Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Catholic Charities Boston is urging people to donate this Ash Wednesday, as the organization faces federal funding cuts.
A large part of CCAB’s work includes helping resettled immigrants and refugees in the city. The Trump Administration last week halted a contract with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that allows fully vetted refugees fleeing harm to resettle in Boston.
The CCAB also said federal funding for existing refugees in the Boston area is up in the air.
“We just have to wait and see and hope and pray at this point,” said Beth Chambers, vice president of Basic Needs at CCAB.
Boston Archbishop Richard Henning asked the public to donate in a video message, calling CCAB’s work “critical.”
“I ask you to be as generous as possible in supporting that Ash Wednesday collection,” Henning said.
Chambers said the Trump Administration’s threat of mass deportations is hurting their programs.
“Individuals and families know they don’t wanna come to our food pantry because they’re afraid of ICE,” Chambers said. “Looking at our education program and night classes — we’ve had to go completely remote because the students were the ones who said ‘Teacher, we can't come here anymore.’”
Donations are being collected at Ash Wednesday services around Boston, as well as online.
“As the cardinal previously has said — we’re all immigrants. So we need to look at the people who need our help and we need to serve them,” Chambers said.
WBZ’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.