Spring

Stories of 2022

HOPE
Honoring Human Dignity

In this issue: Our Mission

2 5
A Message from
Dolores Nunez
Involving our
Community
To put faith in
action to improve
the lives of those
in need
Children's Learning Migrant

3 Center
A Message from
6 Support
Self-Sufficiency and
Housing Assistance
Our Vision
our Board Chair
Honor Human
Dignity
7
Support Our Work

4
Adult Education
CC Affordable
Housing

Albuquerque Office Santa Fe Office

2010 Bridge Blvd. SW 1234 San Felipe Ave.
Albuquerque, NM 87105 Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (505) 724-4670 Phone: (505) 424-9789
www.reallygreatsite.com
Fax: (505) 724-4682 Fax: (505) 424-9792
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A Message from Dolores Nunez, CEO Catholic Charities

2021 IMPACT
Spring is a time of renewal. While we are not out of the
woods when it comes to COVID, I think we can say that
we’ve overcome some very difficult and somber times due
to this pandemic. So, I’d like to ask that you join me in Your support of Catholic Charities
prayer for every person who was impacted in any way by Provided
COVID 19.
We pray for those we lost to the pandemic. We pray for
the families who have been impacted by that loss, or by
the difficulties of those who may still be suffering the
residual impacts of COVID and for the return of their
Care to92 children in
Children's Learning Center
health. We pray for the children who were unable to play

718
with their friends or had a delay in their opportunity to
learn with their classmates.

We pray for the first responders, the healthcare workers, the childcare workers, and the Rides provided
frontline workers who never stopped working, saving and caring. We pray, too, for for ambulatory and
those who were impacted by the social and economic disruption that this pandemic homebound seniors
caused; for those who are suffering from the stress and trauma that quarantining,

244
isolation and fear brought with the pandemic. We certainly pray for those who lost
People
homes, jobs and businesses.
Assisted
Look to the right and you’ll see the impact of our work in 2021, even during the in finding
pandemic. I’ve been asked, “When will you reopen?” We are open! For a time we had to and maintaining stable housing

839
limit our in-person communication, but we never stopped serving our community. Our
staff found new and creative ways to serve, including on-line learning and virtual
meetings and appointments. We may have had to find new ways to connect with our
Individuals
clients, but our work did not stop.
supported with legal
We will continue to help those in most need with a stronger resolve, a deeper sense of services in their immigration journey
empathy and a fervent desire to be of service. I invite you to call me at (505) 724-4601
to learn about what’s new at Catholic Charities or go to our website and reacquaint
yourselves with the work we do to support our community. I invite you to be a part of
7
our work through your time, talent and treasure.
36

Adult students empowered

As we were preparing our Spring Newsletter, Catholic Charities was called upon to to continue their education online
assist in helping our northern neighbors who have been devastated by the wildfires
185
Refugees served in
ravaging our land.
22 educational and
So we sprang into action, first recognizing that we needed to prepare for inquiries relationship-building
coming into our office and through our website. Thankfully, we were soon able to find
programs
links to the state’s wildfire relief webpage and hotline to post on our homepage. Easy
access to resources like this allowed our staff to help a family of six after they ran out of
230

funds for housing by connecting them to the hotline who was able to direct them to Families
an evacuee shelter. Then, we were able to offer them a hotel room through the City of provided
Albuquerque. high quality
We were contacted regarding a need for fresh fruit and snacks for evacuees at the affordable housing
Glorieta Retreat Center. Kathy Freeze, our Community Involvement Director,
purchased the food and coordinated with the National Guard for pick-up and delivery.

Another email came in looking for help with hygiene kits and food for 40 families in Raton. Our in-kind donation center staff responded
immediately, offering the 23 Dignity Bags we had on hand and getting to work preparing 17 more. We reached out to Fr. Bill Woytavick in
Raton to determine food needs. That same day, the National Guard picked up the 40 Dignity bags, 14 boxes of food and 40 reusable
shopping bags to deliver to the church in Raton.

