Living the Jubilee, sharing the mission of Catholic Charities

In this Jubilee year, we are called to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” In the spirit of the great Jubilee tradition, we are invited to live this sacred time not merely as an anniversary to be observed, but as a season of grace – a time to restore what has been lost, to heal what is broken and to bear Christ’s light into a dark world that longs for his peace.

Hope is not a vague wish for better days. Christian hope is rooted in the certainty of God’s promises. In Pope Leo’s new, but already inspiring pontificate, he has reminded us that “Christian hope is like an anchor that grounds our hearts in the promise of the Lord Jesus. Charity is not just a promise. … It is a present reality to be embraced with joy and responsibility.”

That “present reality” is visible every day in the work of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. In our parishes, on our city streets, in rural communities and small towns, Catholic Charities becomes the hands and feet of Christ, reaching out to those who are hungry, unhoused, grieving or afraid.

The mission is simple yet profound: to serve, to accompany, to love. But, as I have seen firsthand, it is never just about services. It is about witness and relationships – about seeing the face of Jesus in those we serve and allowing them to see his face in us.

Catholic Charities is a place where individuals find a warm welcome, where single mothers receive guidance and support, where the elderly are visited and cared for, where those without shelter are given warmth and safety. These works of mercy are not abstract concepts; they are real, tangible moments when hope takes flesh in the lives of our neighbors.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis, whose passing we mourned in the spring, called on the whole Church to listen closely to those on the margins.

“May the voices of the poor be heard throughout the Jubilee, which is meant to restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone,” he said. That call echoes loudly here in Oklahoma. Through Catholic Charities, your generosity makes it possible for those voices to be heard – and for their dignity to be honored.

On the weekend of Sept. 20-21, Catholic Charities will launch its annual appeal in parishes across the archdiocese. In the spirit of the Jubilee – when God’s people are called to restore, to set free and to rejoice – this campaign invites each of us to be a living sign of hope for our brothers and sisters in need.

Volunteers will be present in some parishes to share stories of the clients we serve. Donor envelopes will be available in pews. If you have not yet made a gift to this year’s campaign, I ask you to prayerfully consider doing so that weekend.

If you already have made a gift, please accept my heartfelt thanks. Your support is a powerful witness to the love of Christ at work in the Church today.

I am deeply aware that the needs in our communities are great. The landscape of poverty, homelessness and despair is ever-changing – shaped by local and national challenges that often create new uncertainties for the most vulnerable.

And yet, we also live in a time of grace. God has placed us here, in this corner of his vineyard, to be his witnesses, his instruments, his hands of mercy.

The Jubilee year reminds us that mercy cannot be hoarded; it must flow outward. It must be shared. Just as the Israelites celebrated a Jubilee to release debts and restore land, so too are we called to restore relationships, to release burdens and to make space for God’s new beginnings.

When you give to Catholic Charities, you are participating in that restoration. You are helping a family keep their home. You are helping a child begin school with the supplies they need. You are helping a mother learn English so she can provide for her children.

These are not just acts of assistance; they are acts of hope. And hope, as Pope Leo reminded us, is anchored in Jesus himself.

I often think of the early Christians who sometimes gathered in hidden places to worship and encourage one another. The catacombs in Rome were not only burial sites; they were sanctuaries for the living.

In the dim light, the faithful celebrated the Eucharist, told the stories of Jesus and prayed for the strength to endure. They emerged from those gatherings renewed in hope – ready to face the world as witnesses to the Good News.

In our own way, Catholic Charities is like that sanctuary. It is a place where those who are weary can rest, where the hungry are fed, where the brokenhearted are consoled, and where the forgotten are remembered. It is a place where hope is renewed, not only for those who come seeking help, but for those who serve.

This September, I invite you to join me in making the work of Catholic Charities part of your Jubilee journey. Whether you give financially, volunteer your time or pray for those in need, you are helping to anchor hope in the hearts of our neighbors.

May the Lord bless you abundantly for your generosity. And may this Jubilee year be a time of deeper conversion and renewed joy in the mission Jesus Christ has entrusted to us.