The Collection for the Church in Latin America has been a concrete countenance of unity and solidarity between Catholics in the United States and those in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through this contribution, Catholics from across the United States have supported the formation of priests and religious, the training of catechists and other pastoral ministers, the education of children and young people, and relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters. The funds help to accomplish spiritual programs such as evangelization among non-Christians, the urban poor and minorities, raise mission awareness, promote vocations and work toward justice and peace.
Support the Collection for the Church in Latin America because “I should no longer say that I have neighbors to help, but that I must myself be a neighbor to others (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, no. 81).” All Catholics are called to lives of missionary discipleship, regardless of their states in life, where they live, how much formal education they have, or what work they do to support themselves and their families.
With prayer, formation and training, lay evangelists effectively serve their communities and enliven their parishes with the joy of the Gospel. The Diocese of Girardota, Colombia, with support from the Collection for the Church in Latin America, is fostering this spirit of discipleship in 66 women from rural agricultural communities by providing leadership training workshops that equip them to form and lead women’s groups in each of the 33 parishes in the diocese.
Pope Francis is urging them to focus on the theme: “We are all missionary disciples on the move.” God’s zeal and love, empowered by the Church, have the power to show God’s love to a world in need of change and renewal.
Your collection supports pastoral work and other spiritual programs in Latin America. In Haiti, for instance, the Diocese of Jacmel formed more than 600 youths from its 31 parishes in reading, praying and living the Gospel over the course of a 21-day program, especially those in remote or marginalized areas, and educated them about the nature of the coronavirus pandemic and how to stop its spread.
This collection is a tremendous opportunity for all the faithful to participate actively in the evangelization mission and ministries of the Church. Your gifts and prayers will be a great blessing for the poor and needy who benefit from this outreach of funds.
Pope Benedict XVI addressed the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean by saying, “To you, who represent the Church in Latin America, today I symbolically entrust my Encyclical Deus Caritas Est in which I sought to point out to everyone the essence of the Christian message. The Church considers herself the disciple and missionary of this Love: missionary only insofar as she is a disciple, capable of being attracted constantly and with renewed wonder by the God who has loved us and who loves us first (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by “attraction”: just as Christ “draws all to himself” by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the Cross, so the Church fulfils her mission to the extent that, in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her Lord” (Aparecida, 13 May 2007).
The Church in Latin America provides a solid expression of solidarity with our brothers and sisters throughout this hemisphere. This expression is a visible sign of faith and hope on our path to communion with God. For many living in Latin America and the Caribbean, a rising secular culture, difficult rural terrain, and a shortage of ministers make it difficult for people to practice the faith. Your donations would take care of the evangelization programs of these regions.
Please prayerfully consider supporting this collection to share your faith with our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean. I would like to thank you for your generous contributions on behalf of His Excellency, Most Rev. Bishop Earl Fernandes, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops committee in charge of the collection for the Church in Latin America. This yearly collection helps to strengthen connections between the Church in the United States and the Church in Latin America.