The calls continue to come into Catholic Charities for these types of support and we will continue to help. Through the support from
generous donors for wildfire relief, as well as grants from the All Together NM Fund and Catholic Charities USA, we can continue to
support our neighbors. Our focus at this time is to provide assistance to those who have no other way to pay for lodging and food,
particularly in smaller communities with lesser access to resources. Visit our website, www.ccasfnm.org to learn more.
 3
Children's Learning Center
Our Children’s Learning Center proudly serves
our local community. During these difficult
times, we have continued to promote early
childhood education, diversity and family
engagement. We believe all children, no matter
their financial situation, are entitled to high-
quality care and education. This past year, we
supported 92 children as they grew socially,
physically, emotionally, and intellectually while
developing their own identities.
Melissa Bojorquez
Center Director Children from Pre-K Graduating

We are a 5-star accredited bilingual center. Our highly trained teachers help
guide, nurture, and cultivate each child’s potential. We provide opportunities
and activities based upon the Early Years Learning Framework, which allows
children to discover and pursue their interests and strengths. We encourage
children to explore their curiosity while learning through play as their sense
of confidence grows through interactions with our staff and their peers which
helps to stimulate all their developmental stages.

When a child joins our center, we believe in building the relationship between
the primary caregivers and the staff members. The relationship created sets
up a healthy pathway for a successful education and support system.

A message from Guy Berger, Board Chair

I am humbled and proud to be the Chair of Catholic Charities Board of Directors for 2021. It is an honor to serve with some
of the smartest and most wonderful people who make up not only the Board of Directors, but the incredible staff that works
so hard to help those people in need.

I have learned so much in my three plus years serving on the Board of Directors. I feel like we all are so fortunate to be
blessed with what we have and sometimes don't realize the tremendous need lurking in our community. The issues we deal
with, whether it's funding, finding homes or apartments for those in need, as well as helping to set up furnishings, food for
those in need, education for both children and adults or just helping someone navigate paperwork in numerous government
programs, are constant issues we face at Catholic Charities.

I have asked the staff to bring "feel good" stories to our board meetings so that we continue to see how our work helps people. One story I witnessed
myself during our luncheon celebrating International Women's Day, as we sat with a mother and son from Afghanistan who immigrated to New
Mexico just 3 years ago. She had been helping our troops there and she was evacuated for her own safety. She is an expert baker and showed us
some of her creations! Her son is a senior at Manzano High School here in Albuquerque. I can still see the look on his face when his mother spoke to
us of her journey! He was so proud of her, as he should be, for the sacrifices she has made for him. Catholic Charities has been instrumental in
helping folks like these to get a fresh start in the U.S.

This is why we exist! We are not here for some abstract reason, but to help human beings, just like us, to have a better life for themselves and their
families.

I want to thank all of you for your interest in helping Catholic Charities, whether as a volunteer or a donor so that we can continue to do good work in
our community.

If you or someone you know would like to join our Board of Directors, please contact Dolores Nunez to get the process started.

God Bless,
Guy Berger
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Educational Opportunity
Through online classes, our Center for Educational Opportunity & Career Pathways
has continued to help adult education students meet their personal goals of making
progress toward earning their High School Equivalency credential and U.S.
Citizenship preparation, improving their English proficiency, preparing to enter
college, and gearing up to join or advance in the heavy machine operation, roofing,
and childcare fields.
Our center is excited to announce a new CDL (commercial drivers' license) program
starting in the Spring 2023 semester! Our Career Pathways Program Coordinator,
and trainer from Safety Zone Credentialing, train students on a driving simulator
for their driving licenses while our instructors help them to improve their English.
This will expand on our Heavy Machine Operation course, which the second cohort of
students is currently completing. Our staff also work closely with the students and Students observing the Caterpillar Simulator
Workforce Connections to ensure that the students receive funding to support their used in our program.
coursework and training.
Last summer, thanks to a grant from the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department, we began offering English for a
Special Purposes class to help students pursue their goals in the childcare field while earning a stipend. Our instructors provided
workplace English instruction and support in completing further education to earn the required child development certificate,
including internship opportunities at Catholic Charities’ Children's Learning Center!
Our U.S. Naturalization team works with students as they prepare for their U.S. Citizenship exam. This class helps students improve
their English skills, teaches U.S. history and civics, and provides practice for the written and oral portions of the naturalization
exam. We all celebrate each new U.S. citizen supported by our team!

