Caritas Award

Do you know of someone in your parish who lives by the commandment to love thy neighbor? How about someone who selflessly gives of their time and talent? Is there someone who is a shining example of the Catholic steward?
 
Catholic Charities North Dakota (CCND) is looking for nominations for the Caritas Award that recognizes people of our diocese who match their mission of service for those less fortunate. The Caritas Award is given annually to persons or organizations in recognition of outstanding service and love for humanity. The purpose of the Caritas Award is to recognize an individual or organization who has, by example and deed, served persons in need and advocated for justice and convened other persons of good will to do the same in a manner consistent with Catholic social teaching.
 
Recipients in the recent past within our diocese include religious sisters from India and Mexico, the first lay missionaries at the diocese African Mission, organizers of a large food pantry in Minot, among other individuals who exemplifies the word “service.” 
 
In line with the mission
 
Catholic Charities North Dakota is committed to a threefold mission of service, advocacy and convening. In selecting a recipient(s) for the annual Caritas Award, the awards committee seeks to identify persons and/or organizations who have made significant contributions and/or accomplishments in one or more of these areas.
 
The recipient, with love and a desire to serve, is a witness to Christ's love for all people, has by word and deed sought to be of service wherever there is need or pain. Service could be in response to needs caused by external oppression, interpersonal breakdowns, family breakdowns and/or intrapersonal problems. Such service should aid people of all socioeconomic groups, but especially for the neediest and most vulnerable. 
 
As an advocate, the recipient, in word and in deed, seeks to foster a social order which is grounded in truth; and functions according to the norms of justice; is inspired and perfected by mutual love; and is realized in freedom. The recipient works towards a just social order. He or she strives to raise the consciousness of people of good will everywhere, of our elected officials, but especially the community at large, so that they will be more fully informed as to the breadth and depth of social problems, the strengths and weaknesses of our social structures and situations; and thereby be better prepared to take needed actions to foster a more just social order. 
 
For convening, the recipient, in word and deed encourages, motivates and/or persuades others to provide needed services and to work with other people or groups of people to both directly provide service and to advocate for justice.
 
If you know of someone who displays these qualities and you would like to submit a nomination, visit catholiccharitiesnd.org/caritas-award to download a nomination form that can be submitted to your parish priest.
 
About Catholic Charities ND
 
“Guided by our values, Catholic Charities North Dakota serves people in need and advocates for the common good of all.” This mission is based on the social teachings of the Church and the dignity of each person. More than 100 years ago, the Catholic Welfare Bureau was started in Fargo in 1923 by Msgr. Vincent Ryan during the time of Bishop James O’Reilly and then Bishop (later Cardinal) Aloysius Muench to serve the needs of vulnerable populations in North Dakota such as the poor, dependent children and unwed mothers.
 
Since early in Catholic Charities North Dakota’s history, their staff has helped place children for adoption and they remain best known for two adoption programs, Pregnancy, Parenting and Adoption Services (PPAS) and the Adults Adopting Special Kids (AASK) program. Along with PPAS and AASK, current programs at CCND include counseling services, guardianships for adults with intellectual disabilities, guardianship for individuals with vulnerabilities, and natural disaster relief.