Catholic Relief Services

Promote Human Development **Our Mission Statement** Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We are motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cherish, preserve and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching as we act to: **We put our faith into action to help the world’s poorest create lasting change.** **Promote Human Development** by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies; and, **Serve Catholics in the United States** as they live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world. As part of the universal mission of the Catholic Church, we work with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality. *Approved by the Catholic Relief Services Board of Directors on September 11, 2008.* Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. **Beginnings in 1943** Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, we have expanded in size to reach more than 200 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents. For over 80 years, our mission has been to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person. Although our mission is rooted in the Catholic faith, our operations serve people based solely on need, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. Within the United States, CRS engages Catholics to live their faith in solidarity with the poor and suffering people of the world.