Catholic Charities Diocesan Offices
Catholic Charities Diocesan Offices
Contact Information
Rachel A. Hrbolich, Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities
144 West Wood Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
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Phone: (330) 744-8451
charities@youngstowndiocese.org
Available at
our Diocesan Offices
our Diocesan Offices
DIOCESAN DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Dear Friends,
In his Encyclical Letter, God is Love, Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that “As a community, the Church must practice love. Love thus needs to be organized if it is to be an ordered service to the community.” Catholic Charities represents “organized love” to all who come to us in need—regardless of their faith or lack of faith. Working through our professional, dedicated staff members and faithful volunteers, the light of Christ is able to touch lives, providing help and creating hope for thousands of individuals and families throughout the Diocese of Youngstown each year.
How can you engage with Catholic Charities and help us share the love of Jesus? Pray. Pray for those who look to us as a beacon of hope when life becomes overwhelming and difficult. Serve. Contact the Catholic Charities service site nearest you and learn how your time and talent can make a difference in serving the needs present in your community. Support. Many of the ministries offered by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown are made possible by parishioners who support the Bishop’s Appeal for Catholic Charities and Church, as well as other people of good will who donate money and material goods to Catholic Charities so that we can exercise our mission of service.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the poor will always be with us. Our challenge as his faithful followers is to treat the poor that we encounter with hospitality, dignity, and respect. Please accept this challenge with us so that together we can make our neighborhoods, communities, and diocese a place where all people experience the love of God through us.
May God bless you for all that you do to recognize and serve the needs of others.
Rachel A. Hrbolich
Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
“Catholic Charities” refers to the Office within the Diocese responsible for carrying out the responsibilities and activities of the Diocese of Youngstown Catholic Charities Corporation (DOYCCC). The DOYCCC is a Member Corporation whose Chairman is the diocesan bishop, and whose affiliate agencies include the following:
Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County
Catholic Charities Serving Portage and Stark Counties
Catholic Charities Regional Agency, serving Columbiana, Mahoning & Trumbull Counties
Each of the three DOYCCC affiliate agencies is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) organization with its own local Board of Directors, administrative leadership, and staff. Certain reserved powers related to the governance of the affiliate agencies are reserved for the diocesan bishop in accordance with the DOYCCC and affiliate agencies’ Codes of Regulations.
The functional role of the DOYCCC is to coordinate and oversee the provision of social and housing services throughout the Diocese of Youngstown to ensure that the mission shared among the affiliate agencies is fulfilled: to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures, and to call the entire Church and other people of good will to do the same. The DOYCCC convenes the affiliate agencies on a regular basis to pray, dialogue, plan, share ideas and resources, and explore new initiatives. The DOYCCC also offers technical and administrative assistance in the areas of fund raising, marketing, development, parish relations, board and staff training, and formation.
FIRST STEP TO SERVICE, SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY
The First Step to Service program is a service-learning opportunity for students developed by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Youngstown.
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Youngstown are part of a larger network of organizations and ministries that serve the needs of others as Jesus would.
The First Step to Service Program will benefit schools and students alike, by–
- Strengthening the connection between Catholic Charities and school aged youth
- Providing opportunities for students to deepen their faith
- Cultivating the minds of service-minded young people
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
Through a partnership with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Youngstown offers low cost immigration assistance for applications filed with U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and representation in Immigration Court.
Services Provided
We provide affordable legal counseling and representation in a wide-range of immigration matters including:
- Immigration Consultations Services
- Family-based petitions
- Citizenship/Naturalization Applications
- Applications to adjust status/permanent residency
- Work Authorization
- Protection Based Claims including: Asylum, Withholding of Removal, Protection under the Convention Against Torture
- Visas for victims including: U Visas for victims of serious crimes, T Visas for victims of trafficking, VAWA for victims of domestic violence
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- Immigrant visa processing/consular processing
- Inadmissibility waiver applications
- Temporary Protected Status
- Immigration Court Representation
Services can be provided in a variety of languages. All matters are treated professionally and confidentially.
Clients are charged nominal service fees, which may be reduced or waived according to financial need. The consultation fee is $40. Additional fees may be required depending on the service requested. At the conclusion of the consultation, clients will be informed of all the services that will be performed by the agency and the fees required.
Please bring:
- All documents related to your immigration legal needs
- Consultation fee of $40
Obtaining an ILS consultation does not guarantee that we will be able to assist you with your case or represent you at your immigration court hearing. However, it is an opportunity for you to speak with a licensed attorney experienced in handling immigration matters.
Our office works hard to assist every client that requests representation. However, we are limited in the number of people we can assist and the types of cases we can take. At the conclusion of your consultation, the attorney will explain to you what your options are and whether or not our office will be able to assist you.
Location
The main location for services in the Diocese of Youngstown is located at 225 Elm Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503. Appointment arrangements can also be made at any of our Catholic Charities service sites located in our six-county diocese.
Appointments are required, and must be scheduled in advance
by calling 330-599-4314.
PRISON MINISTRY
Our Mandate
• To share a Catholic presence, and visit every Catholic incarcerated in institutions within our diocese.
• To celebrate the sacraments.
• To provide a welcoming and supportive setting for those returning from incarceration
Our Mission
To share the love and consolation of Jesus Christ to those incarcerated by bringing a living message of God’s love and forgiveness, and through our presence, prayers and communications offer a sense of trust and hope.
Our Scope
The Diocese of Youngstown covers six counties in Northeast Ohio: Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Portage, and Ashtabula. Institutional facilities include county jails, juvenile detention facilities. Prisons include Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP), Trumbull Correctional Institution (TCI) and Camp (TCC), Lake Erie Correctional Institution (LAECI) Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC), and Federal facilities FCI Elkton and FCC Elkton.
Inside Facility Programs: Our programs vary depending on the facility. Typical programs include RCIA/Catechism classes, Catholic studies, Scripture readings and discussion, devotional prayer and rosary. In addition, we offer weekly communion services and Masses and Reconciliation, if possible. Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are available at several institutions. When possible we offer our programs and resources in both English and Spanish languages.
Support for returning citizens and their families: Saint Maximilian Kolbe Society (SMKS) provides spiritual support to returning citizens through a network of parish-based volunteers from throughout the diocese. We strive to be a loving, welcoming, inclusive community of believers, ministering to the formerly incarcerated and their families by bringing the message of God’s unconditional love and a sense of hope to those we serve. We will share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebration of liturgies, reception of sacraments and, study of our Catholic faith, and Holy Scripture. This ministry is grounded in the Gospel and Catholic social teachings. The programs will include elements of Worship, Faith Sharing and Open Sharing.
If requested, we will share available contact information for reentry organizations that address secular needs (e.g. housing, jobs, and clothing).
General Reentry assistance is managed through Catholic Charities Regional Agency
For further information contact Coordinator for Prison Ministry at (330) 744-8451, ext. 327 or email wbarber@youngstowndiocese.org.