Seton Center Providing Help and Creating Hope, in the heart of the lower Eastern Shore

October 4, 2023 – (Wilmington, Delaware) – Catholic Charities Seton Center, a community center in Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland, provides help and creates hope for local residents struggling to meet basic needs by offering include food, financial assistance with rent and utilities, behavioral health counseling, and community enrichment programs.

One life changed was that of an older gentleman, who was living in his car and playing the piano at one of the local churches. He came to Seton Center for help, and was assisted with getting into housing. To this day, he says that we saved his life. His handwritten note of gratitude reads “I have no access to a computer. I would pay good money if someone wrote a short thank you to Catholic Charities thanking them for ALL they did for ME!”

At Seton Center, nutritious food options are available through an emergency food pantry to households in crisis, a monthly supplemental bag of groceries, or a bi-monthly shopping experience in a grocery store environment through CHOICE pantry. Households must meet income guidelines to join these programs.

Families in need do not always have the means to celebrate their child’s birthday, yet birthday celebrations are important to the little angels. The Birthday in a Box project was designed to do that! Donors can contribute an aluminum disposable pan with cake mix, frosting, and candles, with optional trimmings like cake decorations, or balloons for the room.

Kim Zarif, former long-term Seton Center volunteer, developed The Birthday in a Box project, after she was inspired by a family’s visit. She says, “I used to volunteer at the Seton Center, and I remember one small child who came to the emergency food panty with his mom. It was his birthday, and they did not have a cake. Sometimes, we take these special moments for granted.”

Birthday in a Box and other food donations, such as pasta and sauce, cereal and crackers, and canned goods can be dropped off to Catholic Charities – Seton Center, 30632 Hampden Avenue, Princess Anne, Maryland 21853, during regular business hours M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM. For more information, contact us at 410-651-9608.

Seton Center also offers routine mental health counseling to individuals, couples, and families to overcome struggles or adjust to a sudden life change, such as job loss, death of a loved one, or physical injury. Women of any age facing an unplanned, crisis pregnancy can call our toll-free pregnancy counseling hotline at 1-877-225-7870 24 hours a day to talk. Assistance is provided to link mothers and children to the Women Infants and Children [WIC] program to provide supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education. Community enrichment programs are utilized to help families stay healthy through wellness activities, and households are strengthened through financial coaching, connections to programs and services, and a caring, listening ear.

A small thrift shop on site specializes in new and gently used clothing and household goods. Other items, like furniture and appliances, may be available upon request. The Thrift Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

You can help by organizing a food drive or making a financial contribution. 

Coordinate a food drive at your organization and we can provide service hours for your volunteers. 

Donate online with a credit card at www.ccwilm.org. Click Donate and designate this program as the recipient. Scan this QR code to go directly to our website to make your gift! 

Checks may be mailed to Catholic Charities at 2601 W 4th Street, Wilmington, DE 19805. Please note this program on the memo line.

To subscribe to Catholic Charities electronic newsletter mailing list, visit us at https://www.ccwilm.org/join-us/ and submit the form. We do not sell or rent your information to any other organization.

We go to God through one another! Thank you for your generosity.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington is a faith-based, social services organization, delivering critical direct care human services to over 83,000 individuals and families residing in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To learn more about Catholic Charities, please visit https://www.ccwilm.org

Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Charities veteran Fritz Jones retirement set for January after 45 years

Photo: Executive Director Frederick “Fritz” Jones of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington plans to retire in mid-January after 45 years with the agency.

May 29, 2023 – Wilmington DE – Fritz Jones remembers the day he began work for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington. He’s had different roles and responsibilities in that time, but the current executive director of the Catholic social services agency has been helping clients in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland the entire time.

That will come to an end at the beginning of next year when Jones retires.

January 2024 might seem like a long way off, but Jones believed it best to give the diocese time to find his replacement and hopefully bring that person in to work with him and soak up his considerable institutional knowledge before he begins retirement.

Jones, a lifelong Delaware resident, achieved a college degree in criminal justice and believed he was pointed toward a career in corrections when he interviewed for a job as child-care counselor at Siena Hall, which was a facility for abused kids run by Catholic Charities.

“I just got hooked,” Jones said.  “I knew early on that I just had a way with kids that made them feel comfortable.”

It was a comfort level that he carried through his various responsibilities as he continued working his way up as a manager at the facility, then director of group homes and eventually head of children’s services. He became one of two regional directors about 15 years ago and then took over program operations for Catholic Charities. He was named executive director a little more than two years ago.

He said he had a conversation with his boss, Msgr. Steven P. Hurley, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the diocese, when he was asked to fill the top job. He knew he only had a couple of years remaining before retirement, and he wanted to be sure that was OK with the boss and then-Bishop Malooly.

It was.

“For decades, Fritz has been a leader in our efforts to serve the people of God, especially families and individuals in need,” Bishop Malooly said in appointing Jones to run Catholic Charities, replacing Richelle Vible who retired in March 2021 after 13 years on the job.

Catholic Charities has been serving those in need for 190 years and offers a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged and build human relationships in the region. No one is excluded from service because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin or ability to pay.

Jones, 67, is retiring at the same time as his wife of 37 years, Donna, who also works for the diocese.

“We have 85 years combined working here,” he said.

He hasn’t worked every job in the organization, but it seems like it.

“As I moved up, I was given the opportunity to do different things,” Jones said.

In 2004, Catholic Charities took over Bayard House, a private nonprofit program for pregnant adult women.

Jones said supporting pregnant women is one of the most important things a pro-life organization can do.

“That’s clearly the most tangible thing we do that speaks to that. There’s a lot of different ways of supporting pro-life. Making sure people are fed. Making sure people’s mental health needs are met. Making sure people are employed. But sometimes folks need more than that, and for them to have a healthy baby and become the kind of parent they need to be, they need that kind of program.”

Helping people get jobs, keep a roof over their head and making sure everyone has enough food are among the important priorities for everyone who works at Charities, Jones said. Assistance for home energy costs has skyrocketed with a greater need for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) heating program managed by Catholic Charities. LIHEAP supports thousands of families and direct assistance that was at $5 million not long ago will be $12 million this year, Jones said. “Which is pretty mind-boggling.” He attributes it first to COVID, then inflation.

“The demand for rental assistance is significant,” Jones said “In 2019, direct assistance to clients for rent and basic needs was $380,000. This year, it will be over $650,000.

“Remember, the folks that we have are the working poor, a lot of our folks. There are only so many choices they can make. Rent, power, food, medicine.”

Jones has favorite parts of the job he will miss.

“The privilege of seeing how the work we do can change people’s lives,” he said. “I’ve seen the power of that for years and years.”

Like most people, he’s OK leaving some parts of the job behind.

“I won’t miss having to deal with bureaucracy,” he said. “It’s not the people, it’s the culture.”

An accomplished drummer, he has been playing with bands for 50 years. He hopes to do more of that in retirement. His plan is to play classic rock and blues with a new band in as many weekend gigs as possible.

“We think we’re really good,” he said. They go by “Tweed Dogs” – with Dogs being short for “Delaware Old Guys.”

In replacing Jones, church leaders are looking for someone who will plan, develop, implement, manage and evaluate all services in keeping with the mission of the diocese and Catholic Charities, while representing the diocese to the larger community, other social service agencies, parishes and government bodies. They hope to have someone in place by September to work several months with Jones.

Jones will take a lot of memories with him when he finally makes it out the door for the last time, especially the gratitude of clients.

“They’re the ones that I’m grateful for,” he said. “If they didn’t have the courage to come here for us to help them, we wouldn’t be doing this work. You want to see that what you’re doing is important.”

He has a folder filled with notes from grateful clients and he pulled out one that he got recently, thanking him for having a positive influence in their lives.

“I’ve never taken that for granted,” he said.

Article and photo courtesy of The Dialog.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington and Goodwill Announce Collaborative Donation Partnership

March 15, 2023 – Wilmington DE – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington and Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County announced today an operational collaboration benefitting people served by both non-profit organizations.

