Our mission at Catholic Charities St. Augustine is to serve those in need with compassion – and to help them realize their dignity as we provide support. This calling, combined with the seven social teachings of the Catholic Church, guide our organization and keep us grounded as we work towards our many initiatives.
As we continue to unpack each of these teachings, we hope to bring light not only to why we serve, but also how our programs remain rooted in these important values and traditions.
The second lesson we are focusing on – “Life and Dignity of the Human Person” – is one that is emulated in all we do.
In the eyes of our Creator, every person is precious, and their life is sacred. The Catholic Church proclaims that the foundation of a moral vision for society is based off the dignity of human life. Our best measure of any institution is whether it earnestly enhances the life of the human person.
Among the many bureaus of Catholic Charities across the nation, one of the most significant ways our organizations are called to support this teaching is through adoption and pregnancy counseling services.
These programs provide much-needed wraparound support that helps to celebrate the miracle of life – through both our care for expectant mothers, struggling families, and families who need help navigating the adoption process.
The foundation on which these services are built are meant to provide hope where options feel limited – one of the central goals of every program we offer locally. Especially due to the events of the past year, so many of our neighbors are no longer strangers to hardship. Whether through the loss of a loved one, food insecurity or financial struggles, it is our hope that all of our programs at Catholic Charities St. Augustine enhance the lives of those in our community.
Dignity is cultivated alongside self-sufficiency, and that begins when we are able to help our neighbors meet their most basic needs. The Church reminds us daily that our greatest blessing in life is serving others, just as it is written in 1 John 4:7:
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.”
And though the trials of life may seem like a thief of dignity at times, they serve as a tireless reminder of our resiliency. If you or a loved one are in need of any other of the various services we provide, please visit ccbstaug.org/our-services/#services.