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September 1, 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I appeal to you today to give generously to the annual diocesan collection for The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Catholic University is unique as the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops in 1887 and chartered by the Vatican. As such, it has a special responsibility to educate future leaders for our Church and for our nation. In this sense, The Catholic University of America belongs to all of us in the Church, regardless of where we live.

The financial sacrifices required of Catholic parents today to provide a truly Catholic college education are enormous. All of the funds received through the collection help defray these costs in the form of financial aid. Your contributions directly benefit students from all over the United States, including our own Diocese, by funding scholarships for those who would not otherwise be able to attend. More than 1,500 undergraduate students who attended CUA last year directly benefited from the generous support of the national collection for Catholic University. Grounded in the philosophy of the rich Catholic intellectual tradition, students who attend Catholic colleges and universities are well prepared for success in life and ready to make a difference in today's world.

On Sept. 24-25, the annual collection for The Catholic University of America and other Catholic higher educational needs will be taken up in our Diocese. I encourage you to join me in supporting this most worthwhile educational initiative. Again, I am grateful for your continual generosity.

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Howard J. Hubbard

Bishop of Albany[[In-content Ad]]

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