As part of the new collaboration parishes in the Wilmington Diocese will host donation drives in partnership with Goodwill. Donated items will be sold in Goodwill stores across Delaware, generating revenue for Goodwill’s non-profit mission. Goodwill will provide compensation to Catholic Charities for the donations collected, helping Catholic Charities to continue its mission services in the same communities it serves today.

“With the closing of our Catholic Charities thrift shops in Delaware we were looking for ways to continue generating revenue for our mission services,” shared Catholic Charities Executive Director Fritz Jones. “Partnering with Goodwill to accept donations that would have come to our former thrift shops seemed a natural progression, in alignment with the missions of both organizations.”

“Goodwill is humbled to partner with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington – the city where we were founded more than 100 years ago – to help this highly-regarded non-profit organization continue to meet the needs of some of Delaware’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County CEO Colleen Morrone. “Much like the work we do at Goodwill, Catholic Charities connects people with vital human services and supports the development of every human to their full potential. We are happy to be partnering and helping Catholic Charities continue to serve people in our communities.”

Individual parishes in the Wilmington Diocese will determine whether and when to host donation drives. Compensation for items donated during each drive will go back to the local host parish to support their programs. Outside of donation drives, donors wishing to give items to Catholic Charities will be directed to a nearby Goodwill location.

Catholic Charities (www.cdow.org/charities), the social services arm of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, has been serving those in need for more than 190 years, offering a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged and build human relationships throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Article and photo courtesy of The Dialog.

Catholics Across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore Set for Second Annual Reconciliation Monday on April 3

March 10, 2023 – Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Wilmington are invited to receive the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) at any of the 56 parish churches in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, on Monday, April 3, from 3-8 p.m., during the second annual diocesanwide ‘Reconciliation Monday.’

The event is designed to make it more convenient for Catholics to receive the sacrament at the end of Lent and beginning of Holy Week, in anticipation of the celebration of Easter.

“Last year’s inaugural Reconciliation Monday was very well received, with over 5,000 Catholics participating,” said Bishop Koenig. “Many people who had fallen away from their faith, used this opportunity to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and return to Mass at Easter. We invite all Catholics – whether it has been months, years, or decades since their last confession – to take advantage of this diocesanwide event in which all of our priests will participate.”

All parishes offer the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis. Many parishes offer penance services during Lent. Last year was the first time in diocesan history, that all parishes held concurrent confessions. While all parishes will participate, it is not possible for every mission church in the diocese to hold confessions due to the limited number of priests.

Parishioners are encouraged to check their local parish website or www.cdow.org/ReconciliationMonday before heading out.

According to the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, Jesus entrusted the ministry of reconciliation to the church. The sacrament of penance (reconciliation or confession) is God’s gift to humanity so that any sin committed after baptism can be forgiven, Catholics believe. Confession offers the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which individuals open themselves to God’s presence and honestly acknowledge their sins, especially mortal sins. Absolution brings reconciliation with God and the church.

The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 27 schools serving the state of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. There are more than 240,000 Catholics in the diocese. Information about the diocese is available at www.cdow.org.

2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal Breaks Record for Support from Contributors in Diocese of Wilmington

Bishop Koenig leads a prayer service last April at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wilmington for the last of five “Circle of Honor” events hosted by the Diocese of Wilmington development department. Dialog photo/Joseph P. Owens

Courtesy of The Dialog – January 25, 202e – Catholics gave a record amount to the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, Walking By Faith, supporting important ministries across the Diocese of Wilmington.

For the 2022 campaign, the appeal raised $5.592 million from pledges. The goal was $5 million. Twelve thousand five hundred thirty-two pledges were received. Based upon collections, 47 parishes exceeded fundraising goals. $450,723.00 will be rebated to parishes for their needs — based on their over-goal collection. Parishes supporting a school receive 100 percent of the over-goal collection. Parishes that do not support a school receive 50 percent of the amount collected over their goal.

“Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers, pastors, and donors, thousands of people in need will find hope and healing through the faith and charity ministries of the Diocese of Wilmington,” said Bishop William Koenig.

