone presses you to go one mile, go with them two miles. He emphasizes the point with this admonition: “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” (MT 5: 42).

What distinguishes CSS is our reputation – with funders, donors, volunteers and clients – as a service provider that “goes the extra mile” in supportive care that extends well beyond meeting people’s basic needs. Though generally not

covered by public funding, CSS continues to offer these additional services because it is our mission-driven commitment, to respect the inherent dignity and promote the integral well-being of each person entrusted to our care. We have done so for over 200 years, in good times and bad, because it is who we are: people of faith serving people in need with the loving compassion of Jesus Christ.

It is with great joy that we welcome the Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., as our new Archbishop in Philadelphia, who has been a tireless advocate for and dedicated servant to the poor and marginalized. Our new Shepherd spoke recently of the need for every Catholic social ministry to be guided by charity, prudence and courage, and motivated by a desire to share God’s love with others. May we be faithful to that calling, by God’s abundant providence and unfailing grace.

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A Message from Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr. SECRETARY FOR CATHOLIC HUMAN SERVICES

(Archbishop Chaput offered this prayer at a 2009 Immigration Forum)

Lord, you created men and women in your image and endowed them with your dignity. You call each of us to be agents of your justice and mercy in the world. Help us to build a culture of life – a culture that holds all human life in reverence, from the unborn child and the immigrant, to the

poor, the homeless, the infirm and the elderly. Give us the character to live the Gospel not just with our words, but with our hearts and our actions. Make us quick to forgive each other, quick to listen to each other, and eager to serve those who are suffering and in need. And finally Lord, in all things, fill us with the courage to follow St. Paul when he urges us to “speak the truth in love.” We ask this trusting in your goodness and in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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As Administrator of Parish Outreach for St. Philip Neri Church in Pennsburg, Sr. Pat Kelly, MSBT empowers people to meet the social needs of others, something she has done for most of her 48 years in religious life. A product of Catholic

schools, Sister Pat did not have a strong relationship with God until she connected with a lay group called the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate. Her association involved accompanying religious sisters who worked for Catholic Social Services on home visits to families in Philadelphia. The sisters were Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity, one of the first Catholic congregations of women to actively send its members to study social work and be engaged in the social service ministries of the Church.

Sister Pat said she had never seen Catholic nuns working with unmarried parents, pregnant teens, or families in crisis before, and she was attracted to that ministry of outreach and the spirituality that inspired it. As she says, “I never thought I was made for a religious vocation until I met these women. Their way of life called me into a relationship with Jesus Christ, because it finally made sense to me that if you truly love God, you are going to serve his people.” She prayed at first to be sent home, feeling a strong desire to have a child of her own, but when she made first vows, she knew it was right. Early on she was assigned to adoption work with social service agencies in other dioceses, and after earning a Masters in Social Work from Catholic University of America, came back to Philadelphia in 1976 to work in Parish Social Ministry, eventually supervising others and administering this Catholic Social Services program with staff in 34 Archdiocesan parishes. She later became Administrator of the Montgomery County Family Services Center in Norristown, before finally returning to the parish outreach work she so dearly loves.

In a rural suburban parish community, one might be surprised to find poor areas, with houses falling apart and a nearby day motel filled with many needy people. The pastor, Fr. Robert Roncase, says that in 29 years as a priest he never had a parish social minister, and he is grateful for Sr. Pat’s social work experience that enables her to reach out to people in need and connect them with resources and services that can help: “People come to the parish for more than they used to, things like counseling, bereavement care, financial needs – they see the parish as a resource, and it’s very important when they come that we help them in some way, at least to direct them to where they can go for help.”

Sr. Pat manages a fund to which parishioners contribute to assist others with financial needs, and oversees the Friendly Visitors Ministry, which pairs parishioners with sick or elderly shut–ins to establish long-term relationships built on bi-weekly visits. She also founded HOPE – Helping Other People Enthusiastically – to provide transportation assistance for parishioners to get to medical appointments, go shopping, or attend Mass. Sister established Martha Ministry to help families with whatever they might need in the weeks following the death of a loved one, and she runs eight-week Bereavement Support Groups twice a year. She has recruited and trained dozens of volunteers for these ministries, believing that “parish is where the people are, and it is the most natural place for us to respond to our baptismal call to serve each other.” Thank you for living out your call with us, Sister Pat!

