Our History
Catholic Charities began in Tulsa in 1951 as several different programs serving those in need, scattered about North Tulsa. Over time, more services and locations were added and eventually there were nine buildings in north Tulsa housing 12 programs and services. The individual programs were thriving, but one central, safe and efficient location was sorely needed!
In 2007, Catholic Charities begun The Mission of Hope: Changing Lives with Love, an extensive, community-wide capital campaign that brought more than $19 million from 4,000 individuals and families. Two years later, Catholic Charities moved to our new 74,000 square foot campus in North Tulsa. The California Mission style of architecture is simple yet durable, built to serve our neighbors for many years to come.
Since that time, we have transformed the ways we serve by integrating our services and by engaging twice as many volunteers as before. Now that our programs and services are available in one location, we are uniquely equipped to address the needs of the whole person, by referring our clients to the other programs we offer on our campus
Our staff and more than 3,600 volunteers carry out our mission - to be Christ’s merciful love to those who suffer. We welcome all who come to our door, without regard for race, color, or creed; approximately 85% of those we serve are not Catholic. The majority of those we help are the working poor, barely getting by on a daily basis. A seemingly small bump in the road, such as an illness or car in need of repair, can cause them to lose their job or even their home.
We believe every person is our brother and sister. As we look toward the future, we are making strides to deepen the reach of our client care and deepen our solidarity with those we serve. We are creating more opportunities for our staff, volunteers and clients to live meaningful solidarity experiences together. Also, in our efforts to ensure that a greater number of our clients become economically independent, our clients will have new opportunities to learn and practice important life skills through new classes and initiatives focusing on budgeting, saving, banking, meal planning, etc.
Catholic Charities is not a United Way agency and many are surprised to learn that we do not receive funding from the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma or its Faith and Works campaign. The majority of funding for our operations is provided by the generosity of individuals and charitable organizations.
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Charities serves those in need because of our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching. To learn more about why we do what we do, read the seven basic themes of Catholic Social Teaching by clicking here.