Touching Three Centuries

Welcoming and Integrating Immigrants and Refugees

For immigrants, Catholic Charities often has been and is the a first stop in a new land. It helps resettle newcomers fleeing upheaval and sinking economies. It is the premier provider of immigration services, and is a key factor in assistance for “Immigrant” New York.

Tolentine-Zeiser / St Rita’s, for example, assisted the sudden influx of South East Asian immigrants and refugees resettling in America. Responding to the first national legalization program for the undocumented in 1986, Catholic Charities took the lead in helping the undocumented achieve legal status. While most of the undocumented came from Hispanic countries, Catholic Charities also reached out through Project Irish Outreach and published a guidebook, Immigrating USA, to provide solid information to those thinking of emigrating.

Clearly, the world has changed dramatically since Catholic Charities’ inception - and Catholic Charities changed with it. Its evolution of services enabled Catholic Charities to respond quickly to recent crises. In the unprecedented and disorienting days following the terrorists’ attacks of September 11th, Catholic Charities mobilized immediately. It took a leading role in establishing an integrated system of emergency and long-term human services for overwhelmed New Yorkers, including burial assistance, employment programs and emergency financial relief. In 2005, Catholic Charities helped hundreds of displaced Gulf-region residents rebuild their lives in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes Rita and Katrina.