“Brothers and Sisters Among Us” is an ongoing series that features some of the religious men and women who currently serve in Catholic Social Services.

• Joseph J. Sweeney, Jr., Secretary for Catholic Human Services

• James Amato, Deputy Secretary for Catholic Social Services

• Edward Lis, Director of Catholic Mission Integration

• Dave Reid, Editor CSS Connections is published three times a year. Questions, ideas or comments

may be directed to Dave Reid at 484.475.2463, or dreid@chs-adphila.org

Please visit us at: www.catholicsocialservicesphilly.org

CSS CONNECTIONS BOARD

• The MSBT community sent sisters from Alabama to Philadelphia in 1920 to staff the Catholic Children's Bureau and Home Finding Department

• Philadelphia was the 4th diocese in the U.S. to establish a parish social ministry outreach program

• Over 100 members of the MSBT community have served in an agency of Catholic Social Services

Sister Pat Kelly, MSBT: Guiding Parish Social Outreach to those in Need

Center, Southwest Family Service Center and Casa Del Carmen. Each site provides a broad range of family strengthening programs under the leadership of Amy Stoner, Director of Community-Based Prevention Services within CSS. According to Stoner, “We embrace a family strengthening model rooted in not simply doing good things for families, but helping them to do many of those things for themselves. We pool resources across sites and cross-train staff to utilize the unique skills of each. We effectively incorporate community organizations who actively engage our clients on site as integral to our service delivery. We leverage limited resources to achieve maximum impact in a way that makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Programs offered at these Family Service Centers include:

• Homelessness Prevention Program — provides financial assistance and case management services to families with a court-ordered eviction notice. Families are assisted to seek out and apply for entitlement programs and resources as part of their housing search, and participate in workshops on tenant’s rights and responsibilities, understanding leases, securing utilities, accessing credit reports and resolving credit issues.

• Emergency Food and Shelter Program — provides immediate rent/mortgage and utility assistance and follow-up services through a comprehensive intake and assessment process, working with families to identify appropriate programs and services to meet their ongoing needs.

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• Strengthening Families Program — a 15-week course offering parents the opportunity to learn new parenting skills, build relationships with other parents, and spend valuable time with their child centered around a meal and shared activity. (See related story below.)

• Prenatal Education and Support Program — provides on-site support and education to hundreds of pregnant women, ranging from diapers and formula to breastfeeding and promoting healthy child development for infants and toddlers.

• Job Training Program — provides low income adults with limited work experience the opportunity to gain skills for a sustainable career in fields such as Daycare Worker or Certified Nursing Assistant. Adult education, GED and ESL classes are provided through a partnership with Community College of Philadelphia. Computer labs are available to access job opportunities, create resumes and submit online applications.

• Out of School Time Programs — a dozen sites serve a thousand children and employ hundreds of high school and college students, with parents actively involved. Project-based learning, cultural enrichment, and youth development are integral to the program.

CSS has been offering an innovative parenting curriculum program at its three Philadelphia area Family Service Centers. The Strengthening Families Program is a 15-week course that is comprehensive, down-to-earth, helpful, and interesting. Videos, books, articles and games are used to learn about good parenting in a friendly and informal atmosphere that promotes active participation. All classes are free and voluntary, and begin with a nice meal together. Adults then meet with parenting facilitators while the children have their own session with their teachers. At the end of each class, parents and children come back together to put into practice the skills learned. A parenting certificate, letter of attendance, and gift card incentive are given to parents who complete the program.

Casimiro is a single parent who came to the CSS Southwest Family Service Center for assistance in 2007, when his infant son was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome. (The child’s mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and has since passed away.) Despite those challenges, Casimiro Jr. is now a bright, enthusiastic, and very verbal little boy, due in

Strengthening Families Program

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In Gratitude for Their Years of Service

large part to the attention he receives from his father. Casimiro is a very dedicated and loving father who consistently and enthusiastically attended the Strengthening Families Program and encouraged a friend to enroll with him. Program facilitator Fran Spross called it an amazing and beautiful thing to witness this father/son journey: “One day, observing his son’s exuberance, I asked Casimiro if he was like his son as a child and he said, ‘If I was, I wasn’t allowed to be like that.’ Casimiro does a great job in encouraging his son’s unique personality in a very caring and successful way.”

