CCHD celebrates ‘50 years rooted in justice’ at 43rd annual Social Ministry Convocation

Baltimore City and the metropolitan area benefit from more than 18,000 not-for-profit organizations with assets of more than $94 billion, and yet, the city is still a victim of crime and violence, low-performing schools, uneven inequitable investment in redevelopment, 15,000 vacant houses and more.

“If there are so many good Samaritans (nonprofit organizations), then why is Baltimore a constant falling victim?” asked Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., urban vicar and episcopal vicar for Hispanic Catholics, in his bilingual keynote talk.

“I do not think people are saying, ‘It is not my problem,’” he added, “But rather what happens is that we get in our own lane, in our own area of service, our own area of self-interest and concern.”

The Baltimore Catholic Campaign for Human Development gathered virtually for its 43rd annual archdiocesan Social Ministry Convocation March 26 with the theme “50 years of CCHD: Rooted in Justice.”

Monsignor Richard Bozzelli, archdiocesan director of CCHD, said the campaign began 50 years ago as an antipoverty program of the USCCB to complement Catholic Charities.

“CCHD seeks to change the structures in society that keep people poor,” he said. “The convocation includes Catholic social justice groups throughout the archdiocese.”

Bishop Lewandowski mentioned five traditional ways to help the poor: pray for them, help them from a distance by donating money or material goods, visit and bring them help and assistance, move to a distressed neighborhood and live with them and/or live among poor people and take their life as your own.

He warned the participants of the danger of falling into the thought process of “what we’re doing is good enough.”

As an antidote, Bishop Lewandowski invited those present to dream about Baltimore in the next 50 years as Pope Francis has invited the world, though the synodal process, to dream about seeking, accompanying and journeying with each other toward transformation.

“I myself feel very challenged these days by the heavy weight of the problems of the city,” he noted. “If we keep thinking that what we’ve done is good enough, we will never achieve the dream God has for us: a dream of lodging, land, labor and love for everyone.”

Nine workshops, focused on different topics, followed the keynote talk. A social ministry fair and an awards ceremony were held as well.

The CCHD and Social Ministry Committee members honored Monsignor William F. Burke, former CCHD director, with a plaque in gratitude for his 50 years of leadership to the CCHD, rooted in faith, service and justice.

The International Peace and Justice Award went to Tiffany Nelms for her work with Asylee Women Enterprise in Baltimore.

The Doris Johnson Community Award went to Mary Catherine Bunting, a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Baltimore, for her involvement in maternity nursing, hospice care, environmental justice, racial justice and total wellness care as a nurse practitioner.

The John Hook Parish Award went to Flo Sunshine Valentine, a parishioner of the Immaculate Conception in Towson, for her commitment as a school teacher, member of St. Vincent de Paul Society, member of the Racial Justice Circle and the Black Lives Matter Interfaith Coalition to name a few.

The following list includes the recipients of the P. Francis Murphy Social Ministry Recognition Awards for Service:

Immaculate Conception; Glenn Rabut

Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Baltimore: James Fabian

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, Woodstock: Joan Coughlin, Jane Phillips and Adon Phillips

Pastorate of St. Anthony of Padua and Most Precious Blood, Baltimore: Amina Amedu

Pastorate of St. Athanasius and St. Rose of Lima, Baltimore: Dennis Myers

St. Bernardine, West Baltimore: Gregory Cleveland

St. Cecilia, Baltimore: Therese Wilson Favors

St. Francis of Xavier, Hunt Valley: Joan G. Carlson

St. Gabriel, Woodlawn: Dan Conley, Kacy Conley and Dan Reese

St. Ignatius Catholic Community, Mount Vernon: Theresa Furnari

St. Joan of Arc, Aberdeen: Joanne Motto

St. John the Evangelist, Columbia: Alan Pultyniewicz

St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park: Jeanette Middleton-Sudano

St. Katharine Drexel, Frederick: Kathryn Welty

St. Margaret, Bel Air: Veronica “Ronnie” Georg

St. Mary of the Assumption, Govans: Helene Perry

St. Pius X, Rodgers Forge: Barry Schech

Transfiguration Catholic Community, Baltimore: Christina Engerman (posthumous award)

The recipients of the P. Francis Murphy Social Ministry Recognition Awards for Advocacy are: 

Immaculate Conception: Karen Whittington

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez: Regina Smutz

St. Bernardine: Michelle Bass

St. Cecilia: Charles Dorsey Ill

St. Francis Xavier: Amy S. Mason

St. Gabriel: Don Monahan

St. Joan of Arc: Anne Dulk

St. John the Evangelist, Columbia: Kathy Gross

St. Mary of the Assumption: Mary Louise Petrik

St. Pius X: Elizabeth Wagner

Transfiguration Catholic Community: Gertrude “Trudy” Scott

Video clips about the 43rd social convocation can be found at BalimoreSocial Ministry Convocation – YouTube.

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org

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