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Parishes in the Albany Diocese will take up the Peter's Pence collection at Masses the weekend of July 30-31.

The collection allows Pope Benedict XVI to support victims of poverty, disaster, war and oppression throughout the world with emergency assistance.

Recent uses of the collection have included:

• establishing the Hospital of St. Vincent de Paul, staffed by religious in Sarajevo, Bosnia;

• helping Nazareth Boys Town in Mbare, Rwanda, to take in orphans who are victims of genocide and civil war; and

• refurbishing a residence that provides free shelter and helps pilgrims with special needs to travel to Rome.

The theme of this year's collection is "Cast the Peace of Christ Upon the World."

In a letter to Catholics of the Diocese, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard said this "reflects the message of peace we extend to one another at every Mass when the celebrant invites us to 'offer each other the sign of peace.'

"As we participate in this special appeal, we join Catholics worldwide in a loving expression of solidarity," he continued. "We share in the concern of the successor of Peter for the many different needs of the universal Church and for the relief of those most in need around the globe."

The collection derives its name from a ninth-century English custom: King Alfred the Great collected pence (pennies) from landowners to support the pope.

The Peter's Pence collection has raised nearly $190 million worldwide.[[In-content Ad]]

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