Catholic Charities Ball; Helping Neighbors with Emergency Assistance

Bishop Burbidge and Stephen Carattini with young adults at the Ball.

Catholic Charities Ball Raises Funds and Awareness

On February 2, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington held its 42nd annual Ball. More than 1,000 people gathered to celebrate the great works of Catholic Charities, and raise over $1.6 million to support those in need.

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge told those in attendance that their support of Catholic Charities ministries helps bring the light of Christ to people in need. “God simply asks that we give what we have: whatever sacrifices, whatever resources, whatever volunteer work, whatever we can do. Just watch how he will use it miraculously, working in and through us, helping us at this privileged moment in this diocese to participate in the work of making a new heaven and a new earth,” Bishop Burbidge said.

Last year, Catholic Charities assisted more than 30,000 clients. This aid came in many forms, including food, rental and utilities assistance, clothing, medical and mental health care, education, and migration and refugee services, among others.

Other ministry highlights include:

$3.4 million in food donations. This translated into 2.2 million pounds of food, fulfilling 59,165 requests.
17,627 meals served at Christ House, a 42% increase from last year.
$900,000 in rental and utilities assistance was provided, enabling 2,196 people to avoid eviction or loss of power.
$2.1 million was provided in free medical assistance.
$1.8 million was provided in refugee assistance.

Catholic Charities President and CEO Stephen Carattini stated, "In this, our diocesan jubilee year, we remember the thousands of men, women, and children that we were blessed and privileged to encounter and serve. We rejoice and give thanks to God for our pastors and parishes, and for our dedicated volunteers,” he said. “And we renew our commitment to our Bishop and all of you to competently and compassionately serve everyone who is entrusted to our care.”

View the Ball program. View and purchase photos taken at the Ball.

"It's Jesus alone who will transform the world in which we live, and Catholic Charities provides us that opportunity to be instruments of the Lord."

- Bishop Burbidge

Meet Crystal, Mary, and Alice, some of the people helped by your generous support of Catholic Charities, in this video which premiered at the Ball.

Helping Our Neighbors in an Emergency

Every month Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance staff receive 700 to 900 emails from neighbors who have received eviction or utility shutoff notices, or who need an urgent car repair so they can get to work.

One such neighbor was Mary, an active, engaged retiree who lives with her small dog Oliver in a senior citizen complex in western Fairfax County. She has always been able to support herself. But things got complicated when the 83-year-old mother and grandmother was told she needed expensive dental work before undergoing open heart surgery. Soon she had a $30,000 medical bill and monthly dental bills – and then her rent went up. This put a strain on Mary’s budget, and she found herself unable to pay her rent. Last summer, after the eviction notice arrived, her parish put her in touch with Catholic Charities.

“I never thought they’d help me,” she said. “You think of people in worse circumstances and here they helped me with two months rent. It was astonishing!”

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Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington | ccda.net