In a letter to Catholic Charities USA in recognition of our 115th Annual Gathering in October, Pope Leo XIV offered his “heartfelt gratitude” for the many ways the Catholic Charities network puts into practice “the Lord’s admonition to see and serve him in the poor, hungry, homeless, and people in any kind of need.” As those of us gathered in Puerto Rico reflected on our proud history, the Holy Father shared a poignant, moving reminder of the constancy and urgency of our ongoing mission.   

The letter from the pope arrived during the same week that we published Love Your Neighbor, CCUSA’s new strategic framework for the years 2026 to 2030. The product of more than a year of deep listening and reflection, this plan lays out a vision for how we can continue to respond to the signs of the times and come to the aid of those most in need in the years ahead.   

Our vision and hope for the future are fueled by the same sentiment Pope Leo expressed in his letter: gratitude. In our case, we know that the progress and accomplishments of our past, present and future are only possible because of the abundant generosity of supporters like you.   

Thank you, truly, for answering the call of the Gospel and enabling the Catholic Charities network to continue to answer Pope Leo's call to serve “the poor, hungry, homeless, and people in any kind of need.” Within these pages, you will get a glimpse of what that work looks like, on the ground, every day.    

With deep gratitude, 

Kerry Alys Robinson
President & CEO

CALLED TO...

EDUCATE

Lifting Moms Out of Poverty is an initiative supporting expectant and new mothers at risk of poverty through 18 months of supportive case management and coordinated services. The project evaluates how existing case management models—alongside parenting, financial and workforce supports—improve outcomes for mothers and their families. Program results are tracked to build a replicable, scalable and sustainable model that can be shared across the Catholic Charities network. 

The 18-week Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Management has now graduated 41 agency directors and 52 other senior executives over four years. As they enhance their management capabilities and become more effective leaders, their agencies grow stronger and, most importantly, the clients they serve benefit. The program is offered through the University of San Diego (USD).   

The certificate program for rising executives provides additional opportunities for Catholic Charities senior staff to increase their knowledge and skills and grow in confidence and leadership capacity. In total, 153 agency staff have taken part in these programs, also offered through USD.  

CALLED TO...

INNOVATE

Food and nutrition programs and disaster response are two of the Catholic Charities network's most critical services. The hub-and-spoke model allows agencies to maximize resources and increase food distribution, leading to a greater capacity to accept and distribute products nationally and reduce food waste.   

Hub warehouses also enable the pre-staging of disaster supplies, helping to build community resilience. And finally, by incorporating workforce development and social enterprise employment into the model, clients will be able to gain employable skills (in supply chain, food distribution, produce markets and congregate dining), access financial literacy training and receive case management support. 

As one of the nation’s largest providers of affordable housing, Catholic Charities is furthering its mission to increase and preserve affordable housing stock for vulnerable communities. One innovative approach involves converting underutilized church property—such as closed parishes, convents and school buildings—into vibrant, welcoming homes for low-income renters increasingly burdened by soaring costs and limited options. Additional Catholic Charities agencies are also planning such property conversions, ensuring families have access to a future with opportunity.

CALLED TO...

COLLABORATE

Outreach to rural communities is a key ministry for many agencies whose clients have limited access to social services, health care and transportation. Through expanded technology solutions, such as telehealth and other online services, agencies meet clients where they are, and through partnerships with local employers and businesses, they offer workforce development and career training opportunities to help clients change their own futures.  

Twenty-three agencies are providing intensive case management to refugees, human trafficking victims and other individuals and families deemed by the federal government to be especially vulnerable. Those include very elderly refugees and those struggling with extreme physical or mental health challenges, among others.  This service comes under a Preferred Communities grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.