Our Works of Charity / David Bethuram

In caring for the poor, we draw closer to God and to each other

Jesus teaches that true almsgiving means allowing the needs of others—especially the poor—to become our own.

The poor are not distant abstractions; they are children and elders, the sick and the suffering, families and individuals, neighbors next door and people across the world.

When we give, we acknowledge God’s generosity to us and extend that blessing in a concrete way to others. Lent still offers us time to give, but as we do, we must resist the temptation to objectify those who are poor.

One afternoon at one of our food pantries, a young mother named Elena arrived just as we were closing. She had recently fled from an unsafe home, carrying only a small backpack and her two children. Our staff welcomed her inside, listened to her story and connected her with emergency housing, counseling and job‑readiness support.

Months later, Elena returned—this time with a steady job, safe housing and a bright smile—to volunteer alongside the very team that first helped her. She often says that what changed her life was not only the food or shelter, but the dignity and compassion she was shown in her moment of deepest need. Her journey reminds us that when we allow the struggles of others to become our own, we draw closer to God together.

Catholic social teaching begins with the conviction that every person is sacred and social, created in God’s image, and meant to share in the goods of the Earth within a community rooted in justice and mercy.

From the earliest laws of Israel through the covenant and the prophets, Scripture consistently highlights the privileged place of the poor, just like Elena. In the

Old Testament, this often referred to widows, orphans, and strangers—refugees, migrants and immigrants—those who were powerless and frequently victims of injustice. They were known as “Yahweh’s poor.”

God repeatedly reminded Israel of its responsibility toward them: “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan” (Ex 22:20-21). Their vulnerability, poverty and exclusion demanded a response rooted not in optional charity but in justice.

Care for the poor became the measure of Israel’s fidelity to God. Believers were charged with ensuring that no one lacked the essentials of life or was pushed to the margins because of poverty. If we neglect the poor in our own time, we risk losing sight of the one who says, “I will be your God, and you will be my people” (Jer 31:33).

In these challenging days, our Catholic Charities ministries draw strength from Pope Benedict XVI’s call to be “organizers of love;” Pope Francis’ challenge to be salt, leaven and light—a beacon of hope for those in need; and Pope Leo’s affirmation that “love for the poor is the hallmark of faith.” We embrace this mission with renewed commitment, serving tirelessly on behalf of the most vulnerable.

Through our ministry of charity, we hope to inspire others to join in building communities where mercy and justice take root. We strive to lead by example, stepping off the familiar path to encounter those who are poor and vulnerable with compassion. We work to transform unjust systems by advocating for policies and practices that reflect dignity, fairness and solidarity. Filled with Christ’s love and strengthened by the Spirit, we engage the hearts of our staff, volunteers, donors, policymakers, partners and especially those we serve.

And because this work cannot be done alone, we invite you—especially during this Lenten season—to join us in caring for and loving the poor.
 

(David Bethuram is executive director of the archdiocesan Secretariat for Catholic Charities. You can contact him at dbethuram@archindy.org.) †