National Collections

"As faithful disciples and imitators of Christ, you are urged to go against the current, choosing the evangelical option of serving the brethren…above all, because you are impelled by the unceasing power of divine charity."

— Pope John Paul II (2001)

Each parish is part of the Church Universal; it is the Catholic Church in a particular place. The bishops of the United States created the national collections so that, by combining resources, we can more effectively carry out our mission as Catholics. Each of these important collections is worthy of your support. Each collection represents our community of faith at work in the world, saving souls and improving lives.

The bishops encourage us to view the national collections in the light of stewardship and of sharing. God has given us our light and our prosperity, all we need and more. It is right and just that we give something back through these collections, helping people in our own country and around the world to live better and to grow in the love of Jesus.

Guidelines

One Church. One Mission—Guidelines for Administering USCCB National Collections in Dioceses 
This document, approved in November 2011 and addressed to bishops and to diocesan and parish personnel, provides guidance and explanation about the nature and meaning of the national collections and direction on how they should be best administered.

2013/2014 National Collection Schedule

• 2013/2014 National Collections Schedule

One Church. One Mission. Real Lives.

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal supports dioceses in the United States and its territories that lack the resources to provide basic pastoral ministry to their populations. Through annual grants, Catholic Home Missions funds catechesis, seminarian education, lay ministry training, Hispanic ministry, and evangelization. Catholic Home Missions also monitors the projects of grant recipients and builds lasting networks to increase awareness of the Church's need within the United States.

For example, Prince of Peace Catholic Church in the Diocese of Lexington is the only Catholic presence in two Kentucky counties. The pastor splits his time between Prince of Peace and St. Julie's, a parish 25 miles away. The difficult travel and economic hardships in Appalachia strain the resources of the diocese. Support from the Appeal provides well-trained lay ministers and deacons to attend to the spiritual needs of those in the region and also allows Prince of Peace Parish to provide a food and clothing bank for those in need. Many dioceses have similar stories.

As a result of parishioners' generosity, Catholic Home Missions impacts the lives of over 160 million Catholics each year by providing support for essential pastoral ministries. Grants funded by the Appeal help to spread a Catholic presence in isolated communities. The dioceses funded by the Appeal comprise nearly 45% of the total number of U.S. dioceses.

In most dioceses, the Appeal will occur the weekend of April 27-28, 2013, although your (arch)diocese may schedule it at a different time. Materials to promote the Collection are available on our website. There you will find ads, web banners, clip art, pictures, and other useful information. Please use these to increase awareness of the Appeal's work.

For more information, please contact the National Collections staff at 202-541-3346 or ncpromo@usccb.org. We truly appreciate your support of The Catholic Home Missions Appeal.