CCDSD

Today, we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is a reminder of the courage, selflessness, and commitment that protect the freedoms we hold dear.

At Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, we pause in gratitude for those who served and for the families who carry their memory each day. May we continue to build a community rooted in compassion, dignity, and peace in their honor.

Catholic Charities attending the annual Diocesan Pentecost Mass a large-scale, multicultural celebration that unites dozens of different cultural communities across the region.

Our CEO, Vino Pajanor, shares a personal reflection on the honor of meeting His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on May 4, 2026. In this heartfelt piece, he reflects on faith, service, and how this moment is deeply connected to his father’s encounter with Saint Pope John Paul II decades earlier — a meaningful family legacy that continues to shape his sense of purpose.

He also shares how this experience reaffirms and strengthens his passion for leading with humility, compassion, and a renewed commitment to serving those most in need.

Read his reflection here:

Echoes of Grace Meeting His Holiness Pope Leo XIV: A Journey of Faith, Belonging, Service, and Family Stepping into the Vatican on May 4, 2026, I felt an immediate and profound sense of awe, but also an unexpected sense of belonging. I arrived with my fellow Catholic Charities USA board members and leadership for a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.

Treat yourself to a new piece of jewelry while supporting women experiencing homelessness at Rachel’s Women’s Center 💖✨

The CCDSD team will be at the UTC Kendra Scott store tomorrow from 2:00 PM–4:00 PM, and we would love to see you there!

Can’t make it in person? You can still shop online on 5/21 and 5/22 using code GIVEBACK-LQIBZ, and 20% of your purchase will go directly back to Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego and the women served at Rachel’s Women’s Center in downtown San Diego. 💕

Our Cristo Rey High School interns wrapped up this week, and we’re so grateful for their incredible service—what a blessing! 💙

🔊 BIG NEWS for our Class of 2026 intern! 🎓
He’s heading to UC Riverside! 👏🎉Accepted to multiple outstanding schools, his hard work paid off—and we couldn’t be prouder. Please join us in congratulating him on this incredible achievement.

Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego mourns alongside the Muslim community following the tragic violence at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Our hearts are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this devastating event. In moments like these, we are reminded of the importance of coming together in compassion, mutual respect, and solidarity.

The Islamic Center of San Diego has been a trusted partner with us for many years in serving our community, especially supporting immigrants, refugees, and families in need. We are deeply grateful for their leadership, service, and friendship.

We pray for healing, comfort, and peace for all who are grieving, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing united against hatred and violence in all its forms.

Happy Mother’s Day 💐

Today, we celebrate the mothers and mother figures in our community who lead with compassion, strength, and love. Their care and resilience make a lasting impact on the families and communities around them every single day.

At Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego, we are honored to support mothers and families throughout our region with services that bring hope, stability, and dignity.

To all the amazing moms in our community—thank you for all that you do. You are deeply appreciated and celebrated today and every day. 🌷

Appaswamy “Vino” Pajanor, our CEO, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Catholic Charities USA Board of Directors, along with its leadership including President & CEO Kerry Robinson, met and presented the first copy of the People of Hope book to Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 4, during a private audience at the Vatican.

During the audience, Pope Leo XIV offered words of encouragement and gratitude, recognizing the critical role Catholic Charities agencies across the United States play in serving those most in need, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. He emphasized that this work reflects Jesus Christ’s call to love our neighbor and an essential part of living out our Catholic faith.

“You seek to find solutions to inhumane situations, alleviate the suffering of individuals and families, and relieve the burden of those weighed down by hardship and strife,” said Pope Leo XIV. “The practical assistance you offer allows those you serve to experience God’s love.”

Reflecting on the moment, Pajanor shared:
“Pope Leo XIV’s words were a powerful reminder that the work of Catholic Charities across the United States is not simply service, but sacred witness. Standing before the Holy Father, I was reminded that every act of accompaniment—every meal, shelter, and moment of compassion—makes God’s love visible and proclaims the Gospel in a real and tangible way. I am deeply grateful for our teams in the Diocese of San Diego and nationwide who live this mission each day with faith, dignity, hope, and courage.”

The Holy Father also greeted attendees individually, including Pajanor. The visit was coordinated by Catholic Charities USA.

We also pray for Pope Leo XIV's good health and peace as he celebrates his first papal anniversary today!

📸 © Vatican Media

Our CEO, Vino Pajanor—who also serves as Board Vice Chair of the Catholic Charities USA Board of Directors—had the honor of attending an audience with Pope Leo XIV alongside President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson and fellow CCUSA members. During this special moment, they presented the Holy Father with a bound book featuring stories from CCUSA’s People of Hope Museum, highlighting the selfless, life-giving ministries of Catholic Charities staff and volunteers across the United States.

Catholic Charities San Diego’s EFDN+ story of hope was among those featured. Araceli, one of our dedicated team members, shared the story of a father who came to one of our pantries just before Thanksgiving in search of food for his family. It was his first time needing this kind of support. Hesitant and visibly shy, he approached our team while his family waited quietly in the car. Our staff provided him with a box filled with everything needed for a Thanksgiving meal. When he returned to his car and shared the food with his family, their joy was immediate and unmistakable. As our team looked on, the father—who had arrived uncertain and reserved—stood in the parking lot with tears streaming down his face, overcome with gratitude and relief.

Stories like this remind us that our work is about more than meeting basic needs—it is about restoring dignity, offering hope, and standing with our neighbors in moments that matter most. We are honored to be among the many stories featured in this collection, representing the compassionate work of Catholic Charities agencies across the country.

-Photographs courtesy of © Vatican Media

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate our CEO, Vino, on being named a San Diego Business Journal CEO of the year finalist in his very first year of nomination.

Vino leads with vision, heart, and a deep commitment to his team. He’s not your typical CEO—he’s a coach, a mentor, and a true servant leader who empowers those around him to grow and succeed.

His leadership is felt across every program and by every participant we serve—expanding access to critical resources, strengthening our services, and ensuring that each person is met with dignity, compassion, and care. Because of his vision, our programs continue to grow in both reach and impact, creating meaningful pathways to stability and hope for our community.

As he often says, he’s “driving the bus”—and under his leadership, that bus is moving with purpose, compassion, and impact. We’re grateful to be on this journey with him.