Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated Mass April 7 for Catholic Charities directors from around the country in the chapel of Catholic Charities USA’s Alexandria headquarters.
Some 87 diocesan directors, including Stephen Carattini, president and CEO of diocesan Catholic Charities, attended Catholic Charities USA’s annual spring gathering.
The directors were scheduled to go to Capitol Hill April 9 to meet with federal lawmakers. Catholic Charities USA is a voluntary association of local Catholic Charities agencies, each serving poor and vulnerable people within their diocese, operating under the auspices of their local bishop.
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge reminded the directors that 2025 is a Holy Year with the theme, “Pilgrims of hope.” He encouraged the directors to continue to radiate the light of Christ during a turbulent time in the nation.
“Allow me, I’m sure along with my brother bishops, to thank all of you for being witness of hope, signs of hope as you carry out your ministry with faithfulness and generosity and dedication,” he said.
He reminded the ministry leaders of their special role during this time and encouraged them to “be” close to Christ as they continue to “do” their ministries, to look with hope through the bleak situations their ministries encounter.
“We have to acknowledge the darkness that you are seeing up close, where people we are so privileged to serve, especially migrants and refugees, are living in fear and doubt and confusion. We have to also acknowledge the darkness of seeing — every day — the negative, the sad effects of poverty and homelessness and people lacking the necessities of life,” Bishop Burbidge said. “We also have to acknowledge … we’re seeing people, sometimes within our own faith community, questioning our motives of what we’re doing and why we are doing it.
“This is the world in which the Lord sends us to be witnesses of hope, the hope we find only in Christ.”
