Catherine McAuley Center

On August 1, 2025, Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center officially merged to form a single, stronger organization — Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center: A Partnership for the Common Good. This merger honors the legacies of our foundresses — Sister Anne Paye, RSM and Sister Adrian Barrett, IHM — while positioning us to serve our community more effectively than ever before.

Together, we now serve more than 25,000 unique individuals annually across Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties with our housing and shelter programs, food security, support programs, and seasonal initiatives.

Follow us on our new page at Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center! We'll see you there!

🏠💛 EXCITING NEWS! 💛🏠

After more than 40 years of serving our neighbors in need, The Catherine McAuley Center has joined forces with Friends of the Poor! Together, we are now Friends of the Poor & Catherine McAuley Center — A Partnership for the Common Good.

For over 40 years, we've provided shelter, housing, and support services to women, children and families in crisis. By joining with Friends of the Poor, we're creating a stronger, more comprehensive network of care for our community's most vulnerable members.

✨ What this means for you:

ALL programs continue without interruption
ENHANCED services combining housing, food, and support
GREATER capacity to serve our growing community needs

Stay tuned as we transition to our new combined social media page where you can continue to follow our work, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events (including our annual Thanksgiving Community Programs)!

Thank you for your continued support as we write this new chapter together. 🙏

Stay tuned.

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Mission Monday

From the desk of Sr. Susan Hadzima, IHM:

As we head toward the fall and the holiday season, we are reminded of a blessing from the Srs. of St. Joseph that seeks to empower us to transform our hearts, minds, and spirits to this season of giving and kindness.

"Dear Lord, today we ask you to transform us.

Transform us to be your compassionate heart in the world.

Transform us to be voices for those in crises, including the Earth.

Transform us to be signs of inclusion and mutuality.

Transform us to be collaborators, partners, and networkers as we bring about life-giving change in our world.

Transform our hearts as we learn to respectfully engage others.

Transform us to speak boldly.

Transform our hearts to share vulnerably with one another."

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Big things are happening...

We have some major announcements to share with you in the coming days!

Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages over the next few days. You won't want to miss out!

Yesterday, we held our Great Flannel Potluck at our administrative building. It was filled with food, fun, and fellowship amongst all of our staff!

If you'd like to be a part of things like this in the future, we are now hiring for a Housing Coordinator! Please visit the following link if you or anyone you know is interested in applying and becoming a part of our team ➡️ https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=8eff23665877fab5

It's time for another !

Today, we take you back to 1986 with the first Catherine McAuley Center Board of Directors! This team laid the foundation for what the Catherine McAuley Center has become today, and we are so proud to be a part of the history that these women started.

Seated from left: Sr. Elizabeth Anne Brandreth, RSM, Sr. Anne Paye, RSM, Director, Sr. Dorothy McLaughlin, RSM.
Standing from left: Sr. Lucille Brislin, RSM, Sr. Margaret Russell, RSM, Sr. Mary Ellen Brody, RSM, Sr. Miriam Francis Stadulis, RSM, Sr. Cecilia Meighan, RSM, and Sr. Barbara Craig, RSM.

Want to continue to support the mission of the Catherine McAuley Center? You can donate by heading to www.catherinemcauleycenter.org.

Stronger together.

Friends of the Poor and Catherine McAuley Center are happy to announce that several of our food pantries will be extending and changing their hours, meaning more opportunities to better serve our amazing community.

Starting on Wednesday, October 1, the Jackson Terrace pantry will be extending its Wednesday hours, meaning you will be able to receive food until 6:00 PM on Wednesdays.

The Catherine McAuley Center pantry will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM, beginning Monday, September 29.

The Valley View food pantry will now be open on Wednesdays and Fridays beginning Wednesday, October 1, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

If you or anyone you know needs food, register for one of our pantries at friends.link2feed.com.

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