Catholic Charities of Southern Illinois |
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Timeline of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Belleville1917 - First Saint Vincent de Paul Society is established in the Diocese, at Cathedral Parish in Belleville 1946 - A Diocesan Catholic Charities Department is created, consisting of foster care and adoption services and an orphanage; a day nursery and the Queen's Daughters are also part of the department 1962 - The Meredith Memorial Retirement Home opens in the former Belleville Hotel 1968 - Catholic Charities' name is changed to Catholic Social Services, emphasizing the core human services provided at the time 1969 - The Cordi-Marian Sisters assume responsibility for the Catholic Daycare Center and Preschool in East St. Louis 1972 - St. John's Daycare and Preschool opens in Belleville 1973 - Roe vs Wade legalizes abortion, prompting the need for a Pro Life Office 1974 - Joe Hubbard begins Catholic Urban Programs (CUP) in East St. Louis and leads this ever-expanding ministry to this day 1974 - Fr. Gene Neff is commissioned to a diocesan ministry of care, which evolves into Ministry to the Sick and Aged, a ministry which he heads to this day 1981 - Cosgrove's Soup Kitchen opens in East St. Louis, next to the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store 1982 - Daystar Community Programs is established in Cairo 1982 - The Hincke-Sense Retirement Home for Priests opens 1985 - The St. Vincent de Paul Society opens Holy Angels homeless shelter 1986 - Sr. Julia Huiskamp begins offering after school and youth programs at the Griffin Center through Catholic Urban Programs; today programs have expanded to 6 public housing developments, which she coordinates to this day 1987 - The Rural Life Office initiates spring and harvest farm blessing liturgies 1988 - The St. Vincent de Paul traveling soup bus begins delivering hot meals to the people of East St. Louis 1991 - Catholic Social Services opens Don Bosco Children's Home in the former convent of St. Luke's Parish in Belleville 1993 - CUP's Family Center is founded 1994 - St. Regis Parish in East St. Louis and CUP begin providing youth programs 1996 - CUP begins offering legal advocacy through the Neighborhood Law Office 1997 - Daystar in Cairo opens the Kitchen Table soup kitchen 1997 - Bishop Wilton Gregory calls together a task force on poverty, which evolves into Poverty Services under the direction of Ms. Irene Dill. 1999 - Various diocesan ministries come together at the Pastoral Center to consider returning to a coalition style of ministry under a Catholic Charities umbrella 2000 - A Catholic Charities Department is reestablished in the Diocese of Belleville 2001- An Office of Hispanic Ministry opens to support outreach efforts to Hispanics in the north and southern regions of the diocese, and to increase outreach elsewhere 2002 - A Coordinator for Prison Ministry is named to support prison ministers 2003 - Catholic Charities of Southern Illinois is incorporated as a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation |