Explanation of Each of our Special Collections
Propagation of the Faith Sunday: is an international association for the assistance by prayers and alms of Catholic missionary priests, brothers and nuns engaged in preaching the Gospel to non-Catholic countries.
Aid to Eastern Europe: The USCCB Subcommittee on the Church in Central and Eastern Europe funds projects in 28 countries to build the pastoral capacity of the Church and to rebuild and restore the faith in these countries. The funds collected in the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe are used to grant monies to support seminaries, social service programs, youth ministry, pastoral centers, church construction and renovation, and Catholic communications projects.
Black and Indian: Exits to help Local African American and Native American Diocesan Communities throughout the United States, spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs on the ground.
Catholic Relief Services: supports Catholic Church organizations that carry out international relief and solidarity efforts. Programs include relief and resettlement for victim of persecution, war and natural disasters; development projects to improve living conditions for the poor, legal and support services for the poor immigrants; peace and reconciliation work for people suffering from violence and advocacy on behalf of the powerless.
Catholic Home Missions: The Appeal primarily supports home mission dioceses, that is, those dioceses in the United States that are unable to offer their people the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship, and service without outside help. It may also give grants to other dioceses in the U.S. for particular projects, and to organizations and religious communities engaged in missionary work.
The Subcommittee funds a wide range of pastoral services. However, it principally focuses on (1) evangelization activities, (2) religious education, (3) ministry training for priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and laypeople; (4) support of poor parishes across the country.
Mission Office
Education of Future Priests: The Vocation Office receives funds each year from a second collection taken up throughout the Archdiocese to cover the expenses of educating our future priests.
Peter's Pence: The Peter Pence Collection drives its name from an ancient custom. In the ninth-century England, King Alfred the Great collected money, a “pence” from landowners as financial support for the Pope. Today, the Peter’s Pence Collection supports the Pope’s philanthropy by giving the Holy Father means to provide emergency assistance to those in need because of natural disaster, war, oppression and disease.
World Mission Sunday: organized by the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. As described by Pope John Paul II, World Mission Sunday is “an important day in the life of the Church because in teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and all the missions of the world” (see Redemptoris Missio 81)
Campaign for Human Development: was created by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1970. It is and education-action campaign that offers building blocks of hope to break the cycle of poverty in the United States by providing grants and loans to poor communities that are pulling themselves out of poverty through community organizing, economic development and other group-empowering initiatives.
Religious Retirement: provides support for thousands of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.
Holy Places: collect funds for support of the Holy Places, but above all for those pastoral, charitable, educational and social works which the Church supports in the Holy Land for the welfare of their Christian brethren and the local communities.
Church in Africa: through the Pastoral Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa the Subcommittee on the Church in Africa provides grants to finance pastoral projects that support the maintenance and growth of the Church in Africa. Funded projects include outreach programs, schools, evangelization and education of clergy and lay ministers.
Church in Latin America: Supports pastoral programs as awarded by the Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Projects include the work of evangelization formation of laity, religious and seminarians, as well as youth ministry and catechesis. Funding is limited to programmatic expenses and excludes building construction except in cases of emergency.
Catholic Communications Campaign: Contributes to the process of evangelization by fostering activities in relation to television, radio, internet and other media, and through special projects of the Catholic press. 50% of the funds collected will go to the National Office and the remaining portion of the collection is retained by the Archdiocese for use in local communication projects.
Catholic University of America: Provides funding for academic scholarships at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. It is the only U.S. university with Pontifical faculties. Students are enrolled from all 50 states and almost 100 countries in 12 schools.
Archdiocese for Military Services: Collection is every 3 years. This unique Archdiocese is faced with many challenges, including a severe shortage of Catholic priest-chaplains, a flock spread out among military installations across the world. The AMS receives no funding from the military or the government and must rely solely on private donations