Virtual Accompaniment Resources
Access to safe and affordable housing has long been upheld in Catholic social teaching as a fundamental human right. How, then, does our community of faith respond to unjust housing policies that cause gentrification, displacement, and economic harm? How is affordable housing connected to other social ills, such as systemic racism and mass incarceration? On Wednesday, June 17, we convened on Zoom to discuss the affordable housing crisis in Chicago and how the Catholic community can respond. We were joined by Bishop Mark Bartosic of Vicariate II, MaryClare Birmingham of Kolbe House, Lissette Castañeda of LUCHA, Michael Rabbitt of Neighbors for Affordable Housing, and Jimmy Thomas of the Northwest Side Housing Center.
During these unprecedented times, we as the Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago want to make sure that our most vulnerable community members are not being forgotten. We’ve heard from many of you that you are already reaching out to your parishioners over 70 years old and we are most grateful for your efforts.
For those of you who have not yet begun outreach efforts, if you are able, please do so in whatever manner is available to you (phone, email, U.S. mail). This is a time in which we can reach out to the elderly and isolated to offer encouragement, to pray with them and to listen to them. It is also a wonderful community building effort, and one that will strengthen relationships in this time of social distancing!
For guidance on reaching out to your parishioners via letter or phone, please click here.
Beginning on May 1 in the state of Illinois, individuals will be required to wear a face-covering or a mask when in a public place where they can’t maintain a six-foot social distance.
You can help all people in the Archdiocese of Chicago by wearing a mask when in a public place. In addition, one of the many ways you can care for your neighbors, loved ones, essential workers and those living on the margins is by making and donating cloth masks if you are able.
If you are interested in making a cloth mask, please do so following these guidelines released by the CDC. This will help make sure that your masks are protective and don’t provide a false sense of safety.
The City of Chicago has launched the “Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask” citywide cloth mask drive through Saturday, May 16. For more information, please click here.
Donations for the “Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask” initiative will be accepted at the following locations from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays beginning Saturday, April 25 through Saturday, May 16.
Aldermanic Offices
- Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) | 1958 North Milwaukee Avenue
- Ald. Leslie Hairston (5th Ward) | 2325 East 71st Street
- Ald. George Cardenas (12th Ward) | 2458 West 38th Street
- Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward) | 6272 West North Avenue a
- Ald. Felix Cardona (31st Ward) | 4605 West Diversey Avenue
- Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) | 2657 North Clybourn Avenue
- Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd Ward) | 3001 Irving Park Road
- Ald. Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) and State Rep. John C. D'Amico | 4200 West Lawrence Avenue
- Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st Ward) | 7442 North Harlem Avenue
- Ald. Tom Tunney (44th Ward) | 3223 North Sheffield Avenue
- Ald. James Cappleman (46th Ward) | 4544 North Broadway Avenue
- Ald. Harry Osterman (48th Ward) |5533 North Broadway Avenue
Participating Churches as part of the First Ladies Health Initiative (FLHI)
- Apostolic Faith Church | 3823 South Indiana Avenue
- Austin Church of Christ | 4750 West Washington Boulevard
- Blackwell-Israel Samuel AME Zion Church | 3956 South Langley Avenue
- Canaan Community Church | 1701 West Garfield
- Concord Baptist Church | 6319 South Kimbark Avenue
- Commonwealth Community Church | 140 West 81st Street
- Cosmopolitan Community Church | 5249 South Wabash Avenue
- Greater St. John Bible Church | 1256 North Waller
- Heritage International Food Distribution Center | 5312 West North Avenue
- Mount Carmel Bible Church | 740 E 42nd Street
- Mount Vernon Baptist Church | 2622 West Jackson Boulevard
- New Mount Calvary | 1850 West Marquette Road
- Original Philadelphia M.B. Church | 6558 South Carpenter Street
- Park Manor Baptist Church | 8328 South Green Street
- People’s Church of the Harvest | 3750 West Fifth Avenue
- Salem Baptist Church of Chicago | 752 East 114th Street
- St. James Unity Baptist | 900 S. Sacramento Boulevard
- Trinity United Church of Christ | 400 West 95th Street
- Unity Fellowship Baptist Church | 211 North Cicero Avenue
COVID-19 Services/Response
Our thanks to the remarkable staff, partners, donors, and volunteers who are helping us meet the needs of those least able to navigate these unprecedented circumstances. We are in your debt.
Service Update
- For urgent needs, please call 312.655.7700
- Meals to go are available at Congregate Meal sites and Senior Centers. Catholic Charities has suspended all senior group activities and adult day care amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Our home care services continue, and are following a more sophisticated protocol as there are seniors who have no one to drop off groceries and provide basic hygiene assistance.
- Food pantries and evening meal programs will continue to provide food depending on supplies and safe distribution protocols. Please check under Our Services/Emergency Services for locations and phone numbers.
- Counseling, case management, and other services that can be provided remotely are being delivered accordingly. Please call your case worker or program contact if you need assistance.
How you can help
Due to COVID-19 exposure risks, we are unable to take donations of clothing or food from individuals or groups at this time.
- Please consider a contribution. The need for financial assistance and program support for those who were only just making ends meet will grow significantly with lost wages and other impact from the pandemic.
- Masks, hand sanitizer, paper towels, or bleach wipes are needed and can be dropped at any Catholic Charities location.
- When shopping on Amazon, please use Amazon Smile and choose Catholic Charities so we might benefit from your purchase.
- Volunteers needed to pack food at pantries. If you are not in a high risk category and are willing to help, please email Andrew McKernin at [email protected]. Protective gear provided. Health protocols enforced.
Thank the human service workers, first responders, and grocery/gas station/coffee vendors in your life and when you see them in action.
Although the Coronavirus pandemic is altering many ways of live, the 2020 Census is still being carried out. Census Day was April 1, 2020, but you can still fill out your census form! Participation in the decennial census is vitally important as census counts determine political representation, funding and statistics to plan for the future. It is important that everyone be counted. Please read the cardinal’s letter along with a signed proclamation in support of this nation-wide effort: Letter and Proclamation from Cardinal in Support of 2020 Census (English | Spanish | Polish)
2020 Census Partnership Pledge Form (PDF)
Parishes are invited to become partners in support of the 2020 Census. There are many ways parishes can promote the census in their respective communities, from distributing census educational materials to providing information on temporary job opportunities. Being a partner also means being kept informed on the status of the 2020 Census campaign. Please scan and send completed pledge forms to [email protected] or fax 312.534.5306.
Additional Resources from our Immigration Ministry
If your parish has electronic giving established, reach out to your parishioners and ask for their critical support. Template messages (English, Polish and Spanish) for email/letter and social media are included below.
If your parish does not have electronic giving, the Office of Stewardship and Development developed an online page for parishioners to make an offertory gift to any parish in the archdiocese. Parishioners can access the form at www.archchicago.org/offertory. Offertory gifts made through this form will be reflected in the parish account at the Archdiocesan Bank. With remote work policies in place and with bank personnel stretched thin, please allow approximately one month from the date the gift is made for these gifts to be applied to the parish account.
