Baltimore, Md., Jun 4, 2013 / 01:01 am
In recognition of the 70th anniversary of Catholic Relief Services last week, the mayor of Baltimore declared an official "Catholic Relief Services Day" on May 31.
In an official proclamation, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake declared that "the people of Baltimore are proud of their rich and diverse church communities" and "extend their very best wishes" to the organization.
She recognized Catholic Relief Services for its mission of seeking "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."
Observing that the organization was started in 1943 by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to aid World War II survivors in Europe, Rawlings-Blake noted that the agency has since expanded to serve "more than 100 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents."