Imagine having to flee your home at a moment’s notice after suffering extreme physical violence, leaving with nothing but the clothes on your back and your surviving family members. Imagine walking for 20 days along environments unknown, often dangerous, searching for shelter, food, water, and safety. Then imagine enduring all of that without knowing how…

Chef Jon Wirtis is Catholic Charities of Oregon’s new Executive Chef/Instructor. His two passions are food and people. Like Catholic Charities, Chef Jon believes food, the very thing that sustains our bodies, can also be the foundation for sustaining and transforming our local communities. One of Chef Jon’s main duties in his role as Executive…

We are fortunate to have extremely generous donors and volunteers who give their time, energy, support and resources to Catholic Charities. As part of our donor and volunteer appreciation campaign, we are recognizing individuals and organizations who share God’s love and spread Christ’s light by partnering with Catholic Charities. Because of them, we are able…

On April 17, 2021, Catholic Charities of Oregon and Zomi Catholic Community Portland (ZCCP) hosted a multi-faith prayer service for the Zomi community. Leaders from the Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, and other Christian denominations joined the Zomi community in Oregon and other refugee communities, as well as Catholic Charities of Oregon, state senators and local…

Each year the month of April is recognized as National Volunteer Month, giving us a chance to celebrate the impact of volunteer service in our community. The mission of Catholic Charities is made possible through the hands and hearts of more than 2,200 volunteers. These selfless individuals have logged 4,971 hours of service in the…

We are fortunate to have extremely generous donors and volunteers who give their time, energy, support and resources to Catholic Charities. As part of our donor and volunteer appreciation campaign, we are recognizing individuals and organizations who share God’s love and help to spread light by partnering with Catholic Charities. Because of them, we are…

Matthew Westerbeck, the Director of Refugee Services at Catholic Charities of Oregon, provided testimony during a public hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery on March 30, 2021. The topic was Senate Bill (SB) 718, which appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Human Services to award…

Deacon Rick Birkel, Ph.D., will lead a year of succession planning and transition management before retiring in June 2022.

We are fortunate to have extremely generous donors and volunteers who give their time, energy, support and resources to Catholic Charities. As part of our donor and volunteer appreciation campaign, we are recognizing individuals and organizations who share God’s love and spread Christ’s light by partnering with Catholic Charities. Because of them, we are able…

On March 13, 2021 we gathered together virtually for our annual Celebration of Hope gala to spread goodwill and assist our brothers and sisters in greatest need. During the gala the Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, shared a message of hope for our community as we continue to support our…

Catholic Charities of Oregon is appalled and heartbroken by the horrific violence and loss of life in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. Our prayers and hearts go out to the eight victims, their loved ones, and their grieving families.

During Catholic Charities’ annual Celebration of Hope gala on March 13, 2021, Executive Director Rick Birkel, Ph.D., shared how Catholic Charities of Oregon has stepped up to serve our neighbors across the state of Oregon in more ways than ever as a result of a year filled with multiple disasters. Our vision to create a…