Catholic Social Services says the cost of essential food items and a lack of donations were behind the decision to close.

"It's terribly sad that our efforts to feed those who cannot afford food ceased because it had become unaffordable" says Simon Thompson, general manager of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.

"The difficult decision came after 12 months of effort to find additional funding streams.

"With Catholic Social Services receiving very few donations of food and only a tiny discount from supermarkets, it was no longer financially viable to operate the food bank.''

At the time the food bank closed down, it was able to supply only about a dozen food parcels which volunteers were delivering each week to people in need.

Thompson says people seeking food parcels from Catholic Social Services should try approaching St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) which is its partner organisation.

Although the food bank has closed, Catholic Social Services is planning to reopen its soup kitchen programme soon.

Catholic Social Services offers a range of programmes through its Christchurch agency.

These include promoting a holistic approach by offering many things - ounselling, social work support, group courses for children and adults, advice about budgeting/advocacy, practical needs advice and assistance, and post-adoption services.

Source

• Otago Daily Times

Some schools are coping - like eight Catholic schools in Dunedin - but only after stretching out their hands to their communities.

They're now getting funded by the Mercy Charitable Outreach Fund. Meanwhile, Catholic Social Services is helping support the service with management and structure.

But they're the exception.

Dunedin's other 23 schools have had to scrape together funds from a variety of places says India Hughes-Chang from ChatBus South. Many still don't have a service available.

More funding from the Government is vital for the "ambulance at the top of the cliff" to be available to young people, she stresses.

"As an association we've been very concerned about the mental health of secondary school students for many years ..." says the Association of Counsellors' president Sarah Maindonald.

She says the Association has lobbied the Government to increase and tag the staffing so there's a counsellor available in every school in the country.

"We're looking to have a ratio of one counsellor to every 400.

"At the moment, it's very inequitable across the country. Sometimes there's a counsellor for every 1400 students and one to 2000, which is actually a risk."

Counsellors are leaving the profession because of increasing job-related stress, Maindonald says.

She hopes the incoming Government follows through on commitments to improving mental health services and does not get sidetracked into exploring alternatives.

"It's really simple. To have universal access for counselling in schools you add counselling to staffing and you tag it" she said, explaining that would ensure the funding could not be used for other purposes.

"If the government tagged counselling to staffing with a ratio of one to 400 that would make a real difference for youth mental health."

Maindonald said it would cost about $66.5 million to bring the number of school counsellors to 700 and meet the 1:400 ratio.

Post-Covid 19, counsellors say they are also seeing more cases of anxiety and depression.

• Counselling and support

Source

• RNZ
• ODT

Catholic Social Services director Mike Tonks said the social work and counselling organisation had raised $900,000 in an ongoing fundraising campaign for a standalone building to complement existing offices in the nearby St Patrick's School building in Macandrew Rd.

Resource consent had been granted for the project at a neighbouring Broughton St site and the organisation was completing drafts for a building consent application.

The aim was to break ground in October and open the new facility early next year, he said.

The organisation would not leave its present space but the rooms there were already at capacity. Read more

CSS recently published a statement thanking those who made contributions. The message said simply, the organisation doesn't have the capacity to store any additional items.

The statement read, "Thank you for your immediate and generous response. When we made our appeal for help, we had no idea of how our community would respond. We are moved and humbled by the outpouring of support and generosity from so many people. We should have known!"

The social agency only launched the appeal for housing, furniture and household packs on September 2.

CSS will ensure the donated goods will be distributed to the refugees following their arrival in Wellington.

"As the families arrive in Wellington and begin settling in we will try to update you on how your gifts were applied and the difference they have made in the lives of the Afghan people making a new life here in NZ."

Although the final number of Afghan refugees coming to Wellington is yet to be confirmed, Wellington Archdiocesean general manager, John Prendergast said "Every action, small or large, will greatly benefit the individuals and families fleeing a desperate situation and seeking safety in New Zealand".

Prendergast told CathNews the archdiocese's assistance can be seen as a humanitarian response.

While the current appeal has closed, CSS is still looking for support to find suitable housing for the refugees. "If you can help, please contact our community facilitator Paul Alsford at Refugees@wn-catholicsocialservices.org.nz", the message read.

CSS also said any financial donations would be welcome and can be made by going to the CSS website.

A mark of Francis' pontificate is his speaking and acting in favour of the disadvantaged.

And again on the last day of his recent Slovakia Francis told 60,000 people that faith involves identifying with suffering.

He encouraged Slovak Catholics to open their hearts to "a faith that becomes compassion" that "identifies with those who are hurting, suffering and forced to bear heavy crosses."

It is "a faith that does not remain abstract but becomes incarnate in fellowship with those in need. A faith that imitates God's way of doing things quietly relieves the suffering of our world and waters the soil of history with salvation," he said.

The CSS appeal is also being supported by: Red Cross, Arise Church, St Vincent de Paul and changemakers Resettlement Forum.

Sources

• Catholic Social Services
• CathNews New Zealand

On 2 September, the social agency launched an appeal for housing, furniture and household packs.

"Every action, small or large, will greatly benefit the individuals and families fleeing a desperate situation and seeking safety in New Zealand," Prendergast said.

"Whether through parish newsletters, community or Facebook groups, CSS has received and continues to receive amazingly generous offers from people wanting to help," he said.

Prendergast told CathNews the archdiocese's assistance can be seen as a humanitarian response.

"People are responding to people in need," and it is 'all systems go', as the region prepares to welcome these refugees.

Despite the early success, CSS remains keen to find rental housing for the Wellington-bound families over the next few weeks.

"Stable housing is crucially important to help these people to adjust and settle well into their lives ahead", the agency said.

CSS is targeting one-to four-bedroom houses, flats or units that can be rented for at least six months - ideally longer."

"The number of people who may come to Wellington is yet to be confirmed but a call for housing was made in anticipation of a housing need," Prendergast says.

"We are also seeking basic furniture and household packs for the families, including bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, and pantry items such as rice, cooking oils, canned black/kidney beans, tea and coffee etc.

"Together we can help these people to settle well in the Wellington region.'

Several organisations are arranging help for people to settle in, Prendergast notes.

"Wellington Red Cross will be providing Red Cross volunteers dedicated to all individuals and families who arrive to support them on a daily basis."

In addition, Prendergast says the Afghan community is "very much involved" in helping welcome their compatriots from Afghanistan as are several local communities and government organisations in Wellington.

Between them, Prendergast says they're co-ordinating responses and support.

"As clarity is gained on numbers coming and when, the co-ordination of housing and setting up those houses will be ready to start."

Source

• Scoop
• Supplied
• Image: Stuff

The lockdown comes with a familiar high price for many New Zealanders, among them religious communities are unable to gather safekly for prayer and worship, and it makes ordinary community service difficult.

To help meet congregant's spiritual needs, many local parishes are again streaming Mass.

Catholic dioceses and church organisations also offer streamed Masses as well as a range of other spiritual activities.

• Auckland diocese
  • Auckland Cathedral Spotify playlist
• Hamilton diocese
• Palmerston North diocese - email list resources such as: Catholic radio, Rosary with Fr Vijay, children's activity sheet, and Afternoon Prayer and a Cuppa with Fr Joe.
• Christchurch diocese
• Dunedin diocese

The National Liturgy office also has a selection of resources.

Wellington's Catholic Catholic Social Services has published a list with links to various social organisations within the archdiocese that people can contact if they wish.

Elsewhere in the country, Rotorua's Catholic parish priests are keeping in touch through more traditional media; parishioner phone calls and texts and the Bishop in Hamilton has again started online Masses.

"We've been encouraging everyone to join him", Tauranga priest Richard Laurenson told the NZ Herald.

One local community group, however, is using the opportunity to try something new; turning a physical event into one with potentially global participation.

In Otaki, an ecumenical initiative for the World Day of Prayer for Creation was scheduled for Wednesday, September 1.

The meeting is still scheduled for noon on Wednesday but it will take place on Zoom. Click the link to join.

The day of prayer is for Catholics and all Christians to pray for creation and our place in creation.

More widely, The Reverend John Hebenton, vicar of the Anglican Parish at Gate Pa, said his parish decided to hold this Sunday's services online only.

"Last time we pre-recorded services. This time we're going to use Zoom. It will be an interesting Sunday."

He said the recent snap lockdown was "kind of easier and kind of more difficult".

"There was a bit more lead-in time last time. We knew it was coming, we just didn't know when.

"This time it was happening in four hours. It was also a little bit more uncertain about how long [the lockdown] was going to go on."

With millions of people having stayed home from places of worship during the coronavirus pandemic, struggling congregations have one key question: How many of them will return?

Smaller churches with older congregations that struggled to adapt during the pandemic are in the greatest danger of a downward spiral from which they can't recover, says Rev Gloria E White-Hammond, lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School and co-pastor of a church in Boston.

With a lot of people stepping out of the habit, there is the potential for a significant drop in momentum.

Those that are successful in reemerging from the COVID-19 lockdowns will likely be those that did a better job adapting to the pandemic, said White-Hammond.

Those that kept a connection with congregants and relied less on the physical passing of the plate for donations stand a better chance of emerging unscathed, she said.

However, Rabbi Dusty Klass of Charlotte, North Caroilina Temple Beth El believes there will be no returning to "normal" after the pandemic.

"There were people who went home and may never come back to the sanctuary.

"They may just pray from their couch, and it's up to us to make sure they have the opportunity."

Source

• New Zealand Herald
• AP News
• Image: Mental Health Foundation

Fulton v. City of Philadelphia is one of the first cases of new Supreme Court appointee Amy Coney Barrett and one of the biggest cases of the Court's term.

The case could hand religious conservatives a major victory in a battle over whether the US Constitution protects the right to discriminate against LGBTQ people on religious grounds.

The justices are reviewing Philadelphia's decision to exclude Catholic Social Services (CSS), from its foster care system. The church agency has refused to abide by the city's non-discrimination policy.

CSS argues it has a First Amendment right to decline to certify same-sex couples for foster parenthood. This is based on the right to free exercise of religion, and the Roman Catholic Church's teachings on marriage.

Lori H. Windham, a senior counsel at the law firm representing the religious agency, says there are 28 other foster care agencies in Philadelphia. Three of the agencies have special expertise in serving the LGBTQ community. Windham argues that CSS "would help them to find a foster care agency with expertise in serving LGBTQ couples."

"But Philadelphia's government says that's not enough, and it won't allow any more foster kids to be placed with families who work with Catholic Social Services."

Philadelphia responded in its merits brief that "the Constitution does not grant CSS the right to dictate the terms on which it carries out the government's work," the city said.

"CSS lacks a constitutional right to demand that it be granted a government contract to perform a government function using government funds without complying with the same contractual obligation that every other [foster family care agency] must follow."

Fulton v. City of Philadelphia was likely to end in victory for the conservatives even before Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation gave them a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court.

With Barrett now on the Court, the religious freedom case is overwhelmingly likely to end in a significant defeat for LGBTQ equality.

Sources

• ABA Journal
• Vox
• ACLU

Work that is less visible nationally but very important locally is happening everywhere.

Foodbanks and soup kitchens are two very busy basic services working hard behind the scenes.

Some extraordinary ingenuity is being used in these extraordinary times when essential Catholic spiritual work such as, attending to the sick and dying, is severely restricted by Level 4 rules.

Dunedin

Two St Vincent de Paul staff have continued to work providing food parcels. Because the usual donations of food at parish Masses has not been available, food has been bought with donated money, including with a grant from the Tindall Foundation.

