The weekend of May 3-4, many parishes in western Oregon took up a collection for the people served by Catholic Charities of Oregon. Other parishes will take up the collection later.
A handful of parishes allowed someone to speak about Catholic Charities after Masses. We are grateful to them.
Below are comments (in English and Spanish) made by John Herrera, Program Director for Immigration Legal Services at Catholic Charities.
Father David Jaspers of Ascension Parish in Portland welcomed Herrera to speak after all Masses May 3-4. Father Jaspers himself made donations each time the basket passed him.
It’s not too late to contribute to the collection. Click here.
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Thank you, Father, for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Catholic Charities of Oregon. And thank you all for giving me a few moments of your precious time.
My name is John Herrera, and I have the great privilege of serving as the Program Director for Immigration Legal Services at Catholic Charities.
For over 90 years, Catholic Charities has been the social service arm of the Archdiocese of Portland, reaching out to our most vulnerable neighbors across Western Oregon. Today, the need for this work is greater than ever. Homelessness continues to rise-especially among seniors. Families are struggling with mounting debt. Immigrant communities live in uncertainty. And all this is happening as federal support for essential services continues to decline.
But thanks to the generosity of people like you, Catholic Charities continues to respond with compassion, with dignity, and with a commitment rooted deeply in our Catholic faith.
Each year, thousands of individuals and families turn to Catholic Charities for help. Refugees fleeing violence and persecution. Pregnant mothers in need of support. Families who work hard but still struggle to make ends meet. Immigrants who simply want to build a better future and keep their families together. In every case, Catholic Charities is there — walking alongside them, providing services, and restoring hope.
Yet, none of this is possible without you.
We are all called to be the hands and feet of Christ. By supporting Catholic Charities — whether through prayer, volunteerism, or financial gifts-you are living out that call in a profound and personal way. As Pope Francis reminded us, we are called to accompany those who suffer and to build a culture of encounter, not exclusion.
I invite you today to partner with us. Please take a moment to review the Catholic Charities appeal envelope in your pews. Any gift you can offer — large or small — makes a real difference. And please know that every dollar you give stays right here in our archdiocese, serving the people and communities we encounter every day.
On behalf of Catholic Charities, thank you for your time, your generosity, and your steadfast commitment to living out the Gospel. You truly make our work possible.
May God bless you and your loved ones. Thank you!
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Gracias, Padre, por darme la oportunidad de hablar en nombre de Caridades Catolicas de Oregon. Y gracias a todos ustedes por regalarme unos minutos de su valioso tiempo.
Mi nombre es John Herrera, y tengo el privilegio de servir coma Director del Programa de Servicios Legales de lnmigracion en Caridades Catolicas.
Desde hace mas de 90 anos, Caridades Catolicas ha sido el brazo de servicio social de la Arquidiocesis de Portland, apoyando a nuestros vecinos mas vulnerables en todo el oeste de Oregon. Hoy en dia, la necesidad de esta labor es mas urgente que nunca. La falta de vivienda sigue aumentando-especialmente entre nuestros adultos mayores. Las familias enfrentan deudas crecientes. Las comunidades inmigrantes viven en la incertidumbre. Y todo esto sucede mientras el apoyo federal a los servicios esenciales se reduce cada vez mas.
Pero gracias a la generosidad de personas como ustedes, Caridades Catolicas continua respondiendo – con compasión, con dignidad y con un compromiso profundamente arraigado en nuestra fe católica.
Cada ano, miles de personas y familias acuden a Caridades Catolicas en busca de ayuda. Refugiados que huyen de la violencia y la persecucion. Madres embarazadas que necesitan apoyo. Familias que trabajan duro pero no logran salir adelante. lnmigrantes que solo desean un futuro mejor y mantener unidas a sus familias. En cada uno de estos casos, Caridades Catolicas esta ahí acompafiando, ofreciendo servicios, y devolviendo la esperanza.
Sin embargo, nada de esto serfa posible sin ustedes.
Todos estamos llamados a ser las manos y los pies de Cristo. Al apoyar a Caridades Catolicas-ya sea con sus oraciones, coma voluntaries, o mediante una donacion economica-ustedes responden a ese llamado de una manera profunda y personal. Como nos recuerda el Papa Francisco, estamos llamados a acompafiar a quienes sufren ya construir una cultura del encuentro, no de la exclusion.
Hoy los invito a unirse a nosotros. Por favor, tomen un momenta para revisar el sabre de la campafia de Caridades Catolicas que se encuentra en sus bancas. Cualquier donación – grande o pequena-hace una diferencia real. Y tengan la seguridad de que cada dolar que donen se queda aqui, en nuestra arquidiocesis, sirviendo a las personas y comunidades que encontramos cada dfa.
En nombre de Caridades Catolicas, gracias por su tiempo, su generosidad, y su compromiso firme con vivir el Evangelia. Ustedes hacen posible todo nuestro trabajo.
Que Dios Los bendiga a ustedes ya sus seres queridos. Mil Gracias!