“The Lord sustains us”

Through the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Annual Appeal, loyal parish support helps Catholic Charities continue day-to-day operations – operations so desperately needed in the western and central counties of Oklahoma.  Catholic Charities depends on the generosity of our Catholic community to fund approximately 40 percent of our annual budget.

This support provides hope in darkness. Through your faith and generosity, the Lord sustains. This support is divinely used to meet those who are struck down by discrimination, homelessness, division and hopelessness. It is used to lift the eyes of the hurting to see the Lord.

The following stories reveal the hope and help your support fuels. Names have been changed for confidentiality.

Marie

The gift of sight often is taken for granted, but one Catholic Charities client, Marie, reminds us to be thankful for our vision. In early 2017, Marie began to struggle at work because cataracts were causing her to lose her sight. Soon after, she lost her job and was quickly unable to pay her rent. In a matter of months, she found herself living in her truck.

In June of that year, she came to Catholic Charities scared of homelessness and of losing the remainder of her vision. With the help of her case manager, she got on the Section 8 housing list and signed up for Medicaid to monitor her eyesight.

As the year went on the client’s vision continued to deteriorate. She could not receive cataract surgery until she had obtained housing. In January 2018, she received her Section 8 voucher, and she was housed the next month. Marie has successfully undergone cataract surgery, and she thrives in her new life. She volunteers with Catholic Charities to help other clients receive the same help and hope she experienced.

Michael

House fires happen all too often, and Catholic Charities is there to help clients recover. Michael had been displaced due to an apartment fire and was sleeping in his vehicle. By working with The American Red Cross Oklahoma and The Homeless Alliance, Catholic Charities was able to get him into a hotel and help with a deposit for another apartment.

The disaster response team didn’t expect to hear from Michael, but a short time later he sent the following message to his disaster case manager: "Thank you so much for everything. I had no idea of what I was going to do. You are a true God send." Catholic Charities is pleased to have had the opportunity to serve alongside partner agencies.

Community

While attending a Thunder game, a Catholic Charities case manager was approached by two children who enthusiastically thanked her for her help. Although she did not immediately recall how she knew their familiar faces, she smiled and said, "You're welcome!"

As they walked away, our case manager overheard their teacher ask, "Who was that you were talking to?" One of the boys replied, "She was the girl who helped fill out the paper work, so we could stay in America."

With 14 programs in six service locations, including Ardmore, Enid, Guymon and Lawton, our service model aims to help those who have fallen in the cracks of society by providing support, case management services and tangible skills to help our clients gain independence. 

The annual appeal supports this mission and provides Catholic Charities with further opportunity to reach those in need. With your assistance, Catholic Charities helps our neighbors find the hope and light Jesus Christ promises us all.

Thank you for your faith and generosity.