A major theme of the SFP curriculum is to increase quality time spent by parents with their children to effectively promote positive behaviors and discourage unwanted behaviors. Participants often express how much they learn from the curriculum and one another, and are very supportive of each other.

RETIRING: Frances Bowman Upon retirement after 59 years of service, Cardinal Rigali acknowl-edged her “invaluable contribution to the Church’s works of charity in fulfilling various duties within the Foster Care Program of CSS” and her “genuine and heartfelt concern for children and families.” Frances helped to shape a generation of colleagues and set a standard of attentive care that will endure well beyond her time with us. Frances, may God grant you health and happiness as you enjoy a well-earned rest from your labors…. Well done, good and faithful servant!

IN MEMORIAM: Rita McAloon (1933 – 2011) A search worker for Adoption Services with Catholic Social Services, Rita passed away on July 2. Her deeply-held Catholic faith inspired her ministry with Catholic Social Services, where she was known for her caring manner with clients and dedication to serving the poor throughout her 29 years of service with the agency. Rita was honored as a CSS Employee of the Year in 2010. May her soul rest in peace.

CONGRATULATIONS: Marion Slack A CCUSA Volunteer of the Year finalist, Marion founded a food assistance ministry called Mary's Cupboard, a ministry that has worked in collaboration with CSS Bucks County Family Service Center for 25 years. What began small in her own parish blossomed to involve 61 active volunteers in ten Catholic parishes and local churches which donate food or funds monthly. Thanks to Marion, Mary's Cupboard provides meal packages to over 1500 family households per year, totaling an estimated 78,000 meals annually.

RETIRING: Sr. Margaret Donahue, RSM As Director of Education for the St. Gabriel’s System, her wealth of experience enabled scores of teachers and administrators to effectively serve the young men in their care. She fully embraced the De LaSalle vision and integrated it with her own charism as a Sister of Mercy, and the quality outcomes achieved with graduates is directly attributable to her efforts. Reflecting on her 21 years of service, Sr. Margaret said, “I am full of awe for the wonderful colleagues with whom I have worked. I always felt their goodness and strove to support their dedication to making a difference in the lives of young people.” We will miss her.

Other participants had similar observations: • “I learned there were different and better ways I could

discipline my kids. I learned that spending time with each child creates more love and better behavior”

• “Before I began this parenting program, I felt like I was in the dark and without hope. I found the light, made a lot of friends, felt supported and became a better parent.”

“Before I came to class I was putting up walls with my son, and had withdrawn from him when his behavior was bad. I learned that a parent must address the bad behavior but still not hold back from loving his child uncondition-ally. We hold family meetings regularly now, which has improved our family life. The “tools” I acquired have made a big difference in my relationship with my son.”

Casimiro

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Postcards from CSS Summer Camps

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OVER 1000 CAMPERS SERVED

St. Edmond’s Home for Children— summer activities for resident and community campers designed to retain and extend school-year accomplishments for children who are medically fragile with developmental disabilities

48 campers

Don Guanella Village — summer camp activities for adolescent boys with developmental disabilities, designed for daily interaction with youth volunteers

25 campers

Out of School Time Summer Programs — academic enrichment through project-based learning and healthy recreation for school-age children and youth in neighborhoods with high crime and poverty rates

950 campers

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industry-recognized certifications in culinary arts, building maintenance, auto repair, landscaping/horticulture, and Microsoft Office. The curriculum is aligned with the School District of Philadelphia to ensure a seamless return to public schools for those needing more credits. Those who do graduate from St. Gabriel’s System go on to community colleges, trade schools, job training programs or entry level work.

Sam Cruz, the Salutatorian at the De LaSalle Vocational graduation, expressed gratitude for the staff who helped him to confront and solve his problems instead of ignoring them or blaming others. He told them, “Your encouragement to always do my best made all the difference and

helped me to have a positive attitude, to see the good inside of me, and to remember that there are people who really care about me. Now I feel like the future is within my reach.” Sam had a summer job at Sesame Place, starts studies at Community College of Philadelphia this fall, and ultimately hopes to study at UPenn to become a doctor.