The high school equivalency team works with students to identify their areas of growth and to create a plan to achieve their goals
of passing the HiSET or GED tests to earn their high school equivalency.

CC Affordable Housing
The rapid growth of New Mexico’s population has led to steadily increasing housing costs, especially in Albuquerque.
Recent economic hardships have greatly accelerated this rise, making it almost impossible for low-income families to
make rent affordable. Many cannot find a decent and safe apartment for their families.

The mission of CC Housing, a subsidiary of Catholic Charities, is to provide quality housing for low-income families
and individuals. In partnership with housing developers, we collaborated with government agencies and private
investors to develop the following affordable housing projects:

Located in downtown Albuquerque, Hibernian House offers 20 subsidized rental units with enclosed courtyards for
low-income seniors.

Generations at West Mesa, a 54-unit multigenerational community is home to seniors and grandparents raising their
Adam Saber Executive VP & COO
CC Affordable Housing grandchildren in Albuquerque, N.M.

The renovation of the Sunray Lobo Canyon apartments, two separate-site properties
in the city of Grants, New Mexico, was completed in late 2021. A total of 128 units are
occupied by families who qualify for low-income housing.

We are currently working on several other projects throughout New Mexico,

including:
Encantada Apartments: Renovation of 48 units to serve families in Los Lunas, which is
almost completed.
Belen Vista: Renovation of 57 units in Belen to start mid-2022.
Mariposa Apartments: Renovation of 52 units and new construction of 6 units in Taos.

In addition to quality affordable housing, these developments provide on-site social

services such as health and nutrition education services, computer access, gardening
and financial literacy. Sunray Lobo Canyon apartments
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Community Involvement
In-Kind Donation Center
Letting Go, By Christine Thomas
It has been said that this life is a process of learning to let go of everything, for what
can we take with us but the person that we have become? In this spirit, while letting
go of things that I would otherwise want to keep, I found out about a job at the
Catholic Charities In-Kind Donation Center.
There, we take things that people are letting go of whether because they have too
much, they want a change, or sometimes because they have said goodbye to a loved

to pass that person’s things on to someone in need.
one, and they want
With those items, we help people who don’t have anything on their path to self-
sufficiency. We move them into a place that they can call home, and we provide them
with their basic needs. What does that mean? Picture walking into an empty
apartment, what are the things that you need to live? We provide the basic furniture, a
Christine Thomas bed to sleep on, a table and chairs where you can eat, someplace where you can sit
In-Kind Donation Center and work or relax and a place where you can keep your things. We also provide the
Coordinator household goods that you need to make a meal, cover your bed, take care of your
personal hygiene and clean your home along with some food for nourishment.

This is the job that I love. Not because it is the most glamorous or challenging job that
I’ve ever had, but rather because it is the job where I have been able to help the most
people during their time of need.

Senior Transportation Services

More than Just a Ride, By Linda Seabrooks
I’ve been with Catholic Charities for about five weeks and I’ve learned so much. I work with
a great team that has welcomed me with open arms and has supported me in every aspect
of learning my new job as Program Coordinator for Senior Transportation and Volunteer
Vetting. After attending volunteer orientation with Kathy Freeze, I was amazed to learn the
full scope of what all our Centers for Excellence do!

