The “average Joe” in the South, especially within the confines of the Diocese of Birmingham, would probably assume Catholics don’t do much of anything except go to Mass. After all, when the Catholic faithful perform good works, they generally aren’t the first to call television stations or plaster pictures on social media. Instead, countless in the diocese choose to put their heads down and their hands to work — quietly. As Bishop Raica notes in his column for this issue: “Where poverty seems strongest, the love of Christ builds something new. In places of emptiness, the Spirit fashions communities of hope. This is what happens each time a parish quietly cares for the poor or a disciple reaches out to a neighbor in need — not with fanfare, but with love. With the love of Christ, we are constructing something new.”

What the bishop describes as “communities of hope” are numerous throughout the diocese thanks to selfless, dedicated Catholics, but sadly, their stories are often unheard. As the Jubilee year comes to an end, it seems a fitting time to shine a spotlight on the hope of Christ alive and well in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. Taking just a snippet of what good is being done everyday, the following highlights Food For Our Journey, the Holy Rosary Food Pantry, the Ladies of Charity of Central Alabama, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

• ‘Putting God's love into action’

  • Food for our journey

• 'Seeing Christ'

  • Holy Rosary Food Pantry

     

• ‘To serve rather than to be served’ 

  • The Ladies of Charity of Central Alabama

• ‘We don’t provide transactions; we create and nurture relationships’

  • The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

To join in making “something new,” consider reaching out to the ministries highlighted.

Food For Our Journey

• 205.283.7151 (Kelly Greene)
• 205.362.9988 (food van)
• kelly@foodforourjourney.org
• christine@foodforourjourney.org

foodforourjourney.org

Holy Rosary Food Pantry

holyrosarybirmingham.com

The Ladies of Charity of Central Alabama

• LOCCentralAlabama@gmail.com

ladiesofcharitycentralalabama.org