In 1879, Father Bernard Donnelly established Mount St. Bernard’s Orphanage in Kansas City. With that one act of faith, hope and charity, many lives — and a community — were transformed.
And, from that humble beginning a strong tradition of compassionate care and social service took root, thrived and grew to become Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Today, millions of lives have been transformed, and our community is a much different — much better — place.
Catholic Charities in 1942
1879-1909 During these first three decades, thousands of infants, children, young mothers and aging adults found shelter and support through Catholic social service agencies. Mt. St. Bernard’s Orphanage, Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Elderly, St. Anthony’s Home for Infants and St. Vincent’s Maternity Hospital opened their doors to all, regardless of faith.
1927 Catholic social service agencies in Kansas City merged into a single Catholic Welfare Bureau and added support services for youth in the juvenile detention system.
1935-1945 As the depression lingered and World War II loomed, Kansas City’s needs changed and grew. The Catholic Welfare Bureau added food kitchens, family and foster care services and programs that served offenders. During and after the war, the Bureau added employment training, housing assistance and counseling programs to assist veterans and their families.
Catholic Charities in 1942
Fr. Pat Tobin and Mother Teresa
1950’s-1980’s During an era of sweeping social change, the Catholic Welfare Bureau expanded and adapted to serve more people with more services. Fr. Pat Tobin served as associate executive director, and launched new programming for ex-offenders, community gardens, assistance for refugees and housing programs.
1964 President Lyndon Johnson declared a War on Poverty. The agency joined the fight and merged with additional diocesan social services. In 1967, it was renamed Catholic Family and Community Services.
Fr. Pat Tobin and Mother Teresa
Rashey Moten 1970
1970 Rashey Moten named Executive Director. He became the first African-American to lead a Catholic Charities organization. He earned national praise for his pioneering leadership, which brought social work back to providing hands-on, day-to-today services to the poor and vulnerable.
1977-1980 Catholic Family and Community Services renamed Catholic Charities. When a branch opened to serve Northwest Missouri, it became Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Rashey Moten 1970
Today, Catholic Charities provides assistance to at-risk individuals and families with services that are designed to address immediate needs.
Emergency assistance, food, personal hygiene items, and transportation supports – but also to create long term stability – employment services, permanent housing, and family programming designed to increase parenting knowledge, promote appropriate childhood development and create financial stability.
In the news
Faith Journey Interview with Deaf and Disabilities Ministries Parish Mental Health Coordinator Marie Justin: Deaf and Disabilities Ministries “Together” Newsletter September 2022
Recently, our department hired Marie Justin as the Parish Mental Health Ministry Coordinator, a position funded by a grant from the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. She has been with us for a little over a month, and, already, we have greatly...
Faith Journey Interview with Author Virginia Pillars: Deaf and Disabilities Ministries “Together” Newsletter December 2021
On October 12th, our department partnered with the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to present a luncheon with Deacon Ed Shoener of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers. The focus of the gathering was on the development of parish mental health...
Faith Journey Interview with Laura Gaffney, MD and Dr. Moya Peterson: Deaf and Disabilities Ministries “Together” Newsletter October 2021
About a year ago, our department hosted an online screening of the film None of Us Want to Stand Still about better health care for adults with developmental disabilities. After we viewed the film, we had a group discussion, and many of the individuals present...
American Sign Language Class at St. Peter’s
Catholic Charities of Kansas City - St. Joseph is excited to share our beginner ASL class. Starting on October 10th, we will offer an ASL class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at St. Peter’s Parish. These classes will help you learn fingerspelling,...
Faith Journey Interview with Caroline Turner: Deaf and Disabilities Ministries “Together” Newsletter August 2022
Recently, one of our dedicated sign language interpreters, Becky Turner, told me about her daughter who had recently started a new organization. Caroline Turner is the founder of Quirky Buds, a new social networking system designed to connect individuals of different...
Qualified Charitable Distributions: How To Use Your IRA To Give – September Newsletter 2022
Over the last several years, there have been many changes to the individual retirement account (IRA) landscape. Possibly the most overlooked new tool for IRA owners is the qualified charitable distribution, or QCD. A QCD is a withdrawal from an IRA made directly to...