Talking with seniors has been incredibly rewarding. Our program is not just a ride to an
appointment, but is also a listening ear, a friend over the phone. This is the most gratifying
and humbling experience! All the seniors I have talked to are so grateful and appreciative.
Last week, a sweet senior, left the sweetest and most grateful message on my voice mail. I
literally had tears listening to it. We helped her with many trips in the past two weeks, as
she is sickly, and she couldn’t thank me enough for making all her trips to her doctors and Linda Seabrooks
Senior Transportation/Volunteer
medical tests happen. She also wished me a “Happy Mother’s Day!” How special is that?
Coordinator
This is only one of many blessed messages I have received in this short 5-week time.

Catholic Charities
has many volunteer opportunities.
During the pandemic, we went from about 60 active volunteer drivers to 23. This wonderful However, one of the greatest needs in
group of 23 drivers has been our solid volunteer team these days, working tirelessly, while our community and in your neighborhood is
following all Covid-19 protocols, to provide rides for our seniors. We are blessed to have for Senior Transportation Drivers.
them. I am actively recruiting more drivers now. If you want to be part of this amazing team, Please help us respond to trip requests from
please call 505-724-4634. seniors, who are 60 + years of age, they are
ambulatory and simply want to maintain
their independence in their homes.
In summary, I completely honor and respect our vision and mission, and I am indeed putting Destinations are to medical appointments,
my “faith in action to improve the lives of those in need.” light grocery shopping, and government
offices.
It is volunteer directed: set your own
schedule,
zip code and destination preference. Gas
cards are available upon request.
Please contact:

Linda Seabrooks
Seabrooksl@ccasfnm.org
(505)724-4634
 6
Migrant Support
Not all immigrants come to the U.S. for money or to live the American dream. Many come to the U.S. to escape the constant threat of death or
torture.

Roberto was about 16 years old when the recruitment by the gangs began. At first, it was just a group of young men standing around outside
the schools harassing him and inviting him to sell drugs for them. The promise of quick money for a person who comes from humble beginnings
can be incredibly attractive, but Roberto’s mother had instilled in him the notion of striving for a better life through hard work. The gangs
began showing up everywhere Roberto was and he had to stop going to school.

One day, the gang members beat up Roberto and he went to the police. He was arrested for making a public scandal and held in jail until his
family came looking for him the next day. When Roberto got home, the gang members were waiting to deliver another beating and informed
him that the police work for them. The violence continued with regular beatings and constant threats to his family for years.

In 2019, one beating was so bad that Roberto had no option but to report it to the police. The police officer raised his baton at Roberto and
said that if he came back to report the gang violence, he would finish the job himself. Roberto realized that he had no option but to flee. He
made the treacherous trek from Honduras to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. He found refuge in a migrant safe house in Ciudad Juarez. Roberto asked
a Customs and Border Protection officer for help. The officer apprehended and detained him. Roberto was issued a notice to appear in
immigration court and faced deportation proceedings.

Fortunately, he was allowed to wait in the U.S. while his proceedings were pending. With no
work permit, no immigration status, and very few resources, three years went by. He had a
final immigration court hearing where the Judge had the power to allow Roberto to stay in
the USA or send him back to Honduras.
Roberto was allowed to stay in the U.S. because of his mother’s available immigration
relief. You see, Roberto’s mother came to Catholic Charities in 2013 as a client of our
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Immigration Services program. Roberto’s
termination of removal proceedings was a huge win, he expressed his relief after hearing
the good news, “I just needed to be able to survive.”
Horatio and Mercy, Roberto's defense in court

Self-Sufficiency & Housing Assistance

In early September, Maria Valenzuela’s minor son, Mario, was taken to a hospital in El Paso, TX
because he was very sick and was having a hard time breathing. Maria and her children live in
Juarez, Mexico. Maria is not a U.S. citizen but her son is. At the hospital, doctors found that Mario
had a cancerous tumor larger than a grapefruit on his chest. While Maria was with her son in the
hospital, she was told that since Maria was not a citizen of the U.S., she would have to go back to
Mexico even though her son was a citizen. They said that she would have to give up her parental
rights or else she and her son would be deported. Maria refused and told them that she would never
give up her rights as a mother. The hospital refused her son’s medical treatment because he did not
have insurance. The next day, he was transferred to another medical center, only to find they did not
have the proper equipment to treat his tumor. In October, he was airlifted to the UNM Cancer Center
in Albuquerque, where they removed his tumor and began chemotherapy.

