Congregations Caring for Children

History and Highlights of Catholic Charities in California

History and Highlights of Catholic Charities in California

History and Highlights of Catholic Charities in California

History and Highlights of Catholic Charities in California

History and Highlights of Catholic Charities in California

In August 1907, the Most Reverend Patrick William Riordan, Archbishop of San

Francisco, appointed a small group of clergy and women to establish a Catholic

charitable organization called the Catholic Settlement and Humane Bureau, the

first such organization in the state of California.  The new agency was to care for

orphans and minors who were neglected or abandoned, aid destitute mothers

and their children suffering from the tragedy of the 1906 earthquake, and pro 

vide aid for families incapacitated through desertion, illness or death.

By 1909, the Catholic Settlement and Human Bureau had a Board of Directors of

100 women leaders of the community who devoted themselves to fund raising

and established the Little Children's Aid Society.  In 1911, the agency was

granted a license to find homes for dependent children and, thus, the adoption

program began in earnest.  By this time, over 600 children were in the care of the

new agency.

Over the last 75 years, each Catholic diocese in the state of California has devel 

oped its own charitable agency, with services expanding beyond adoption and

care for dependent children.  Beginning in the 1930s and continuing on through

the 1960s, Catholic Charities expanded its programming to serve an increasing

number of families requiring counseling for a variety of emotional and financial

problems.

The '70s, '80s, and '90s saw more diversity in programs, as Catholic Charities

addressed alcoholism, drug abuse, unemployment, homelessness, the influx of

immigrants and refugees, and the needs of the elderly, people with disabilities,

and persons with AIDS and HIV.

In 1998, Catholic Charities served 1,124,869 persons in California.  These services

were provided by 2,055 paid staff and 11,713 volunteers, operating out of over 50

local offices across the state.  The collective operating budgets of Catholic Chari 

ties agencies in California total over $80 million.

Catholic Charities are highly diverse agencies which serve the entire community

without regard for religious affiliation, and with a continuing mission to serve

the poorest and most vulnerable members of our community.

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