Charity Work
The Church has offered some form of charity ever since its early days, when Paul urged Christian communities to take care of the widows and put them to useful work. For centuries, Catholic religious orders and groups have been operating schools, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the elderly.
In 1633, St. Vincent de Paul established a charity to work among slaves, serfs, and the laborers. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd devoted themselves to the reformation of wayward girls. Countless other charities have also evolved in the framework of the Catholic Church.
There has been a blossoming of Catholic charities into numerous areas of work. In the Western world, Catholic charities are working among minority, immigrant, and refugee groups, trying to give a voice to the poor in the legal system. Catholic charities still run hospitals and many are involved in family support.
In the United States and Canada, groups such as FoodShare operate community kitchens, hostels for the homeless, drop-in centers, and food banks. Catholic charities devoted to food aid internationally include Canadian Food for Children and Save a Family Plan, organizations that help the poor of India and Haiti on the road to self-reliance. Catholics also work within larger organizations, such as the Red Cross, United Way, and World Vision.
