Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans

Description

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans provides hope, help and loving care for the most vulnerable and needy in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. They work to be the hands and heart of Jesus Christ for our brothers and sisters in need. Through our ministries, programs and community partnerships, we provide a comprehensive network of social services that connects clients to resources and acts as a springboard to self-sufficiency for those struggling. They offer support that empowers individuals, families and communities to grow and thrive. Catholic Charities serves people in need regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or economic status.

Catholic Charities services are rooted in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with food and nutrition services benefiting the entire state of Louisiana. Catholic Charities serves the homeless, hungry, the elderly, at-risk youth, pregnant women, individuals with developmental delays, and many more.

History

The Catholic Church in Louisiana can trace its heritage of providing social services to the time of the French exploration and settlement with the arrival of the Ursuline nuns in 1727. Catholic services to the needy is interwoven throughout Louisiana’s history. For more than 288 years, Catholic institutions of education, healthcare, and social services have been assisting the poor, the orphaned, the hungry, the sick, the disabled, the abused, the aged, the displaced, the homeless and the troubled.

Incorporated in 1938, Associated Catholic Charities was established to help coordinate the numerous agencies of the Archdiocese of New Orleans serving the poor and vulnerable. What began as a committee grew to a 3-person staff managed by a Board of Directors, which over the years has grown into one of the largest and most active Catholic Charities agencies in the United States with over 400 employees. In 1996, the agency became known as Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO).

Although nearly three centuries have passed, the legacy of the Ursuline nuns continues through Catholic Charities and its mission to care for those in need. Over the years, the size and scope of service of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans has evolved to meet the needs of the community. From Child Welfare Services throughout the mid to late 20th Century to Immigration and Refugee Services in the 1970s, to recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010, Hurricane Isaac in 2012 and onward.

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans offers life-giving programs, advocates for the voiceless and empowers the most vulnerable to foster a more just society.