Always with hands cupped in the most vulnerable of positions…never grasping as though something is due, these reflections of Christ are many times our hour of His visitation. Let’s not miss it. For this reason, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Cruces reaches out its hands to give to them what you have given us.

Project 380: Aid to Violence Related Mexican Political Asylum Seekers on Humanitarian Parole

Catholic Charities needs your pennies, nickels and dimes. We humbly see the richness in the smaller offers of financial assistance to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Cruces because when the poor support each other, there is solidarity among all. Give what you can so that those who are afflicted can have hope. Click here to make an ONLINE DONATION.

We try to use 99 cents on the dollar of your offering to go directly to those in need. Remember the value of the “widow’s mite”… Luke 21: 1-4  And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.

The widow’s mite became the widow’s “MIGHT”.

Imagine, as John Lennon’s song would have us do. Imagine each penny tossed into a pond. Imagine the number of ponds. Then imagine the number of ponds in one town or city. Then imagine the number of villages, towns, and cities in a nation. Then imagine the number of people throwing those pennies away only to rust at the bottom of a false hope that such an action results in “good luck.” Rather give the “mite” or “two mites” as we see in the Gospel. Those two “mites” elevated the stature of blessing for the widow for eternity. So imagine what your “two pennies” or your $5 or your $10 can do. Your penny offered will sanctify your giving hand and elevate you in the eyes of God to be among the “mighty.” …doing “mighty deeds.”

Who We are.  Our Commitment.

Vision

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Cruces (CCDLC) is a non-profit Catholic-based ministry offering a broad range of social justice programs and solutions within the 10 county area of southern NM. CCDLC is chartered by the Diocese of Las Cruces to be the principal provider of social, legal, and economic assistance to people in need  regardless of faith, belief, ethnicity or cultural background. 

Mission

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Cruces (CCDLC) is a social outreach ministry providing the following services: 

• low cost citizenship and immigration related legal services. 
• referrals for other legal matters and other social service needs. 
• a store which generates revenue to support programs and which provides assistance to needy families.
• emergency financial assistance of last resort with preference given to children, disabled, and the elderly, contingent upon availability of funds.

CCDLC’s goal is to expand the reach of its services to all counties within the Diocese of Las Cruces.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Las Cruces, Inc. (CCDLC)  creates hope when hopelessness is overwhelming. We offer services to people in need, allowing them to have breathing room in their time of physical, social and economic need. Our hope is to provide a helping hand. We advocate for justice within today’s myriad of socio-economic structures, and call all people of good will to do the same. To this end, CCDLC works with individuals, families, groups, and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

Ours is a Gospel Mandate

CCDLC’s work is driven by a power beyond our understanding. Its work is driven by something more than a platitude like “doing good”, or, “giving back”, or “paying it forward.” Its Legacy is a respect for human dignity regardless of economic or social status. CCDLC is thus the dream of real people who have done great things, sometimes in little ways. In the end, as Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta states, our legacy will be judged by five little words, each word placed on the five fingers of one hand. We will be judged by those five little words following the maxim, whatsoever you do to, or for the least of our brothers andsisters, invoking Jesus of Nazareth, “you did it to me.”

Charity is not anything more than allowing the heart to give time, talent, and treasure to the most needy. Unfortunately, we often think of those in need as being in far off places, across vast oceans, and on other continents. The poor are with us, among us; they surround us, and they pass us on the street everyday. In the end, this is what makes our Legacy Catholic, in that it is meant for the heart to love all of every faith in the tradition of the Good Samaritan we read about in the Gospel of Luke. Catholic means “universal.” It means all are welcome to the committment to care for those most in need.

Service Area
The service area of CCDLC depicted below has a target population of 542,086 and includes the 10 southern counties of New Mexico: Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, Sierra, Otero, Lincoln, Chaves, Eddy, and Lea. Catholic Charities DLC serves all people in need throughout southern New Mexico, regardless of their religious, social, or economic background.

Programs/Efforts

Legal Services Program
The mission of the CCDLC Legal Services Program (CCDLC-LSP) is to be the legal medium through which the foreign-born in the border area can transform their economic, social, and cultural potential into vital economic productivity and effective social and political participation. We accomplish our mission by providing professional immigration legal services to moderate and low-income residents of the ten southern counties of New Mexico. More recently, CCDLC-LSP has engaged in a partnership with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center to broaden the scope of our work to coordinate immigration law assistance with our neighbor counties to the north outside the Diocese of Las Cruces within the State of New Mexico.

Solidarity and Emergency Assistance
The mission of the Solidarity and Emergency Assistance department is to provide organizational support and channel additional resources and funding to emergency assistance groups committed to the poor and disadvantaged.

For information on how to get help, see our Get Help page.

Para obtener información sobre cómo obtener ayuda, consulte nuestra página Obtenga Ayuda.

Social Action
The mission of the office is to help people, especially faith-based communities, develop an understanding of the social issues in the service area and ways in which to respond such as direct service, economic development initiatives, community organizing strategies, and/or solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Store
The CCDLC Store operates now under the name ReCycled Treasures Catholic Charities Store. ReCycled Treasures is a retail store of new and used donated items (furniture, appliances, household items, and building materials) and unique products made by artisans and farmers trying to improve their way of life. A newer section of the Store contains Treasures of Faith which markets Catholic Christian holy reminders such as statues, rosaries, cards, books, bibles, jewelry, and icons. The Store also serves as a workplace entry/re-entry program for people with limited access to employment. Need help finding the Store? Click here.

Advocacy, Community Relations and Networks
CCDLC values advocacy, collaboration, and meaningful relationships that could help groups and individuals find effective solutions to local issues and problems, learn new skills, and leverage necessary resources.

Financial Education (and Homeownership Counseling)
Catholic Charities’ is beginning to explore implementation of a program dedicated to financial education for individuals as a way to achieve financial independence. The program will focus on educating and coaching/counseling individuals on basic financial management and homeownership concepts as they manage their debt, funds, and assets, navigate the housing market, and explore financial services and products. Expect this new program to become “fleshed out” soon and ready to make a difference.

OUR PARTNERS: