Hartford Catholic Charities Wins National Award

Catholic Charities USA recently handed out their 2009 Family Strengthening Awards. El Centro Family Center, run by Catholic Charities of Hartford, was among the three winners from across the country.

El Centro Family Center strengthens families "by encouraging children, adults, and seniors to reach their full potential. The center's family specialists work with families that need services, support, leadership development, early childhood education, adult education and training, crisis intervention, and stabilization. The program seeks to help parents recognize that they are their children's first and most important teachers, natural supporters, and most powerful advocates, and further, that they are decision makers who can have a positive impact in their families and communities."

This award honors exceptional programs that provide holistic services that support family relationships, strengthen family finances, and enhance the community. The winning programs will each receive a $25,000 award. The awardees will then be formally honored at Catholic Charities USA's Annual Gathering in Portland, Oregon in September.

New Catholic Charities Center

It’s official! Archbishop Henry Mansell cut the ribbon and blessed the brand new Catholic Charities Family Center in Waterbury. The facility will offer services including a child guidance clinic, family support, parenting education, adoption services, employment help, and treatment for mental health and substance abuse. The Archbishop says, "Today we see the Archbishop's Annual Appeal at work, the results and the effect and the dedication of this new Catholic Charities family service center of Waterbury: three floors of offices that will be delivering services of such importance, making wonderful differences in people's lives.” Catholic Charities already serves about 10 to 15 thousand people in the Waterbury area. The former rectory of Sacred Heart Parish was converted into the center. This Saturday, Crossroads Magazine will introduce you to this new space. Watch us at 10:30 a.m. on WTXX and 10:30 p.m. on My TV 9 (WCTX).