Be A Champion and join us on October 22 at 7:00 PM! Hear inspiring stories of the courage, creativity, and compassion of our Catholic Charities ‘heroes’ as they continue to provide uninterrupted service to those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crisis Counseling Services for those affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen’s Acting Executive Director Julio Coto is pleased to announce the launch of the Youth Villages LifeSet Program in Middlesex, Mercer, Somerset, and Union Counties. Made possible through a partnership between Catholic Charities and New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), the LifeSet program is a bridge to successful adulthood for young people transitioning from foster care.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen is offering IMMEDIATE OPENINGS for youth ages 9-17 in the Youth Partial Care (YPC) program.  Services provided include assessment and evaluation, referral, linkage and follow-up services, group therapy, monthly family sessions, psychiatric evaluation and monthly medication monitoring. The YPC program provides each youth and their family an individualized treatment plan.

Youth leaders of the Next Level social justice program and their mentors, including Monsignor Joe Curry, Parochial Vicar at Saint Matthias, Somerset, and recipient of the 2019 CCDOM Champion Award, sorted and filled 150 grab and go bags for the residents of Unity Square on Tuesday, July 28th.

Cadets from Civil Air patrol Squadron led by 1Lt Carol-Faaland-Kronmaier, CAP Deputy Commander for Cadets, and Major Lorrainne Denby team up with Dr. Sarah Shell to provide masks for healthcare workers and hospitals and now to local non-profit organizations.

Left to Right, Aoife Scott and Ciaran Scott with Catholic Charities Case Worker, Jeffry Alfaro. Ciaran Scott wanted to do something for his ministry at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. His mom called the Ozanam Family Shelter and Catholic Charities Staff member Catherine Jackson provided a short list of items that would benefit those staying at the shelter.  Ciaran took responsibility for collecting the water and his sister, Aoife organized the toiletries. They texted their friends and family about their cause and within a short time were able to collect all of the items on the list.  During the last week of June, Ciaran and Aoife brought their donation of water, diapers, napkins, cleaning supplies and cosmetics to the Ozanam Family Shelter.  The pair told their mom they felt “great” donating to the shelter. 

Left to Right, Catholic Charities Staff Member Cynthia Bagner, Rutgers Students Khushbu Mistry and  Nandini Patel, Staff Members Shahan Gilliam and Diana Mandel

In the media - newspapers, television, and on-line, we hear about heroes in hospitals, EMS, police, supermarkets, food pantries, Amazon and so many others that step up in times of crisis.  We are so grateful for their service and compassion.  Dr. Esther Schlesinger wants you to know about another group of heroes. Dr. Schlesinger works for the Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team in Middlesex County at Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, serving those with serious and persistent mental illness.

During this time of uncertainty, shut down and job loss, “The Catholic Spirit” took time to revisit the Catholic Charities food pantry that opened in Phillipsburg five years ago this month. According to Brooke Renkens, Catholic Charities Service Area Director for Hunterdon and Warren Counties, the food pantry on South Main Street was anticipating an increase in numbers but that did not happen. “We tried to analyze why there hasn’t been a huge increase, and we think it is because most of our clientele receive NJ SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program],” she said.

In the Ordination Rite of Deacons, the Bishop prays the following prayer. "Oh God, who taught your ministers of the Church to seek not to be served but to serve their brothers and sisters".  That prayer solidifies the ministry of service as a major pillar in the ministry of all deacons.  With that service objective in mind, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Deacon Sam Costantino founded the Deacons' Table during the latter part of 2013 and began serving dinners to brothers and sisters in need of a nourishing meal beginning in 2014. 

Thank you to Michelle Cumberbatch and her son Malcom for their generous donations of socks, deodorant and razors for the men at the Ozanam Inn.

Catholic Charities Family Workers Marlon Osuna and Lemnis Kirchmeier sort food and essential supplies donated by Our Lady of Mount Virgin. The child care centers received over 20 bags and boxes of food along with baby supplies

Diaper donations from both Immaculate Conception Church and St. James of Bas king Ridge for our child care centers in New Brunswick will be distributed to all of our families at both YES St. Ladislaus and YES ELC in New Brunswick.

Grateful for the food donation from St Matthew's School in Edison to the Ozanam Family Shelter

Thanks to the generosity of the Middlesex County Food Warehouse, all three of The Middlesex County PACT Teams were able to access an abundance of food pantry items this month.

The community members served by the Catholic Charities YES child care centers in New Brunswick continue to experience an increase in food insecurity. ​​​​​​​Through a generous food donation...

Bishop Ottis Blount facilitated a delivery of food to the Ozanam Family Shelter from the Greater Worship Kingdom Church Good Deeds Food Pantry.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen received a second donation from the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, Edison, NJ.  A member of their conference, Mary McKenzie Hayes delivered the food and gift cards to the Edison Family Service Office