Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to the 2025 Annual Celebration of Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan. It is a joy to join you in honoring the compassionate and transformative work being done each day by this vital ministry of our local community.

In these early days of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has reminded us that the Church must always be a Good Samaritan Church, wounded with mercy, and moved to action. His call to "act with merciful compassion" is not just a lofty ideal but a practical summons, one that Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan answers with faith and dedication.

This year's Annual Celebration supports the Center for the Works of Mercy, a place of hope, healing, and service. Through collaboration and community, this ministry offers a compassionate response to those in need, meeting them not with judgment but with love. Each person who crosses its threshold is treated with the dignity that comes from being created in the image and likeness of God. They encounter the Church as a living witness to Christ's mercy, a place where they are accepted and reminded that they are never alone.

Your generosity tonight makes this mission possible. It builds bridges of trust,
strengthens families, and brings the Gospel to life in concrete and personal ways. On behalf of all those served by Catholic Charities, I offer my heartfelt thanks for your generous support.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger, Archbishop of Detroit