The Dunedin and Central Otago Catholic Social Services (CSS) counselling and social work teams are keeping in touch with people using Zoom and phone calls, providing support, counselling, information and helping people get food parcels, technology support and financial help when needed.

Mike Tonks, CSS Dunedin Director, says life for some people has been a little easier under lockdown, with some having less anxiety and reporting they are coping better.

Christchurch
Catholic Social Services Manager Jon Brian says team members are working from home to support parishioners via phone and video link. People are pleased to "unload" to a professional counsellor outside their "bubble," he says.

"Almost all the people reached didn't expect to be contacted or to be able to contact counsellors; they were pleasantly surprised and grateful for that," Jon said.

Catholic hospital chaplains are continuing to work from home, connecting with patients and hospital staff by phone and other devices.

Wellington
Hospital chaplain Lizzie Wootton says chaplains are learning to adapt to new rhythms and routines, at a time when face to face contact is not possible.

But she is able to talk to and pray with people in hospital using their own and hospital phones.

"I try to be present to them because human presence in any form helps with mental health and healing," Lizzie said.

The Compassion Soup Kitchen has doubled its meal production to more than 150 a day since the lockdown started.

The kitchen has closed its communal dining area, instead, they are distributing meals at the door.

Auckland
Catholic Social Services, Catholic Caring Foundation and St Vincent de Paul's foodbank in Newton are working together to get food parcels out to the elderly.

Parishes are also responding to the crisis by setting up phone groups to call elderly parishioners to see who needs help.

One parish is forwarding fresh produce to Vinnies, while another is ensuring that protective gear is made available to the volunteers and staff at the foodbank. Another parish programme is being set up to help the elderly receive their flu vaccinations.

Source

Supplied: He Huinga o nga Pihopa Katorika o Aotearoa
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

The city says it has stopped using CSS because it does not place children with same-sex couples.

Last week one of the Philadelphia Councillors asked for the city's Public Health and Human Services to investigate Philadelphia's partnership with organisations that do not place foster children with LGBTQ people.

The councillor said refusing to place children with LGBTQ people is discriminatory.

For the same reasons, Bethany Christian Services are not allowed to place foster children either.

Both the Catholic Church and Bethany Christian Services have been targeted because they are seen to be violating city contract rules that forbid discrimination.

Philadelphia's fair practices ordinance, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, is included in all city contracts, the city's executive director of the Human Relations Commission says.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia's chief communications officer, Kenneth Gavin, says CSS hopes the foster care partnership with the city will resume.

"Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recognises the vital importance of the foster care program in our city and is proud to provide safe and nurturing foster environments to young people in need.

"We hope to continue our productive relationship with the City of Philadelphia to serve those among us in need."

Gavin says CSS is, "at its core, an institution founded on faith-based principles. The Catholic Church does not endorse same-sex unions based upon deeply held religious beliefs and principles.

"As such, CSS would not be able to consider foster care placement within the context of a same-sex union."

Nonetheless, Gavin says CSS provides foster care services to any young person in need of assistance regardless of background and without making inquiry as to their sexual identity or orientation.

"That's important to note as it is also a deeply held religious belief for us to provide care for all those in need with dignity, charity and respect."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• The Inquirer
• Image: Foster-Care-v2

He replaces Lesley Hooper, who retires on 29 September after nine years with Catholic Social Services.

Olivier comes from the Diocese of Palmerston North, where he is currently Principal of St Peters College, a position he has held for eighteen years.

He was previously principal of Upper Hutt College, and before that deputy rector of St Patrick' College, Silverstream.

Olivier is chairman of the Pathways Executive Group of the Talent Central Trust Pathways Group.

This group was set up to co-ordinate the transition of students into employment in the Manawatu.

In his letter, announcing the appointment, Cardinal John Dew said "Dave is well versed in Catholic social teaching and lives it in his life.'

Dew described Olivier as an exceptional leader and manager, active in the Church and in the wider community.

His also is well versed in tikanga Maori and te reo Maori.

