Dear Sisters and
Brothers in Christ:
May God bless you! This weekend parishes in the Archdiocese will take up donations for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development works to be a voice of hope for those on the margins of society who experience the realities of living in poverty.
CCHD supports programs to heal the wounds of crime and violence, advocate for more just policies, protect God’s creation, and develop strong communities. Your donation to CCHD will help build a society where all have a voice and all know their inherent dignity.
Often, when juveniles are arrested their record follows them their whole lives, decreasing their chances of finding gainful employment and increasing their chances of reoffending. Together with the Catholic bishops, groups like the Direct Action and Research Training Center (DART) in Miami are working to reduce the number of juvenile arrests, giving children a real chance at success.
Thanks to a strategic national grant from CCHD, DART is working with school and law enforcement officials to decrease the number of school-based arrests and promote alternative, constructive interventions that give children a second chance at their future. Because of their work, school systems are now able to implement restorative justice practices affecting over 65,000 students and resulting in a decrease in suspensions and arrests.
This collection is the primary source of funding for CCHD’s many anti-poverty education programs and grants, like the one that supports DART. And, 25% of the collection’s proceeds stay here in our Archdiocese for programs such as the Catholic Charities Common Table Culinary Arts School, Centro Latino of Shelbyville, Interfaith Paths to Peace, and the Cathedral of the Assumption ID program.
These efforts help those in need, providing clients with everything from educational services and job training to assisting the homeless by securing for them a Kentucky state identification card. Help to promote human dignity and show Christ’s charity to those in need by supporting the CCHD collection.
For more information about the collection for CCHD and the groups it funds, please visit www.usccb.org/cchd.
You and your family are in my prayers.
Sincerely yours in our Lord, Most Reverend
Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville
