Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland

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About Us

  • Mission, Vision, and Values
  • Our Patroness Saint: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
  • History
  • Leadership
  • Board of Directors
  • Catholic Community Connection

History

Charity has always been at the heart of the Catholic Church.  It was no different in 1847 when the Diocese of Cleveland was established in the northern Ohio territory with The Most Reverend Bishop Louis A. Rappe serving as Bishop of Cleveland (1847 – 1870).  Bishop Rappe went on to found an orphanage for girls (1851) and an orphanage for boys (1848).  He also introduced several orders of priests and nuns and was instrumental in establishing St. Vincent Charity Hospital in 1865.

Bishop John Farrelly

Several more Catholic-run orphanages formed throughout the mid-to-late 1800′s – while needs continued to increase.  In October 1909, Bishop John P. Farrelly (Bishop of Cleveland from 1909 – 1921) appointed a panel to study welfare needs of diocese and funding sources.

In October 1911 that board recommended a home for orphans be established in cooperation with Cleveland Humane Society and Juvenile Court. The also recommended:

  • appointment of director to oversee welfare facilities of diocese
  • pastors on the Board assess themselves to pay $1.50 for each family in their parish to support the welfare facilities

Bishop Farrelly addressed a letter to all parishes to adopt the board’s recommendation – this was the first Annual Appeal.   In 1911/1912 – The Catholic Charities Bureau of the St. Vincent DePaul Society formed for the purpose of providing coordinated formal social services.  Bishop Farrelly appointed 28-year-old Fr. Charles H. LeBlond as Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities Bureau.

Finally, in March 1912 – Fr. LeBlond opened the first Catholic Charities office at East 9th and Prospect.  The Catholic facilities at the time included:

  • 4 orphanages
  • 1 infant home (St. Ann’s)
  • 9 Catholic hospitals
  • St. Anthony’s home for working boys
  • Catherine Horstmann home for working girls
  • St. Mary’s home for dependent women
  • Good Shepherd Home for the Aged

One has to wonder if Bishop Farrelly, Fr. LeBlond, or any of the board members could have imagined what their dream would grow into today.  In 2012, nearly half a million people were served by Catholic Charities in some way.  The services covered nearly ever demographic throughout the eight-county Dioceses (Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit, and Wayne).

Catholic Charities celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2012 in a variety of ways, including:

  • Bishop Lennon celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. John the Evangelist’s Cathedral.
  • Community open houses were held at various Catholic Charities sites.
  • More than 500 attended the 100th Anniversary Celebration where the Inaugural Class of the Hall of Hope was inducted and keynote speaker, the Honorable Senator George Voinovich (retired), spoke about the great service Catholic Charities has brought to Northeast Ohio.
  • And, sharing 100 stories over 100 days about lives touched by the work of Catholic Charities through the blog clecatholicchar100.wordpress.com.  On this blog, you can explore testimonials that span 100 years of service as well as learn more about the history of our organization in it’s first century.

Contact Phone Numbers

General Information 216.334.2900
CYO Athletics 216.334.1261
Adoption/Foster Care 440.843.5587
Counseling/Addiction Services 216.391.2030
Camp Christopher 800.296.CAMP
Emergency Assistance 216.334.2969

Counties Outside Cuyahoga
(Community Services Offices)

Ashland 419.289.1903
Geauga 440.285.3537
Lake 440.352.6191
Lorain 440.366.1106
Medina 330.723.9615
Summit 330.762.2961
Wayne 330.262.7836

Head Start/Early Learning

Main 216.334.2945

Family Centers

Fatima 216.391.0505
St. Martin De Porres 216.268.3909
St. Philip Neri 216.391.4415

Disability Services & Ministries

Main 216.334.2962
Rose-Mary 216.481.4823

Emergency Assistance

Bishop Cosgrove Center 216.781.8262
St. Elizabeth Center 440.242.0056

Employment & Training Services

Eastside 216.391.4415
Midtown 216.426.9870

Hispanic Services

Hispanic Senior Center 216.939.3713
Hispanic Counseling & Addiction
(La Providencia)
216.696.2197

Migration & Refugee Services

Main 216.281.7005
Immigration Legal Office 216.939.3769

Older Adults

St. Augustine Health Ministries 216.634.7400
Holy Family Hospice 440.888.7722
Hispanic Senior Center 216.939.3713

Parish Outreach

Marriage & Family Office 216.334.2978
Office for Human Life 216.334.2965
Pastoral Care 216.587.8377
CYO and Youth & Young Adult Ministries 216.334.1261

Diocesan Social Action Office

Main 216.939.3843
Catholic Commission Lorain 330.366.1106
Catholic Commission Lake/Geauga 440.943.7612
Catholic Commission Wayne/Ashland/Medina 330.263.6176
Catholic Commission Summit 330.535.2787
Catholic Relief Services 440.943.7612

Catholic Charities Corporation Administrative Offices: 7911 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102, 216.334.2900, contactus@ccdocle.org

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Some photos used were provided by Steve Liss, americanpoverty.org
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Providing Help. Creating Hope.

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