Supplied Letter from Cardinal Dew.

In his Newsletter Cardinal John Dew says, "This essential agency of the Archdiocese will now have the opportunity to work alongside Soup Kitchen Staff in reaching out to some of the more needy and vulnerable people of our city."

Source
Cardinal John's Newsletter

The service's old building was damaged by fire last year so its staff have taken up residence next door at 12 Otara Rd.

The service has staff who use a faith-based approach to social work, counselling, prison chaplaincy and working with other agencies.

Issues raised often relate to housing, debit, alcohol and drug abuse, immigration matters and domestic violence. Continue reading

Catholic Social Services social worker Mike Tonks, who has been running a fathers-only play group for the past year, said solo fathers needed support services specially designed to their unique experience of parenthood. Continue reading

South Dunedin is the most deprived area in Otago, according to the latest Socioeconomic Deprivation Index,

"Meaningful work that gives people a decent income to meet their basic needs ... that's what needs to be continuously looked at,"Donnelly said.

About one-third of the South Dunedin-based social services agency's clients came from the area and while they faced "a range of issues", many of them related to a lack of meaningful work.

"There is low income [in South Dunedin] and people always struggle if they haven't got enough to meet their basic needs and that's what we find.

"People here are doing their very best to cover their rent and basic costs, feeding their kids and clothing their kids, but there isn't enough."

While he did not know where the jobs could come from, "some investment in the South Dunedin area ... would help to get things moving", he said.

"We are helping people to cope, but it's not always going to solve the problem."

The 2013 Socioeconomic Deprivation Index was calculated using census data

Areas such as South Dunedin and Caledonian, which were among the most deprived 10% of areas in New Zealand, had been there since the first index was produced after the 1991 census.
Source

• Otago Daily Times
• Otago Daily Times
• Image: Otago Daily Times

The Catholic Church is extending its social services arm across the region.

Bishop Pat Dunn has blessed and opened the new southern base of Catholic Social Services at St John the Evangelist Church in Otara.

Previously the service had just one office in Ponsonby and its South Auckland patrons were forced to travel across the city.

Auckland's Catholic Social Services was founded in the 1930s to support families under pressure during the difficult times resulting from the Great Depression. Continue reading

The church has long been criticized as "too dogmatic." Demands are constantly made that it change its 2,000-year-old teachings on marriage, family, sexuality, morality and other matters related to the truth about human beings. But even if others do not agree, the church understands that what it proclaims is revealed truth — the Word of God. The church's teachings are timeless. They cannot be changed, even though adherence may be upsetting to some. That the church is built on a rock with fixed beliefs is a positive feature, both because it can withstand the shifting winds of public opinion and because of the cherished content of our faith itself, which fosters love among Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Although these precepts may be misunderstood by many today, the fundamental vocation of the Catholic Church is to provide the witness of love and truth to the world, including offering the voice of an informed conscience. Catholics are taught to respect the fundamental, inherent dignity of every person, each made in the image of God, and to work to establish a just society. The church teaches that it is our obligation to manifest love of neighbor, to provide charitable service to others, and to promote truth, genuine freedom and authentic humanism. We work for the poor, the oppressed and the suffering, because that is what our faith teaches we must do. There is thus a positive side to being dogmatic: The teachings and works of the church advance the common good throughout civil society. Just as our dogma is constant, so is the work it commands.

The Archdiocese of Washington is the largest nongovernmental provider of social services in our area: Seventy-five programs in 48 locations offer assistance to whoever needs it, regardless of religion, race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation. Each year, more than 100,000 people in the Washington area rely on Catholic charitable organizations for housing, food, job training, immigration assistance, legal aid, dental care, mental health care, lifespan services for those with disabilities and their families and prenatal care and assistance for vulnerable pregnant women and unwed mothers. Continue reading

Sources

• Cardinal Donald Wuerl in The Washington Post
• Image: Catholic Faith in Action

Cardinal Donald Wuerl is archbishop of Washington.