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USCCB-CCHD

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Learn about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Brake the Cycle of Poverty Bike Ride
Riders gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at the Nicholls State University campus to visit points of hope in the Thibodaux community for breaking the Cycle of Poverty. Click here for pictures and a reflection on the ride by Chris DeHart, Catholic Campaign for Human Development intern.

Mission

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education. Founded in 1969, CCHD's pastoral strategy is empowerment of the poor through a methodology of participation and education for justice, leading toward solidarity between poor and non-poor as impelled by the Church's biblical tradition, modern Catholic social teaching, and the pervasive presence of poverty in the United States. This ministry for justice is rooted in our baptism and faith commitment. The grants, economic development, and education for justice programs of the Campaign, implemented in collaboration with local dioceses, are supported from an annual collection in U.S. Catholic parishes.

-Approved by the USCCB-CCHD Committee November 1992

Mission

-Approved by the USCCB-CCHD Committee November 1992

Addressing the Root Causes of Poverty

In the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development addresses the root
causes of poverty through the following efforts:

Education - To assist people in the parish to learn about, and have a greater understanding
of Catholic social teaching based on the teachings of Scripture and the social teachings of
the church over the past 100 years.

TARGET parishes - Make a special commitment to carry out this mission and teach their members
the goals of CCHD. They receive support through frequent contact and related materials.

Annual Collections - Each year a national collection is held in November in parishes throughout
the country. 75% of the collection funds projects throughout the country. The other 25% remains
in the diocese to support local CCHD efforts.

CCHD Grants - Catholic Campaign for Human Development provides funding for self-help programs
that encourage organized groups of low income people to work together to solve their common
problems through local and national grants. Local grants are available as a portion of the CCHD
collection in the diocese. Applications for these can be requested from Catholic Social Services
at 876-0490 and must be approved by committee. National funding can be requested for large
projects directed primarily by persons of low income that work to eliminate root causes of
poverty and enact institutional and social change. Applications may be requested from
Robert D. Gorman, Executive Director, at 876-0490.

Youth Grants - (up to $250) for projects based on Catholic social teaching or social justice
are available on a limited basis. Service projects must have a social justice component that
works on the causes of the situation being addressed.

Community Organizing or Economic Initiative Grants - (up to $500) are also available on
projects that address root causes of poverty, systemic injustice, or Catholic social teaching.
Diocesan Director: Robert D. Gorman