Upon entering St. Gabriel’s System, many like Sam did not recognize their potential or see success as a possibility. Through the wonderful work of skilled professionals who care about them, many have discovered their true potential and God-given talents and gifts. Their path to graduation has made it all the more rewarding for them and their families. We celebrate with our class of 2011 and echo the closing benediction in praying that “God safeguard and protect them as they take the next steps on their journey: may they use their hands to help others, their hearts to care, their heads to make wise decisions, and their legs to keep moving forward. Guide them in all their ways, dear Lord.”

High school graduations conjure up images of caps and gowns, processions to Pomp and Circumstance, awards, speeches, and the conferring of diplomas to smiling students amidst cheers from proud parents and families. What makes any graduation special is the joy of accomplishment mingled with the anticipation of good things to come in the future.

The pride and joy of graduating is even more exuberant for young men who graduate from St. Gabriel’s System, all of whom faced significant obstacles to overcome in arriving at this special moment. St. Gabriel’s has a 113-year history of educating court-adjudicated youth entrusted to their care by Philadelphia Family Court. These young men come with serious gaps in their education and network of support. Most have experienced the trauma of violence, abuse or chronic poverty that adversely impacted their development and led to bad decisions on their part. For them, graduating high school was once an unimaginable achievement, a far off dream.

Thankfully, the residential and academic day programs of Saint Gabriel’s System restore hope and build their confidence that they can realize that dream. This year, 131 young men graduated from St. Gabriel’s Hall, De LaSalle Vocational, and De LaSalle in Towne – the highest combined number in their history. A comprehensive support system helps students complete their education while building self-esteem, a sense of responsibility, and essential life skills. A team of dedicated youth care workers, counselors, social workers, and therapists meet

individually and in groups to assist students with daily challenges. Talented teachers strengthen their academic skills in small classrooms that permit individualized instruction and build safe communities.

Students enroll in career technical training to earn

Saint Gabriel's System: Most Graduates Ever

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Frank and Rosemary Shields are present at the evening meal for homeless men at Saint John’s Hospice (SJH) every Wednesday and Friday. They have become trusted friends and mentors, sharing in the successes and struggles of men seeking to transition from homelessness to independent living.

Since most men stay for about six months, Frank and Rosemary have been able to establish friendships with many, getting to know them well and relate to them personally. One person described this couple from St. John the Evangelist parish as “people full of faith and caring who share the best of themselves in a sincere way that generates hope and friendship.” Since 2009, Frank and Rosemary are reliably consistent in their weekly ministry, something not commonly experienced by those who are homeless.

They have also organized group outings for the men to attend sporting events like a 76ers basketball game. Frank and Rosemary bought the tickets and worked with the team’s community relations office to involve players, get T-shirts and have SJH men acknowledged during the game. They even arranged transportation to a Camden River Sharks baseball game on the Eagles Bus, complete with soft drinks and snacks. At Christmas, they gave each resident a card with money and a hat and scarf set.

Providing help, hope and encouragement to these men, the Shields’ genuine friendship allows them to recover a healthy way of relating to others that homelessness had denied them. With affirmation and caring, they help men recognize that they can overcome addictions, unemployment or financial woes. Twice a week SJH men regularly share time with this married couple who give of themselves first and foremost, and provide much appreciated resources directly to the men they have come to call their friends.

Frank and Rosemary exemplify a life of dedicated service to others, and breaking down barriers that often keep those in need isolated from mainstream society. They preach by example about the need to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and lift up the spirits of the downtrodden. They do all of this humbly, with good cheer and humor. We are grateful for these true ambassadors of the good work we do and the men we serve at SJH.

Befriending the Men at Saint John’s Hospice

“Whenever people do more than their simple duty in life … whenever they commit themselves to helping others, putting their precious free time at the service of man and his dignity, their hearts expand.”

Pope Benedict XVI — September 9, 2007

Field trip? These days the men of Cardinal Krol Center (CKC) can expect something a bit more energetic than the movies or local mall. Like a three-mile hike up Hawk Mountain, snow tubing down Camelback mountain, or even whitewater rafting down the Lehigh River. The mild rapids can get a bit bumpy, but as CKC Activities Coordinator John McCabe says, “They love it. People assume that these guys can’t do certain things, but they can if you give them a chance. People may ask ‘Why are they doing this?’ and I say, ‘Why not? Why are you doing this? To enjoy the experience, right?’”

