How Catholic Charities of Long Island Delivered Help and Hope in 2025
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF LONG ISLAND has just completed another year of bringing “Care with Dignity…Life with Hope” to needy and vulnerable neighbors in Nassau and Suffolk counties, where we exclusively carry out our Gospel call.
The following entries illustrate the compassionate care we bring to those we encounter at our 50 ministry sites and on occasions when CCLI participates in the life of the Church on Long Island, including a Eucharistic procession leading to the June 2025 Diocesan Eucharistic Congress on Pentecost Sunday.
The passing of Pope Francis at age 88 on Easter Monday in April brought the Universal Church a newly elected pontiff the next month. Former Cardinal Robert Prevost, a native of Chicago and the first American-born pope, took the name Pope Leo XIV. In his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You), Pope Leo offered a poignant reminder that love for the poor is a core tenet of the Catholic faith.
JANUARY:
During Catholic Schools Week, January 27-31, teams from Catholic Charities of Long Island, led by Danielle Campbell, director of development and communications, and Patricia Callahan, coordinator of volunteers, visited five Catholic elementary schools.
At St. Brigid-Our Lady of Hope School in Westbury, students shared muffins they made during lunch with senior citizens from CCLI centers in Oceanside and West Hempstead. At St. Mary’s School in Manhasset, the kids rang up sales of hot chocolate in a sweet fundraiser for CCLI.
MARCH:
Catholic Sisters Week, March 8-14, was a good spotlight for the religious sisters who serve our ministries.
Along with Sister Lynn Caton, C.S.J., a clinical supervisor at Talbot House, religious sisters involved in Parish Social Ministry were: Sr. Christine Sammons, O.P., St. Bernard, Levittown; Sr. Barbara Faber, R.S.M., Our Lady of Peace, Lynbrook; Sr. Kathy Somerville, O.P., Our Lady of Fatima, Port Washington; Sr. Kathleen Murphy, O.P., St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre; Sr. Margie Kelly, C.S.J., Holy Name of Mary, Valley Stream; Sr. Carol Radosti, O.P., St. Rose of Lima, Massapequa; Sr. MarieJosee Seide, D.W., St. Martin of Tours, Amityville, and Sr. Lisa Bergeron, O.S.U., St. John Nepomucene, Bohemia.
Lidia Bastianich, the famed television chef and restauranteur, has never forgotten how Catholic Charities assisted her family in their first days and months in America when she was just a girl. “There’s no country like America,” she said. “Catholic Charities is part of this.”
Decades later, she related this story and many other moments from her spectacularly successful career. The interview, with CCLI’s Danielle Campbell, was for “You Did It for Me,” CCLI’s new half-hour show on Catholic Faith Network.
APRIL:
We know how much Long Islanders love their pizza, and over the past two years, Catholic Charities learned we can count on owners of pizza shops and restaurants to help our Pizza with a Purpose fundraising campaign during Fridays in Lent.
A portion of proceeds at participating pizzerias benefits our Emergency Relief Fund for neighbors in need who approach Long Island parishes for help.
With Ash Wednesday coming up on February 18, we’d love to hear from new pizzerias that want to share a slice of their Lenten proceeds with the needy.
On April 8, Catholic Charities of Long Island presented its second Poverty Simulation, this one jointly sponsored by Catholic Health and the Sisters of St. Joseph and taking place on the sisters’ Brentwood campus.
The simulation involved nearly 100 people, including many Catholic Charities staff members, portraying low-income family members and vendors in the community they encountered during a typical month.
MAY:
Habemus Papam! Catholics in America and across the world rejoiced at the May 8 election of Pope Leo XIV. The native of Chicago became the first American pontiff, succeeding Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21.
The former Cardinal Robert Prevost is the 267th pope in a line of apostolic succession beginning with St. Peter. He follows his namesake, Pope Leo XIV, known for his contributions to Catholic social doctrine.
Students at Kellenberg Memorial High School collected 33,629 diapers for mothers enrolled in Catholic Charities’ Regina Maternity case management program at the school’s first Diaper Dash collection May 13 to 22.
A few months earlier, students at Chaminade High School donated 18,000 diapers to Catholic Charities from the school’s first drive. Both Kellenberg Memorial and Chaminade are run by the Marianist Brothers of the Province of Meribah.
JUNE:
Catholic Charities of Long Island executives, managers and staff processed three miles with Jesus during a Eucharistic pilgrimage June 2 north on Newbridge Road through East Meadow, Levittown and Hicksville ending at the Holy Trinity Diocesan High School campus where Catholic Charities administrative offices are located.
