Like many older adults, Josephine began facing new health challenges as she aged. Difficulty walking and a later diagnosis of dementia made everyday life more complicated. She found herself becoming increasingly isolated from friends, struggling to attend medical appointments, and having trouble remembering things.

Her sister, Dolores, noticed these changes and shared how much she enjoyed attending a senior center. Believing it could benefit Josephine as well, she encouraged Josephine to visit the Brady Center.

That conversation became a turning point.

Today, the Brady Center helps Josephine stay active both physically and mentally. While others participate in dance classes, Josephine enjoys walking the halls to keep moving. She also spends time working on puzzles to keep her mind engaged.

“When they dance, I go for a walk in the hallway and walk because I must move. If you just sit down and do nothing, you won’t be able to move the same,” Josephine said.

Staying active has always been an important part of who Josephine is.

“I need to get away and do something because that’s the way I am, I was always doing something,” she said.

While maintaining her physical and cognitive health is important, the greatest gift the Brady Center has given Josephine is a sense of community.

“This is something I look forward to every day,” Josephine said.

At the Brady Center, she has found more than activities: she has found connection. It’s a place where people welcome her, laugh with her, and genuinely ask how she is doing. She feels seen, supported, and surrounded by people who care.

Today, Josephine continues to show up, stay engaged, and embrace each day with purpose. Her story is a powerful reminder that everyone deserves a place to belong. Through the Brady Center, Catholic Charities Dallas helps older adults remain active, connected, and thriving.

For more than 12 years, Esther has opened her heart and home as a foster parent with Catholic Charities Dallas. Today, she is caring for three high school-age foster children while also raising her two biological children.

For Esther, fostering began with a simple calling.

She felt inspired to give back and “care for those who cannot take care of themselves,” she said.

Long before becoming a foster parent, Esther worked as a Child Protective Services worker while attending graduate school. She witnessed children being removed from their homes, waiting for placement, and biological parents working to reunite with their families. Those experiences gave her a deeper understanding of how life-changing a safe, loving home can be.

In 2011, a coworker introduced her to the Catholic Charities Dallas International Foster Care Program, and Esther decided to take the next step.

“It was a good experience, but it was also very challenging,” Esther said.

At first, she believed providing a home and meals would be enough. She quickly discovered that the children entrusted to her care had experienced significant trauma and faced challenges far beyond what she had anticipated. Many were adapting to a new country, a new language, and an uncertain future.

Through every challenge, Esther found she was never alone. Catholic Charities Dallas surrounded her with the support she needed, including interpreters, tutors, and staff who walked alongside her throughout the journey.

Some of Esther’s proudest moments have been watching her foster children accomplish milestones they once thought were out of reach.

“I’ve had kids that have never been to school before,” she said.

Seeing those same children overcome language barriers, persevere, and eventually walk across the graduation stage is a reminder of just how far they have come.

Over the years, Esther has also celebrated former foster children as they have graduated from college, gotten married, and become parents themselves.

Seeing them flourish is, as Esther describes it, “a blessing.”

“It is a blessing to be able to foster,” she said, “but with that blessing comes responsibility. You are doing what God has called you to do, but at the same time, there will be tests that you will have to pass.”

Today, Esther continues to answer that call by opening her home to children in need. Her story is a powerful reminder that fostering changes lives, not only for the children who find safety, stability, and hope, but also for the families who choose to welcome them with love.

When Jose arrived in the United States from Honduras in November 2023, he hoped to reunite with his mother and begin a new chapter.

Instead, he found himself navigating difficult circumstances. After living with his mother became unsafe due to domestic violence, Jose moved in with relatives. There, he faced mounting pressure to work and provide for himself at just 16 years old.

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to turn, Jose made a heartfelt request to a police officer:

“I want to return to Honduras.”

Jose was placed back into the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement in August 2024. Although his father was ready to welcome him home, the reunification process required time, coordination, and patience.

Jose was eventually placed with Catholic Charities Dallas’ Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Foster Care Program, where he found the stability and support he needed while working toward his goal of reuniting with his father.

Over the next seven months, Catholic Charities collaborated with attorneys at the International Rescue Committee and the Honduran Consulate to help make that reunion possible.

Just shy of his 18th birthday, Jose returned home to Honduras and was reunited with his father.

For every young person in our foster care program, success looks different. For Jose, success meant something deeply personal: the opportunity to return home and be with the person who loved him most.

At CCD, we are committed to walking alongside children and youth through life’s most uncertain moments, helping them find safety, stability, and hope for the future, wherever that journey leads.

When Paola came to Catholic Charities Dallas’ Next Gen Wealth Academy, she was overwhelmed by credit card debt and unsure how to take control of her finances. Determined to create a better future, she reached out for guidance.

Together, Paola and her financial coach began by reviewing her credit report and completing a monthly spending worksheet to better understand where her money was going.

Paola said it was eye-opening to finally see her spending habits clearly. With that understanding, she identified areas where she could reduce expenses and began making intentional changes to her financial decisions.

Armed with new knowledge and practical tools, Paola developed a realistic plan to eliminate debt and build long-term financial stability.

She began tracking her daily expenses, which helped her stay on top of upcoming payments, avoid overdraft fees, and reduce unnecessary spending. Taking initiative, she also negotiated a lower payment plan with one of her credit card companies, reducing her monthly payment from $500 to just $113.

Like many financial journeys, Paola’s wasn’t without challenges. As she transitioned to a new job, she faced uncertainty, but successfully negotiated a higher salary. She now uses that additional income to continue paying down her debt and investing in her future.

Her coach states, “this showed her financial resilience and her commitment to financial goals.”

As her financial habits improved, so did her credit. Her credit score increased from 575 to 694, while her credit card debt dropped from $11,820 to just $53. She also earned a credit limit increase from $11,500 to $26,000, demonstrating responsible credit management.

In November 2025, Paola began preparing for homeownership by learning about the home-buying process. Before long, she and her fiancé achieved a milestone they once only dreamed about: they purchased their first home.

“This coaching program not only helped improve my finances but also gave me the confidence and knowledge to make informed financial decisions.”

Today, Paola is more than a homeowner. She is equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and financial habits to make informed decisions for years to come. Her journey is a testament to the power of education, personalized coaching, and perseverance, and a reminder that lasting financial stability begins with the confidence to take the first step.

Exciting updates from our Next Gen Wealth Academy mission! Last month, we celebrated the graduation of our Spanish Entrepreneur Cohort. Throughout the program, aspiring business owners gained practical skills, built meaningful connections with fellow entrepreneurs, and strengthened the confidence to grow their businesses.

During the program’s final pitch competition, participants presented their businesses to a panel of judges, with winners receiving prizes to help take their ventures to the next level.

Congratulations to our graduates on this incredible achievement and thank you to Encore Bank for partnering with us to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen our community.

This month, we celebrated a remarkable milestone as more than 125 children and parents graduated from Together We Learn, our dual-generation education program. Over the past nine months, families have learned and grown together, building a strong foundation for lifelong success.

By supporting children under age 5 while empowering parents through education and skill-building, Together We Learn helps entire families thrive.

We’re especially grateful to Dallas College for providing English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that equipped parents with valuable skills and greater confidence as they invest in their families’ futures.

Congratulations to this year’s graduates! Their achievements reflect the power of education, partnership, and a community committed to creating brighter futures, together.

This May, we celebrated the 25th Annual Angels of Charity Mass and Luncheon, bringing together supporters, volunteers, and community leaders in a shared commitment to serving our neighbors in need.

We were honored to recognize our 2026 award recipients: Phyllis Jones Conces, Angel of the Year; Cathy Mease, Angel of Service; and Michelle Corbin, Angel of Inspiration, for their extraordinary compassion, generosity, and dedication to our community.

We are deeply grateful to Mass and Luncheon co-chairs Cassie Pekar, Nancy Hernandez, and Jennifer Williams for their leadership in making this milestone celebration such a success.

Most important, thank you to everyone whose generosity supported this year’s beneficiary, Mater Maria of Catholic Charities Dallas. Because of your support, five mothers and their babies will have a safe place to call home as they begin a new chapter filled with hope and opportunity.

The 5th Annual Archangels Cup was a tremendous success, raising more than $70,000 to support Catholic Charities Dallas’ Hunger Program, more than doubling our original fundraising goal!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, donors, and the dedicated members of the Archangels, these funds will help provide fresh, nutritious food and pantry staples to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity across the nine counties of the Diocese of Dallas.

Together, we are helping ensure our neighbors have access to the nourishment they need while building a stronger, healthier community for all.

As North Texas continues to grow, so does the need for accessible, coordinated services for individuals and families. Catholic Charities Dallas is responding with a bold vision to ensure our neighbors can access the support they need, close to home.

We’re excited to share that we will break ground on the NeighborHUB this August. Located in McKinney, the 38,000-square-foot facility will bring multiple nonprofit partners together under one roof, creating a collaborative center where clients can access comprehensive, wraparound services in one convenient location.

Designed to strengthen partnerships and expand access to care, the NeighborHUB will help more individuals and families receive the support they need while creating a sustainable model for serving North Texas for generations to come.

Stay tuned as we share more exciting updates on this transformational project!

We invite you to save the date for the People of Hope Tour!

Catholic Charities USA has launched a traveling storytelling museum celebrating the power of Christian Service. The exhibit features faith-filled stories of neighbors helping neighbors and will be stopping in Dallas on October 2 and 3.

To learn more about the People of Hope Tour, please visit: peopleofhope.us

Mark your calendar for the 29th Annual Bishop’s Gala benefiting Catholic Charities Dallas on January 16, 2027.

Join us for an inspiring evening of fellowship, dinner, auctions, and live entertainment as we come together to support the 12 missions and 40+ programs that bring hope and opportunity to individuals and families across North Texas.

Your participation helps Catholic Charities Dallas serve more than 200,000 people each year. We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable evening of impact.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.ccdallas.org/2027-catholic-charities-bishops-gala

Join us in serving and sharing hope with the Dallas community, from providing meals at our mobile community pantry sites to facilitating game nights with our Brady Center seniors.

Click here to view our current volunteer opportunities.

The Archangels Men’s Network is a social and service network of men across the Diocese of Dallas. Through a variety of initiatives, events, and social activities, the group provides opportunities for fellowship and outreach that strengthen the mission of Catholic Charities Dallas.

Click here to connect with the Archangels Men’s Network.