The 2022 appeal theme, Walking By Faith, extended an invitation to the people of the diocese to bring the face of God to those we serve. Bishop Koenig’s invitation to participate was responded to with enthusiastic energy, prayer, and resources, said Sheila O’Hagan McGirl, director of development for the diocese. The campaign’s success reflects a solid commitment to the mission of the Catholic church in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, she said.

“During these difficult economic times, our people found a way to generously contribute and keep the work of our Catholic church vibrant and responsive to the needs of others. Your generosity provided spiritual, physical, and emotional support to our brothers and sisters in need this year,” said Bishop Koenig. “I extend prayers of thanks to the people of the Diocese of Wilmington, whose inspiring response to the campaign resulted in incredible generosity and outstanding support.”

McGirl said the number of donors participating increased by more than 26% with 12,408 donors participating in 2022, up from 9,813 donors in 2021. She said overall dollars collected was more than a 12% increase over last year, creating the historical results.

During these challenging economic times, the faith and charity ministries have been called to serve record numbers. The Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal supports more than three dozen ministries in five concentrated areas: Catholic Education, Pastoral Services, Catholic Charities, Administration, and Communications. These ministries support building and strengthening the mission of our faith throughout Delaware and our Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Bishop Koenig recalls Pope Benedict XVI’s faith, humility, love for God at memorial Mass in Wilmington

January 4, 2022 – Wilmington, DE – Bishop Koenig remembered the late Pope Benedict XVI for his faith, humility and love for God in a memorial Mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington on Jan. 4. The former pontiff died Dec. 31 in Vatican City at the age of 95.

Several priests and seminarians joined Bishop Koenig and Bishop Emeritus W. Francis Malooly for the noontime Mass. The church’s bells tolled 95 times leading up to the service, once for each year of Benedict’s life.

“We give thanks to God for the gift of life that was given over 95 years ago to Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger,” Bishop Koenig said. Benedict “used his gifts so faithfully, humbly and lovingly to serve God and the church.”

Bishop Koenig touched on each of those aspects of Benedict’s life during his homily through the faint haze and scent of incense. Through his articles, messages, exhortations, books and homilies, Benedict understood that faith and reason “are not opposed to each other, but, in his words, are natural allies.”

Pope Francis issued his first encyclical several months after succeeding Benedict in 2013. Pope Francis said his text was largely based on work Pope Benedict had done and made available to him. A central figure in the encyclical is Abraham, who does not see God but hears his voice. Benedict, Bishop Koenig said, listened to God’s voice.

At his final papal audience in February 2013, Benedict talked about hearing that voice. The pope, according to Bishop Koenig, said, “And now eight years later, I can say that the Lord has truly led me. He has been close to me. I have been able to perceive his presence today.”

The church, the pope said that day, has highs and lows, and Pope Benedict felt like St. Peter in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. There are days when the catch is abundant, and others when the seas are rough.

“I have always known that the Lord is in that boat,” Bishop Koenig quoted Pope Benedict as saying.

Bishop Koenig, talking about the late pope’s humility, recalled that then-Cardinal Ratzinger preferred he not be selected to succeed Pope John Paul II in 2005, but that was not God’s plan, the bishop said. Once he was selected, however, he appeared in the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica and called himself “a simple, humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.”

That reminded Bishop Koenig of St. Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus. Like St. Joseph, much of Benedict’s life centered on caring for the church.

The final point of the homily addressed Pope Benedict’s love for God. Bishop Koenig said encounters with Christ often give our lives a new horizon and a definite direction.

When Pope Benedict was a youngster in Germany, he was conscripted into the Nazi army. He wrote about his decision to desert despite the risks associated with leaving. Benedict knew that he could be executed if he was caught. One day, while walking down a road, he was stopped by Nazi soldiers, but they let him go because his arm was in a sling, so they told him to go heal.

“Thank God they were ones who had enough of war and did not want to become murderers,” Pope Benedict wrote years later.

His experiences informed his teaching. “He spoke very clearly, warning us as a people of God of the dictatorship of relativism, not to be co-opted by the world around him,” Bishop Koenig said.

