CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is expanding its services with the help of a new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The $500,000 yearly grant, received Oct. 1, has allowed Catholic Charities to hire and train two case coordinators to facilitate the program, said Sandy Buck, Regional Director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.
The federal VA’s SSVF program awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that can provide supportive services to very low-income veterans and their families living in or transitioning to permanent housing.
Catholic Charities will provide eligible veterans and their families with housing location services, case management and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits.
The program serves very low-income veterans and their families who are homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless, Buck said. The primary goal is to establish housing, she explained.
Catholic Charities has subcontracted with Veterans Bridge Home to provide outreach and assessment services. They will also work with other Charlotte-area agencies to identity and find housing for the veterans. According to Buck, there are more than 300 known homeless people in the city who may be eligible for this aid.
“Our ultimate goal is to eliminate homelessness,” Buck said.
After the veteran has a safe place to live, then their focus moves to case management, access to health care, personal financial planning, transportation, child care if needed, legal services and assistance obtaining other benefits, Buck said.
“Catholic Charities is a case management agency,” Buck said, “so this is an expansion on what we already do. The funding from Veterans Affairs allows us to do that. We are excited we can assist our veterans in providing these extra services.”
Now that Catholic Charities has the staff in place, the program is beginning to take on cases.
Catholic Charities’ goal is to serve 120 veterans and their families during this initial grant year, Buck said, focusing on those in need in Mecklenburg County at first. As the grant is renewed next year, the goal is to expand to other counties in the Diocese of Charlotte, she noted.
“Catholic Charities is working to expand the services we can provide,” Buck said. “We’re excited we can start assisting our veterans in providing these services.”
— Kimberly Bender, Online reporter
CHARLOTTE — As the Charlotte area Chapter of Lay Dominicans marks its 10th anniversary in the Diocese of Charlotte, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapter recently welcomed five new members and celebrated the formation advancement of 15 members – ranging from inquirers, to those making their full or perpetual promises, all sharing in the charism of the Order founded in 1216 by St. Dominic.
For 800 years the Dominicans, or Order of Preachers, have been committed to the salvation of souls and have maintained loyalty to the Church. Truth is promoted through the four pillars of prayer, study, community and apostolate. There are three orders of the Dominican fraternity: first order, the Dominican friars; second order, the cloistered Dominican nuns; and third order, religious (priests and sisters) and secular (laity).
The new members and advancements were received during a Rite of Reception and Promises held at Mass Sept. 28 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. Since the chapter’s first Rite of Reception and Promises in 2010, the Rite is the highlight of the chapter’s year.
Newly admitted pictured here with the Charlotte chapter, completed the first year of formation (a 12-month inquiry requirement); Susan Evans, Suzette Mahoney, Cecelia McGloughlin, Glenn Yellico and Diona Mathews (not pictured).
Newly advanced Dominican Laity making the Temporary Promise after completion of the second year of formation (a 12-month candidate requirement): Leia Anastacio, Scott Aumuller, Catherine Bernardo and Carol Bireley (not pictured); Renewal of Temporary Promise (after completion of the three-year temporary promise): Laura Kobet; and Full Promise (for life) after completion of the five-year (inquiry, candidate, temporary) requirement: Donna Gunter, Patricia Kent, Kati Roy (not pictured), and Regina and Robert Whaples. Also pictured with the newly advanced is Father Matthew Kauth of St. Joseph College Seminary, a life member who serves as Spiritual Assistant for the chapter; and other members Mary Snow, Megan Whiteside, Dan Lucero, Glenda Stephenson, Brenda Stephenson, Tom Mathis, Sandra Coughlin, J.R. Richardson, Mitzi Fields, Judy Shallcross, Matthew Dimock Sr. and Mark Dorsett.
The Dominican Laity adopt a spiritual life that includes daily Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, daily rosary, study, contemplation, and where available, daily Mass and monthly confession. Working all this into a lay schedule does not occur overnight – particularly for those who have families to care for, work responsibilities, parish and civic volunteer commitments, and who also honor other devotions of the Church.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapter was formed in 2009. Chapter members belong to 16 different parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte, and inquiries are always welcome.
There is a five-year formation process, which increases the likelihood of adjustment, transforming steadily to a routine that accommodates Dominican requirements and yet aligns personal lives, daily needs and obligations. To proceed through the formation process, a candidate must be in good standing with the Church for two years and be at least 18 years old.
The chapter, comprised of 30 members, meets monthly. The next inquiry class will be held from 8:30 to 9:25 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church’s community building, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte.
— Sandra W. Coughlin
More online
At www.charlottelaydominicans.org: Read more about the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapter of Lay Dominicans and inquire about membership