CV NEWS FEED // The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops released a statement this week emphasizing the importance of the upcoming collection for the Catholic Home Missions Appeal.
In an April 2 news release, the USCCB called attention to the work of the Catholic Home Missions, a grant-making agency that supports Catholic dioceses in the U.S. that are financially struggling to carry out their pastoral endeavors. The annual collection will support dioceses and eparchies in the US where local Catholic ministry is impossible without additional financial aid.
“On the weekend of April 27-28, Catholics from dioceses across the United States are invited to empower ministry within home mission territory by giving to the U.S. bishops’ annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal,” the release stated, adding that some dioceses may hold their collections at another date.
In addition, #iGiveCatholicTogether is accepting funds for the appeal at any time.
“The faithful who live in the mission dioceses give sacrificially to support their parishes and essential ministries, despite their own limited means,” the USCCB chairman of the Catholic Home Missions Subcommittee, Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, said in the release.
He continued:
I am grateful to them for their prayerful sacrifices, and I am also deeply appreciative to the faithful in other dioceses across the country who give to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal to help the Church maintain its presence and minister to their neighbors.
In 2023, Catholic Home Missions Appeal generated over $9.8 million in grants, which helped dioceses with limited staff in their vocations work, seminary education, faith formation, evangelization, youth and young adult ministry, family and pro-life ministries and outreach among diverse ethnic or immigrant groups.
“Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who transforms hearts, leads people to Christ, and inspires them to greater virtue. Yet the Spirit uses your financial gifts to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal to help bring this about,” Bishop McKnight concluded. “When you give, no matter how large or small the amount, you are an instrument in the hands of God, bringing faith, hope and love to your neighbors.”