“May we be strengthened to grow in our love of God by Benedict’s example.”

Article by Mike Lang, Dialog reporter / Courtesy photo

Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Charities director Fritz Jones set to take part in Delaware’s first ‘Faith and Housing Justice’ weekend

Frederick “Fritz” Jones, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington. Dialog photo / Photo courtesy Joseph P. Owens

By Fritz Jones, Executive Director, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Wilmington Catholic Charities

As I prepared to write this op-ed article to share the excitement the Diocese of Wilmington and Catholic Charities about participating in Delaware’s first “Faith and Housing Justice” weekend scheduled for Dec. 9-11, I paused to think of the many individuals and families I have been privileged to work with during my almost 45 years of service.

I thought of the mother and her four children living in a one-bedroom apartment because it was all she could afford.

I thought of the two clients renting a garage to live in because they could not afford a decent rental home or apartment.

I thought of the many times our clients chose paying their rent but not being able to afford paying their utility bills, leading to shutoffs and eventually eviction.

I thought of the families eating two meals a day instead of three so they could afford to pay their rent.

I thought of the mom and her two children living in their car while they searched for affordable housing. And unfortunately, I could share many other examples like these.

Then I thought of the most famous, once homeless person in history. Pope Francis wrote “The Son of God came into this world as a homeless person. The son of God knew what it was like to start life without a roof over his head. We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing.”

Pope Francis goes on to write “we can imagine what Joseph must have been thinking, how is it that the son of God has no home? Why are we homeless, why don’t we have housing? Saint Joseph’s simple questions echo in the minds of those who serve the poor even today.”

I humbly and respectfully ask you to also “echo” in your minds the question of why anyone is homeless, why anyone should not be provided the opportunity for decent, safe, affordable housing.

To learn more about the affordable housing crisis, to help make a difference, please participate in the Faith and Housing Justice weekend. Learn with us, pray with us as a people of faith. You can find out more by going to Catholic Charities website, ccwilm.org, and clicking on the link, Faith and Housing Justice Weekend. Catholic Charities USA has more information here. Read a report here on housing and homelessness in Delaware.

Knights of Columbus councils from Delaware, Maryland earn 2023 Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award from Catholic Charities

(Photo) Following Mass and services at St. Ann’s Parish in Bethany Beach Nov. 5 Rick Morin, left, a member of St. Ann’s Council 16771 in Delaware passes possession of the Silver Rose to the President of Maryland “Knights On Bikes” Francisco “Paco” Sarceno who escorted the rose to its first stop in Severn, Md.

Courtesy of The Dialog – November 17, 2022 – The Knights of Columbus State Councils from Delaware and Maryland will receive the 2023 Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award at Catholic Charities Annual Tribute Dinner on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

The award, created in 1989 in memory of Msgr. Thomas J. Reese, community activist and longtime director of Catholic Social Services, the forerunner of Catholic Charities, recognizes exemplary individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting and restoring the well-being of people – Catholic Charities’ mission.

The mission of the Knights of Columbus is “Empowering Catholic men to live their faith at home, in their parish, at work and in their community.”

Knights of Columbus, Delaware State Council, are men who lead, serve, protect and defend, whether giving out “Coats for Kids,” lending a hand in disaster relief efforts, supporting local pregnancy centers by donating ultrasound machines or providing top-quality financial products. Similarly, the Maryland State Council supports the families, parishes, and communities in the nine Maryland counties of the Diocese of Wilmington. These Knights live the motto, “Cry the Gospel with your Life!” to aid the poor, care for the needy, and strengthen the faith of their members and families. More than  two million Knights of Columbus worldwide “Change Lives & Save Lives” through their charitable service and faith activities.

To learn more about Catholic Charities Annual Tribute Dinner or sponsorship opportunities, contact Andrea Rotsch, [email protected].

Catholic Charities (www.cdow.org/charities), the social services arm of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, has been serving those in need for more than 190 years, offering a wide range of services to strengthen families, care for children, assist the disadvantaged and build human relationships throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Article and photos courtesy of The Dialog.