ARCHDIOCESE — Effective July 1, Catholic Social Services (CSS) will be returning to its roots with a name change to Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio.

The agency, established in 1914, was originally known as Catholic Charities and went by that name until 1979, said Kathleen Donnellan, executive director. "The name is part of our history," she said. "We thought it would be good to return to our roots."

In addition to its Cincinnati offices, the name change will also apply to CSS of Butler/Warren Counties in Hamilton and CSS of Springfield. As Catholic Charities, the agency will now share a common name with offices in 78 percent of the dioceses across the United States, Donnellan said.

As part of the name change, the agency is also adopting the national logo of Catholic Charities — two C’s with a cross in between them, representing the servant leadership of Jesus. "We think the logo is significant and emphasizes what we’re about," Donnellan said. "We’re part of the church and see charitable service as an integral part of the church’s mission."

Donnellan invited the general public to join them in celebrating the name change on July 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Fountain Square. The city of Cincinnati is declaring the date Catholic Charities Day, and representatives from the agency will be on hand staffing a display table and passing out pens and magnets.

The national umbrella organization of Catholic Charities USA returned to that name after years of being known as Charities USA, in order to better reflect its mission and history.