The Impact of Our West Region Office
Our West Region office is located in South Bend and serves Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph County residents. Read more about how they are giving a hand up to neighbors in need.
Immigration Clinic Opens in Elkhart County
For over 20 years, Catholic Charities has walked alongside immigrants and refugees, offering trusted Immigration Legal Services. Until recently, families across our diocese had to travel long distances to our Fort Wayne office for help. For parents working long hours, often with limited transportation, this journey was difficult.
Thanks to the generosity of St. Vincent’s parish in Elkhart, that barrier is gone. In 2024, we opened a new satellite location right on the parish property, bringing hope and vital services directly to the heart of the Elkhart community.
With the expansion of services, we hired a new bilingual Immigration Case Manager, Victor Gomez. Together with Luz Ostrognai, our Department of Justice–Accredited Director of Immigration Legal Services, they provide services in St. Joseph and Elkhart County. The team guides clients through complex immigration processes—whether it’s applying for permanent residency, renewing DACA, reuniting families, or seeking citizenship.
Immigrant parishioners now have easy, direct access to professional, affordable, and compassionate legal support—without leaving their community. Parents can focus on providing for their children. Students can dream about their future. Families can feel the peace of knowing they belong.
This milestone was made possible because of you. Your generosity doesn’t just expand services—it transforms lives. Every gift ensures that Catholic Charities can continue to stand with newcomers, offering not only legal expertise but also dignity, hope, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Scott Warden // Today’s Catholic
Bishop’s Lecture Series
In living out Catholic Social Teaching, Catholic Charities launched a lecture series connecting our mission with the heart of Church teaching. In 2024, Fr. Daniel Groody spoke on the Theology of Migration. After the event, attendees asked for a follow-up that offered actionable ways to put faith into practice. From that request, the idea for an annual lecture series was born.
This September, we hosted the 2nd Annual Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades Lecture on Catholic Social Teaching. Dr. Martijn Cremers of the University of Notre Dame reflected on the Parable of the Rich Fool, offering insight into how we can use the blessings God has entrusted to us in service of others and as a witness of faith in action.
Counseling widens reach to schools
Our counseling team expanded to serving seven schools in the West Region, predominantly supporting students from resource-limited parishes with Christ-centered and evidence-based tailored curriculum.
South bend Volunteers Bring ESL to Life
Volunteers have long supported refugee clients in learning English through personal connections. Building on that success, a new volunteer-led ESL (English as a Second Language) class now meets at our South Bend office, strengthening language skills and community.
Unity Garden supplements food pantry with fresh veggies
In partnership with the parish of St. Matthew, we created the Miami Village Unity Garden. Food grown is given out through our food pantry. The pantry is a gateway for our Resource and Referral program to give struggling families the hand up they need on the road to self-sufficiency.