In November 2011, the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey released "A Statement on Poverty in New Jersey." Included in the statement was an Agenda for Action that called for, among other things, the strengthening of family life. The relgious communities in the Diocese of Paterson, at their annual meeting with Bishop Serratelli that same month, had already begun the process of discernment toward a vision for increasing services to poor familes in the Diocese. 

Bishop Serratelli strongly endorsed the Neighborhood Center. The Center was a case statement for the “Partners in Faith” Capital Campaign, which was underway ten years ago. He recognized the gifts of religious women and men and applauded their willingness to serve this area of critical need as identified by the bishops of New Jersey: “The mother is the heart of the family. If we support women, family life will be stronger.” This process began at the annual meetings between Bishop Serratelli and the leaders of all the religious congregations serving in the Diocese. The bishop noted that “Pope Francis has reminded our Church once again of the need to serve the poor. Our priests and deacons and parish staff members have worked for decades in meeting the needs of our people in the cities. I am grateful for the commitment of our religious sisters in this bold step that brings all of us together in recognizing Jesus in the faces of the poor.”

On May 1, 2013, Sister of Christian Charity Ann Marie Paul was appointed director of the Center beginning the groundwork necessary for opening such a ministry.

For almost ten years, she was responsible for bringing the Center to where it is today by identifying supporters and volunteers, networking with the faith communities and civic officials of the city of Passaic and its environs and preparing the actual “welcoming space” for the women at its first location - at St. Nicholas Rectory on 153 Washington Place.

Sister Ann Marie was excited to be a part of this new ministry especially because it is a collaborative effort aimed at empowering those who so often feel that they have no power over their lives:“Listening with the heart and collaborating to respond to the needs of ‘the least’ of our brothers and sisters reflects what Jesus did, what the founders of our religious communities did and what we are called to do as Church today.”