The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Home Missions collection gathers funds each year to help the mission dioceses in the United States and its territories.
On behalf of Bishop Earl Fernandes and Bishop Chad Zielinski, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, thank you for your sacrificial response and for all you do for the mission work of the Church. May our prayers, sacrifices and financial support for the missions bring about the expansion of the reign of Christ, who shed His blood for all mankind.
Mission dioceses do marvelous work among non-Christians, the urban poor and minorities. They also promote mission awareness and vocations and train individuals for missionary work. Their contribution of service alleviates the suffering of the poor.
As an example, Glenmary missionaries are devoted to exclusively serving poor in rural U.S. home missions. Their ministries include building Catholic communities, evangelizing the unchurched and social outreach throughout Appalachia and the South.
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.
In fact, home missionaries are supported by freewill offerings and they support the poor families with food drive, coat drives and more. Our help for the poor is a priority in all circumstances because God wants us to be sharers of our resources with minority and vulnerable populations in the society.
Here in the United States, we have dioceses that need help providing pastoral care. Whether it is assistance to Chaldean Catholic refugees, supporting the ministry of catechists in rural dioceses, offering help to pregnant women in need or guiding victims of domestic violence to proper counseling and support, the support offered to home mission dioceses epitomize the love of Christ,” Bishop Zielinski said. The funds help to accomplish the spiritual programs such as evangelization among non-Christians, the urban poor and minorities, and raises mission awareness, promotes vocations and works toward justice and peace.
How many opportunities have you missed to be witness for Christ? How many chances to show mercy and compassion have you missed in day-to-day life? Let us encounter Christ with love and trust in His mercy even if we fall. Our support will truly make a difference. We are encouraged to realize the bond of solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are rich in spirit but lacking in the material resources to participate fully in the life of the Church.
We can be a people of hope, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as we pursue the Church’s mission to all nations. Whoever shares with love and compassion what he or she has for the needy it becomes a blessing for the giver as well as whoever it receives it. Your support for Catholic Home Missions extends God’s love to the poor, needy, and vulnerable, and it builds a just society for all.