The pilgrimage was part of a full schedule of such walks leading to the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, with Mass offered by Bishop John O. Barres.
Karina Contti, director of human resources for Catholic Charities of Long Island, joined more than 20 Catholic Charities senior executives from around the country June 16-20 for the Advanced O’Grady Leadership Institute organized by Catholic Charities USA.
Participants learned how to enhance their organization’s Catholic identity, even as they serve people of all faiths and backgrounds. “Catholic Charities is not Catholic Charities just by name. We’re Catholic Charities by action,” Contti explained.
JULY:
Danielle Campbell, director of development and communications for Catholic Charities of Long Island, was one of 40 Catholic Charities communicators nationwide selected to have their videos about people assisted by Catholic Charities professionally produced for a mobile travel exhibit embarking this year.
Her video focused on Carolyn Lawrence, a senior whose life was transformed thanks to help from Catholic Charities and the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville who run Harvest House in Syosset where she now lives.
A vibrant volunteer corps is key to Catholic Charities’ outreach. On occasion, volunteering extends to the entire family. The Acostas, of East Islip, are one such family. Mom Alexandra and dad Alberto and their two young children, Nicholas and Milania, all pitched in at the OPWDD Summer Dance.
Alexandra had been looking for a way to build up the Catholic faith of her family. Serving pizza and cake and dancing with the developmentally disabled adults made everyone feel like they played an important role, and when the day was over, the kids asked their parents when the next dance would take place.
AUGUST:
Oheka Castle in Huntington proved a magical setting August 21 for 50 guests of Catholic Charities of Long Island enjoying a guided summer evening tour of the Huntington mansion, the second largest private residence in the United States.
Msgr. Joseph Staudt, a longtime supporter and friend, cited Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-40, in his prayer about Catholic Charities’ ministry. Brief remarks were also delivered by William Ayers, the new chair of CCLI’s board of trustees; Michael Smith, executive director and CEO of CCLI; and Danielle Campbell, director of development and communications.
OCTOBER:
A picture-perfect fall day in the sun greeted participants October 6 at CCLI’s Annual Golf Classic and Pickleball Tournament at the Muttontown Club in East Norwich. The top foursome on the links were Deacon Michael Monahan, a CCLI board member who serves at Tri-Parish Beach Catholic Community in Long Beach, and his companions, Father Leo Song, pastor of St. Raphael’s in East Meadow, Joseph Mulligan and Fred O’Malley.
The fundraiser was “a truly meaningful way to support the great causes of a truly Catholic-driven and evangelizing vehicle such as Catholic Charities of Long Island,” Deacon Monahan said. Winning honors at the initial pickleball outing were Dr. Andrew Moawad and Carol Staub, a member at the CCLI Oceanside Senior Center.
NOVEMBER:
Parish Social Ministry outreach programs at more than 100 Catholic parishes on Long Island were busy leading to Thanksgiving. Sister Christine Sammons, O.P., the longtime PSM coordinator at St. Bernard’s in Levittown, estimated a 25 increase in those seeking help, including many new Spanish-speaking clients.
At St. Bernard’s, the PSM team works alongside volunteers from the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference. “I could never do this by myself,” said Sister Christine, who also cited the generosity of parishioners.
DECEMBER:
The Christmas Angel celebration on December 20 and 21 at St. Brigid’s in Westbury, sponsored by the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation, brought a generous array of toys, games, and clothes to parents seeking gifts for their children. Santa was present to greet kids and fill balloons to make animals and other artworks. Parish Social Ministry volunteers guided shoppers and wrapped their gifts.
The foundation is also providing Target and Visa gift cards at other parishes across the diocese. “It’s a big deal for parent to have gifts to provide for their children,” said Yanira Chacon, director of Parish Social Ministry at St. Brigid’s.
The final word about 2025 goes out to Catholic Youth Organization of Long Island, which under director Carol Sciotto offers great support to Catholic Charities all year long. “Ministries helping ministries” is her succinct description.
This year’s generous assistance included a gingerbread house-making event with a visit from Santa involving students and adults with developmental disabilities served by CCLI. CYO also sponsored a Valentine’s Day dance and the adoption of one of our group homes for Christmas. Plentiful donations of Christmas toys, diapers and food were also made. A $1,000 contribution toward Mother’s Day flowers brought smiles to the faces of our seniors, who also received handmade holiday cards from CYO students.