John started volunteering at CKC in 1996 as a high school student, and has worked there since 2002. He knows the

CKC Activities – Now that’s an Adventure! guys and their interests and capabilities, and says his goal is to help them experience everything they can of the world. He ensures that safety issues are well handled, like getting extra staff to volunteer to accompany the guys in the rafts. Some of the guys are initially hesitant or nervous, but they all get into it. Some even take leadership roles and encourage others or show them how to do it. John remarks, “When they finish, you see them exchanging high-fives and shouting ‘We did it, we did it!’”

Other activities include beach trips, NASCAR Speedway outings, visiting Eagles training camp, outdoor festivals, motorboating, horseback riding, and cave exploration. The men participate in regular leagues for softball, bowling, and basketball, and enjoy the camaraderie that healthy team competition promotes. John finds it incredibly rewarding “to take these guys to places they have never been before, to teach them to do something they want to learn how to do, and see how much they appreciate and enjoy it. Their smiles tell that you’ve made their lives richer for the experience.”

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Jennifer Sanchez is happily working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at St. John Neumann Nursing Home (SJN) in Philadelphia. A year ago, she was an unemployed single mother of two young children, without career direction or reliable income. At a 2010 career fair, she applied for a CNA training program funded by the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation and run by CSS. The first four weeks of the intensive eight week program at Casa del Carmen focused on job readiness and workplace aptitudes. Jennifer believes that helped prepare her for the challenging clinical training provided by the Red Cross that followed, held at SJN.

Jennifer found the SJN staff very welcoming and supportive: “They were comfortable with us having come from the CSS program because we were well prepared and motivated.” Of 25 individuals who started the training, 19 completed the program and 18 passed the certification test and found work as a CNA, six at SJN. Jennifer knew that she would make it “because I wanted stability for my children. I needed this, and worked really hard for it.” She gets up early for a long commute, but the schedule allows her to be home when her children arrive from daycare, and

she can spend quality time with them from dinner through bedtime.

SJN Administrator Michelle Bieszczad notes that the 100 CNAs at SJN support residents in bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, and other Activities of Daily Living. As the front line of clinical care they are essential to resident health, safety, and wellbeing. Bieszczad points out, “They spend the most time with residents, so we hire for their spirit, and then train for the skills. As a Catholic facility, we orient our CNA staff to

who we and what we stand for, so that they can integrate our identity and mission into what they do and how they do it.”

Bieszczad acknowledges that many CNA’s have not had much prior work experience, and some have issues with attendance or lateness. She appreciated how CSS helped their trainees to overcome logistical and social challenges, which greatly improved persistence and retention. Jennifer credits the CSS staff at Casa with helping her and others to hang in there with training through the difficult stretches, and is glad she stayed with it: “It is beautiful working here, the service mentality is great and everyone helps each other. I look forward each day to how the residents appreciate what I do for them. It is challenging since they hold us to a very high standard here, but it is all worth it.”

CSS Trainee to Certified Nursing Assistant

Del Voc Students “Learn to Earn” whatever the chefs taught him, and demonstrated what he had gained from being in DelVoc’s culinary arts program: “He came in with solid skills; I would definitely hire or recommend him for a permanent position.” If Ty lands that job at Rosemont after graduating from DelVoc this coming January, he will be eligible for tuition remission there.

DelVoc’s “Learn to Earn” has placed students as work interns at Philadelphia University, Nigro’s Auto Body, the House of Imoja, and Sesame Place among others.

Gary tries to be a good role model for the guys, embodying the LaSallian philosophy of treating them with love and respect. He tells prospective employers, “I would never send you anyone that I would not hire myself.”

Gary McLaughlin understands the trauma that can lead young men to make bad decisions. The traumas he lived through —losing mom and dad by age 15 and joining a gang to survive — make him empathetic toward the court-adjudicated youth at De LaSalle Vocational (DelVoc), whom he regularly reminds, “I woke up and got my life straightened out, and if I could do it, you can too, and we can help you get there.”

