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About Catholic Charities

History & Background of Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens

Although Catholic Charities did not have its formal beginnings until 1899, the years until then saw the founding of many agencies and societies to care for the poor and the ill. These included thirteen child-caring institutions: The House of the Good Shepherd, for wayward girls; two-day nurseries; three homes for the aged; four hospitals; the Emerald Society; the Brooklyn Benevolent Society; and, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

In 1899, Bishop McDonnell appointed Father (later Monsignor) William J. White to be the first director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Brooklyn, a post he retained until his death in 1911. Doctor White, as he was known, had as his task to bring about coordination among the various charitable works taking place within the diocese. (Charities did not offer direct services until the late 1920's and early 30's.)

New York was the chief port of entry for immigrants to the United States. With the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, followed rapidly by the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Queensborough Bridges, and with the connection of the two sides of the river by subways, beginning with the interborough in 1900, the new immigrants flowed more and more into Brooklyn and Queens.

Doctor White's priestly service was in Saint Patrick's, Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, and then in Visitation, Red Hook. He had deep concern for the poor, almost all of them members of immigrant families. In response to their needs, he directed the organization of groups of volunteers and of educational and recreational activities in several parish centers to assist them. The consolidation of many of these works resulted in a new agency, the Catholic Settlement Association which continues as the Doctor White Memorial Settlement on Gold Street, Brooklyn under the direction of the Trinitarian Sisters.

Monsignor White's years saw the establishment of the Catholic Guardian Society in 1899 to supervise children discharged from the child-caring institutions, the organization of the Women's Auxiliary of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in 1902 and of the Big Brothers Movement in 1906. At the same time, immigrant members of religious communities began institutions in the diocese. Among these were the Daughters of Wisdom. Having been expelled from France, they founded St. Charles Home for crippled children. The Sisters of the Infant Jesus began the Visiting and Home Services for the Sick in 1905.

Under Monsignor White's successor, Monsignor Francis J. O'Hara, a commission of priests was formed to work with the director on coordinating the works of all charitable agencies and institutions in the diocese. Catholic Charities was legally incorporated in December 6, 1917. The same year saw the creation in Charities of a health division to oversee and coordinate the work of the Catholic hospitals (The Catholic Medical Center came into existence in the late 1960's and assumed complete responsibility for the hospitals). The thirties saw the institution of a department to coordinate group youth activities, including two summer camps, Molloy for boys and Immaculata for girls and the Boy and Girl Scout movement. Charities opened a branch office in Jamaica, Queens, in 1931.

In light of the changing social order during the depression years, Catholic Charities reorganized under Monsignor J. Jerome Reddy, who remained its director until 1960. As the official diocesan agency for promoting health and welfare among people, its purpose became two-fold. The original purpose, to coordinate all Catholic charitable organizations under the general supervision of the diocese, remained. To this was now added responsibility for the provision of services, either through programs operated immediately by Charities itself or through programs of agencies established by Charities and continued under its management. Most Rev. Francis J. Mugavero was named Executive Director of Catholic Charities in 1960. Most Rev. Joseph Sullivan was appointed Executive Director in 1968 and Mr. Thomas A. DeStefano succeeded him as Executive Director in 1979.

Catholic Charities has continued to coordinate the charitable works of the diocese and to deliver service to those in need throughout these many years.