Social Services
Every responsibility and commitment in Catholic social teaching is derived from charity, which is the foundation of our laws, as well as the foundation of our personal relationship with God and our neighbors. We serve to create a more just community that gives priority to the needs of poor and vulnerable people. We facilitate following Christ through works of charity and action that promote social justice and nurture faith that reflects God's love in the world and brings forth peace.
The Archdiocese of Washington is committed to improving the quality of life for those in need, and continues the work of Jesus by affirming, assisting, and advocating for individuals, families, and communities. To accomplish this mission in the Archdiocese of Washington, we support social ministry professionals and the organizations they serve, such as the direct social ministries of Catholic Charities.
The Church's teaching on the sanctity of life flows from her understanding that every human being is created by God out of an act of love and in His image and likeness. As such, we are created with an inherent dignity that can never be diminished or taken away, and we are made for a life in relationship with Him. Life is a precious gift – it is the means by which we encounter God and each other. Because of this dignity, we seek to protect life at all stages and in all conditions – from its very beginning at the moment of conception until we take our last breath at natural death. The Department of Life Issues seeks to promote a greater respect for the dignity of human life and is a catalyst for advocacy, education, evangelization, direct assistance and the prayer efforts needed to bring about a transformation of our culture into a culture of life.
The Archdiocese of Washington has several social programs working to promote global solidarity, justice and peace, with concern for the respect and dignity of human life. We invite you to put your faith in action. Opportunities exist to help alleviate hunger, promote debt forgiveness, peace and non-violence, plus give hope to poor and low-income Americans struggling to build a better life. With the wisdom and help of Catholic organizations and campaigns, we can transform our world to reflect more fully the Gospel.
As Catholics, we are called to be conscientious citizens, speaking out for the rights and dignities of all people. Through public policy initiatives, advocacy and voter education, the Church seeks to bring those unchanging values into a changing world. We advocate for legistlative and policy issues at the local, state and national levels in partnership with policy efforts of the Maryland Catholic Conference, the DC Catholic Conference, USCCB, Catholic Relief Servces and other organizations.
Parishes are the heart of Catholic life and a vital setting for sharing and acting on our Catholic social teaching. The dedicated individuals in parish social ministries serve every area of human need by providing spiritual formation, education and leadership development to help build knowledge, compassion and increase parish social ministry skills.
We acknowledge and attest that every human life is a life worth living, that every person has gifts, talents and inherent dignity, from the moment of conception to our entrance into eternity. The work of the Department of Special Needs Ministries is grounded in faith and in the teachings of the Catholic Church. We serve Catholics who are Deaf and Catholics who with disabilities, helping to meet their spiritual needs, and where possible, their social needs including education, employment, recreation and housing. We dedicate ourselves to creating Catholic communities where all are welcome -- everyone belongs in the Body of Christ.
