Lending a helping hand for 100 years

One hundred years of helping.

This simple theme, coined to highlight the centenary celebrations for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto, neatly summarizes what Catholic Charities has been doing since 1913: Delivering a variety of practical, life-affirming services to the poor and the marginalized in response to the Gospel call to love one’s neighbour.

Catholic Charities’ fingers all over medicare

TORONTO - Once upon a time in Canada, medical bankruptcy was common. Going to the hospital was a financial death sentence for many.

New scholarships honour the past, look to the future

TORONTO - Honouring the past and investing in the future has motivated Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto to establish two new scholarships for those pursuing a career in social work.

Planning for the future, remembering our past

Where to begin when looking ahead for Catholic Charities, an organization that has been caring for the most needy of the archdiocese of Toronto for over a century? Consulting a fortune teller or reading the stars aren’t options for a Catholic agency committed to the Gospel message of Christ — to love and serve God and one another.

Where the stranger is made welcome

On the edges of Mississauga and in the neglected corners of outer Scarborough, survivors of all the world’s tragedies of misrule, economic failure, mob violence and economic dysfunction are hunkered down — waiting to claim their part of the Canadian promise of decency and opportunity.

Program gives at-risk kids the tools to succeed

TORONTO - Imagine at age 16, after years of living without family and in the care of an organization, you’re free to be on your own — except you have never learned the life skills to gain employment, obtain safe and secure housing or stay in school.

Volunteers are charities’ backbone

TORONTO - Volunteers are the vehicles that help to fulfill the dreams of others, says Marion Barszczyk.

Empowering seniors

TORONTO - Last year, volunteers at the Society of Sharing donated 20,000 hours of their time to ensure isolated and marginalized seniors and adults with disabilities felt a little less alone.

Meeting special needs

TORONTO - When Delia Avarell’s two children were growing up, she sent both to a sign-language summer camp operated by Silent Voice Canada. As a deaf parent of hearing children, she wanted them to be immersed in an environment where they could interact with children with a similar family dynamic.

Young parents get second chance

TORONTO - St. Mary Euphrasia, the founder of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, once said: “Lift them up in their own eyes.”

Social service demands are consistently growing

TORONTO - At Catholic Family Services of Durham, clients often tell staff they feel helped, understood and safe, said executive director Elizabeth Pierce.

Students open up the ‘Doors of Hope’

TORONTO - Artistic students are using discarded doors as a canvass to illustrate the social justice work of Catholic Charities and the agencies it supports.