As Career Services Coordinator, he helped Tymir, an 18-year-old enrolled in DelVoc’s “Learn to Earn” program, to land a full-time summer job in dining services at Rosemont College. Rick Cuba, manager of Rosemont dining services, says Ty has regularly shown up on time, jumped right into

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Congratulations to the 1st Annual Fund at St. John’s Hospice which raised $165,000 last year. Funds will help men transition from homelessness to independence, help provide meals to more than 350 men each weekday, allow thirty men to get morning showers and clean clothing, and help over 3,000 men to reconnect with family and services or resources in the community.

On June 21, the Challenger League baseball field at Don Guanella Village was officially dedicated the Robert J. Neely Field in a moving ceremony. Friends, players, staff, and others paid pay tribute to deceased Don Guanella Village staff member Bob Neely in recognition of his contribution to the lives of Don Guanella boys for 24 years.

On June 29, 18 young men who graduated from area high schools or earned a GED were honored at the annual St. Francis-St. Joseph (SFSJ) graduation awards luncheon. ~ SFSJ earned reaccreditation from the Council on Accreditation, effective 2011 to 2015. ~ St. Katharine Drexel School, on the SFSJ campus, installed SMART Boards in all 8 classrooms, providing internet access and hands-on visual learning experiences for students.

The CSS Healthy Families / Real Alternatives Program was recognized this year for making the largest impact statewide in providing free counseling and support services to women in crisis pregnancies. CSS program coordinator Sonia Navarro assisted over 700 women to achieve improved reproductive health, develop parenting skills, or learn about adoption as a life-affirming alternative to abortion.

The Aktion Club, “a global organization of volunteers dedicated to serving the world one person and one community at a time,” is now at Don Guanella Village, co-sponsored by two local Kiwanis Clubs, with three CKC men serving as officers and other men and boys as members.

• The W.W. Smith Charitable Trust awarded a $20,000 grant to St. Mary’s Residence for Women for healthy food purchases to support nutritious meal preparation for 36 residents, many of them frail and elderly.

Divine Providence Village resident Ingrid Lenzko is an accomplished rider who recently competed in the Equestrian Special Olympics held at Penn State University, receiving a silver medal for her performance in the competition.

On August 10, the Chester County Family Service Centers and the United Way of Chester County hosted 15 adult and teen volunteers from Staples in a Days of Caring project. Staples donated over 35 new backpacks filled with school supplies. These along with 65 other back to school bags were given to clients of both the West Chester and West Grove Family Service Centers.

Philabundance recently designated the Montgomery County Food Cupboard as a “favored food cupboard,” making CSS eligible for extra grants and food donations. Dedicated volunteers who staff the cupboard log more than 60 volunteer hours a week. In the first 6 months of this year, 77,172 pounds of food were distributed to 2,877 families.

On July 28 and August 11, St. Anne’s Senior Center hosted the Wills Institute mobile eye exam unit, “Wills on Wheels,” to provide free eye exams for center members.

Members of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish in Essington and employees of the Archdiocesan Office Center together donated a total of 8,026 diapers and baby items for parents in the Strengthening Families Program at Southwest Family Service Center.

AROUND AND ABOUT CSS

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We advocate a clear priority for poor families and vulnerable workers [who] have been hurt most of all in the economic crisis. The difficult choices ahead on how to balance needs and resources and how to proportionately allocate the burdens and sacrifices need to take into account the vulnerability and capacity of all, especially those most affected by poverty, joblessness, and economic injustice. New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bihops, to all members of Congress, January 14, 2011

CSS CONNECTIONS

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA 222 NORTH 17TH STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19103

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

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484.475.2463 FAX: 610.338.0625

www.catholicsocialservicesphilly.org

Make CSS your United Way Donor Choice You can be justifiably proud of the dedicated work of Catholic Social Services which

provides help and creates hope for over 3,500 people every day.

At-risk children and youth, single parents, unemployed adults, isolated elderly …if you know someone in need, there is a CSS program that can help.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

OPT FOR DONOR CHOICE In making your United Way contribution this year

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“Go the extra mile with us.” (Matthew 5:42) # 00017 for UW of Southeastern PA