The bishops called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom, from June 21-July 4. Read more

Wednesday, June 27:  Disease Identification and BUGS!

Wednesday, June 13:  Fertilizing and Side Dressing  and BUGS!

We are sponsoring THREE EXPIRED DRUG TOSS events in Louisville Metro on:

Thursday, May 17th
10am to 2pm
St Ignatius Martyr Church
1816 Rangeland Road
Okolona, KY 40219

Friday, May 18th
10am to 2pm
Treyton Oak Towers
211 West Oak Street
Louisville, KY 40203
Enter from the 2^nd Street side

Saturday, May 19th
10am to 2pm
Westport Road Baptist Church
9705 Westport Road
Louisville, KY 40241

For more information contact Jackie Gahlinger at (502) 873-2566, Ext 107 or jgahlinger@archlou.org

The purpose of this service was to honor the enormous impact that our volunteers have on the mission and work at Catholic Charities.  In 2011 volunteers donated and estimated 20,838 hours of their time.  Those hours equate to roughly $367,791 in financial contribution.

This year there was a special recognition given to St. Francis of Assisi school’s Committee on Conscience and their work with the Kentucky Office for Refugees.  Named The Agricultural Partnership it is lead by Fred Whittaker and staffed by 6th, 7^th and 8th grade students.  In cooperation with the Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program (RAPP), they have initiated a program where migrant families bring their produce to sell each Sunday after mass.  The students greet and assist in weighing the produce.

Individual five year incremental milestones were reached by many of our volunteers who were also recognized for their devoted service and commitment to Catholic Charities.  These include:

• Long-term Care Ombudsmen Chester Collier 15 years and Marlene Harbold 5 years.
• Senior Services Bud Buchard 10years,  Will Luescher 10 years and Norm Maze 15 years.
•  Sister Visitor Center volunteer Joe Blocker 5 years.
• Migration and Refugee Services Becca Abell 5 years and Nancy Hamilton 10 years.

Special thanks to our Volunteers who made this event possible including:

• Musicians Tony & Cindy Simpson from Epiphany Parish
• Photographer Bill Sheets
• Kroger for donating Flowers and Desserts
• and of course Rita Eichert, Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator, for her hard work.

Click here or below for more information.

“In the initial phase, we worked with responders to ensure that immediate needs were met,” said Palmer-Ball.  “Now we are returning to the affected areas and communicating with residents and local service providers to determine what other needs are ready to be addressed.”

Since the day of the tornadoes, Catholic Charities staff member Cathy Palmer-Ball has been active with KY-VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) working to determine the long-term needs of those affected.

Palmer-Ball has been in contact with several victims of the disaster and also is working in collaboration with the other Catholic Charities agencies throughout the state.  In many areas, residents have had major damage to their homes and property, and unfortunately, they are under- or uninsured.

“One woman fromTrimbleCountyhad her home and a barn damaged and two barns completely destroyed,” said Palmer-Ball.  “She is 93 and lives alone and  on a fixed income.  The barns were leased to neighbors to house cattle and the cows had to be moved to a new location as a result of the tornado destruction. She is now without that income, which she heavily relied on. Her insurance is not going to cover the cost of replacing the barns and repairs to her home.”

Palmer-Ball and her colleagues have met many people in similar situations.  What she and the others are doing now is to help victims put their lives back together, including helping the rebuilding of the barns for the woman in Trimble County.

“The early responders performed a wonderful job,” said Palmer-Ball.  “Our role will be to help individuals and families throughout the entire process.  Right now victims are working with FEMA and their insurance companies, but we anticipate a long recovery period with many unforeseen obstacles. Some families will have their homes replaced with money from insurance and/or FEMA, but may need help with furnishings or appliances.  Others have no insurance or FEMA money to begin the rebuilding process and will apply for financial assistance through our agency. Still others may suffer emotional trauma or financial distress.  We’re here to provide ongoing case management and assistance for as long as it takes, whether it’s three months, six months, a year or longer.”

“The United States has shown and will continue to show the world something about the fate of political freedom.  Americans should be conscious of this and even intend it—not through force, however, but by example.  That will require serious attention to our own problems, financial, p0olitical, cultural and moral.  The rhetoric of exceptionalism here is less helpful than a renewed commitment—thoroughly patriotic—to self-critical reflection on just what lessons the rest of the world takes from our culture, institutions and policies.  This commitment would return us from the rhetoric of exceptionalism to reality.”

To RSVP click here or contact Rita Eichert at reichert@archlou.org or 637-9786.