While her son continued his treatment in Albuquerque,

Maria had nowhere to live and no money, making her
homeless. She was referred to Catholic Charities and
soon our case managers, Lucy and Andy, were able to find a landlord who was able to work with the
situation at hand.

Maria and her children are now housed and are taking one day at a time. Mario continues to improve
while receiving his treatments at UNM as well as physical therapy. Maria now has a temporary
permit to stay in the U.S. for medical reasons. Once her son has completed all his treatments, she
and her family will return to Mexico.

Maria was treated unjustly and discriminated against because she was undocumented. Not only did
she fear for her son battling cancer, but she was also terrified that she would be deported and have
to leave her son all alone. Maria is very grateful to Catholic Charities and has a place to live while
her son continues his treatment. She says it is a miracle from God that her son is alive today.

How You Can Support Our Work
Online
Go to www.ccasfnm.org and click the
DONATE NOW button below the
banner to make your secure online
donation anytime.
7
Volunteer
No matter what your time and talent,
we need you! Visit our website or call
(505) 724-4634 for more information.
By Phone
Call Elisabeth Loya at
(505) 724-4637 to make a donation over
the phone or to make an appointment to
discuss your giving options.

By Mail Estate Gifts Endowments

Please send your donation and any Do you want to make a lasting impact Make a gift that grows over time and
special instructions or other direction on your community? Talk to your enables a legacy of giving across
to: financial advisor or estate planner to generations. The Albuquerque

Catholic Charities include Catholic Charities in your Community Foundation and the
Attn: Development bequest. Are we already on your mind Catholic Foundation manage
2010 Bridge Blvd SW and in your estate plan? Let us know endowments for Catholic Charities.
Albuquerque, NM 87105 at (505) 724-4637 Call (505) 724-4637 for more information.

Workplace Auto Donation Smith’s

Many employers offer payroll deduction We accept most makes, models, and Your grocery purchases can help your
programs, such as through United Way or types! Call (505) 724-4670 neighbors, too! Check with a local Smith’s
other programs such as workplace giving. to schedule a free pickup of your to see how your membership can support

Ask your employer how! vehicle. our mission every time you shop.

Corporate Amazon Smile Home Goods

Double your dollars with a corporate

match! Ask your employer if they

Love to shop online? Shop online with

love! Select Catholic Charities as your

We accept new and gently used household

items. Call (505) 724-4678 and we’ll
have a program available, or would be Amazon Smile charity and your schedule an appointment to pick up your

willing to start one. purchases will serve our community. large furniture items for you - FREE!

Many
thanks to:

*Both Familiar* *Last Name*

*Addr Extra Line*
*Address*
*City* *State* *Zip*

Many Thanks to our 2022 Board of Directors:

Corporate Member Treasurer Members at Large
Vice-Chair Jack Conrad
Archbishop Alan Weitzel
James Ortiz Pat Schroeder Kathleen Gallegos
John C. Wester Charles Archuleta
Secretary Development Chair Directors David Roybal
Board Chair
Lisa Trujillo Lanell Anderson Thomas Keleher Jennifer McGee
Guy Berger
Governance Chair Chair Emeritus ​J erry Sais Coffin
Pastoral Rep.
Henry Narvaez Don Kawal Mary Rose Twohig Allison Kozeliski
Fr. Andy Pavlak

h e
t
v e te
a
S D a Saint Nicholas Ball
to benefit Catholic Charities
Saturday, November 19, 2022