Outreach

catholic relief services

'Our times call for a new readiness to assist our neighbors in need.'
Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), 2006, Pope Benedict XVI

Catholic Diocese of Arlington

Support for Haiti

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Haiti just before 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on Tuesday, January 12. The epicenter of the quake was 10 miles southwest of the impoverished nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, which has more than 2 million inhabitants.

CRS has permanent offices and ongoing projects in Haiti, which is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of Haitians are Catholic.

Right now we are quickly mobilizing our pre-positioned emergency relief supplies including: kitchen kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, bedding, water containers and other lifesaving assistance. CRS has made an initial commitment of $5 million to help with immediate needs.

  • Call 1-877-HELP-CRS,
  • Donate online at www.crs.org
  • Send a check (with Haiti earthquake in the Memo line) to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

who are we?

The work of Catholic Relief Services in our Diocese is strongly supported by the 22 volunteers who serve on the CRS/CCHD Diocesan Committee. These individuals review grants, make presentations, and promote Catholic Relief Services programs both in their own parishes and by reaching out to others. Click Here to see a list of current members. To volunteer, download an application and send it in. Volunteers serve on the CRS/CCHD Diocesan Committee for a two-year term and orientation is held every year in January.

 

Solidarity

As Catholics, we believe we are all part of one human family. We are called to protect the life and dignity of every member of that family. Solidarity is a basic concept in Catholic teaching that asks us to stand with those who are poor and assist people in need around the world.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

is the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community. CRS feeds families, shelters refugees, rebuilds shattered lives, protects health, develops sustainable communities, and restores hope in 99 countries around the world.

The role of the Diocese of Arlington CRS office is to educate local parishioners about the work of CRS and how it relates to Catholic Social Teaching.  We assist local parishes in connecting to programs offered by the national office, such as:

While 75% of the money donated to Operation Rice Bowl funds CRS programs overseas, 25% stays here in the Diocese of Arlington. Click here to learn more about the local grant program.