Stay up to date and learn how you can make a difference.

Information and Response NETWORK 

The World Day of the Poor is November 15. Pope Francis' message "Stretch forth your hand to the poor" calls on people to keep their gaze fixed on the poor, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and warns against succumbing to a "whirlwind of indifference". To read Pope Francis’ World Day of the Poor Message CLICK HERE.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Collection is November 21-22. Help break the cycle of poverty and protect the dignity of all human life. For more information about how CCHD is working on the margins, visit www.usccb.org/cchd or contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at 614-241-2540 or socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org. 

Local Funds for Hunger Programs. Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl grants are still available for pantries and schools providing food during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic the Office for Social Concerns has distributed over $80,000 in local CRS Rice Bowl funds to help those in need in the diocese. For the application, go to For an Application CLICK HERE – ignore the deadline date and amount restrictions. For more information, contact Erin Cordle at ecordle@columbuscatholic.org.

Season of Hope Monthly Topic: Trust. In order to overcome as Bishop Brennan calls a poverty of hope that is experienced by many of our brothers and sisters during these challenging times, the Diocesan HOPE Task Force has developed a bulletin insert and homily helps on the topic of trust. For additional resources, visit www.columbuscatholic.org/season-of-hope. 

November is Black Catholic History Month. Join the diocesan Ethnic Ministries Office during this month as we learn more about the life experiences of the six candidates on their way to sainthood, and how their vocations continue to inspire the Church today. Please visit the Catholic Ethnic Ministries website for great events and information during November in honor of Black Catholics past, present and future.

Diocesan Celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe is Saturday, December 12, 2020, from 10 a.m. to Noon. Join us virtually for music, traditional indigenous dance, Las Mananitas, Mass and Rosary. Bishop Brennan will be joined by the Apostolic Nunico to the United States Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Catholic Relief Services Senior Director of US Church Engagement Roberto Navarro, and Sister Maria Ecclesiae of the Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Catholic Charities Christmas Help 2020 is a listing of items needed to help clients of our diocesan sponsored Catholic charities. The people who they serve need the basics: food, clothing, personal hygiene products, and household items. They also need volunteers. To access the bulletin insert list online, CLICK HERE or visit www.columbuscatholic.org/social-concerns-office.

Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service. Bishop Brennan is asking parishes to join the USCCB in a nationwide effort called Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service. Bishop Brennan asks that each pastor or administrator to identify a parish champion to work on this initiative and share the name with the Office for Social Concerns at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org. To learn more about Walking with Moms in Need, CLICK HERE.

If you missed the diocesan Building a Culture of Life Series during October, you can watch recorded video segments. Topics include Raising the Next Pro-Life Generation, Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service, Making End of Life Decisions, and a Respect Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Brennan. For recorded videos and resources, visit www.bclc.life. 

January 22nd Respect Life Mass - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children . The annual Respect Life Mass will be Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral. On this day of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, our diocese will join all dioceses of the United States in observing a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Since there will be limited seating due to COVID-19, the Mass will be livestreamed on the Diocese of Columbus YouTube Channel. For more information contact the diocesan Office for Social Concerns at  socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org or 614-241-2540. 

Roe Remembrance.  Greater Columbus Right to Life is currently working on plans for the annual Roe Remembrance held at the Ohio Statehouse following the Respect Life Mass. More details TBA on the GCRTL website.

Learn more about Fratelli Tutti

Urge Congress to Support the Global Child Thrive Act. The act would integrate Early Childhood Development into development and emergency humanitarian programs serving vulnerable children and their families, helping them recover from the COVID-19 virus and building their resilience to future emergencies and trauma. Sign up for CRS Lead the Way and lend your voice to make a difference.

Advocacy, Upcoming Events, Resources

Email: socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org 

Website: www.columbuscatholic.org/social-concerns-office