Home missions aided through collection

Many Catholics in the United States are familiar with mission appeals to help Church efforts in far-flung areas of the globe.

Through those efforts, Americans help spread the faith where ministries of evangelization, catechesis and social justice are difficult to build because of such factors as lack of priests and the fragility of the Church where Catholics are a minority.

That same effort is made within the U.S. through the annual Home Missions collection, which will be taken up in all parishes on August 26-27.

This year's donations will also be used to assist areas of the country devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Needy areas

The Catholic Home Missions appeal each year invites Catholics to help strengthen the Church in places such as:

* the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska, which only has 19 priests for all of its towns and villages;

* the Diocese of Lubbock, Texas, where 34 priests cover 62 parishes and missions; and

* Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, which only have 70, 57 and 45 priests respectively.

In addition, funds from the appeal help churches and missions in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the American Pacific islands, which need extra help in training lay leaders and forming small communities of informed religious educators.

Bishop's request

"It's a great pleasure to write to you each year because you enable Catholics in more prosperous parts of the United States to assist Catholics in mission areas," wrote Bishop Howard J. Hubbard in a pulpit letter read at Masses last weekend.

This year, he said, bishops across the country are "asking parishioners to consider the areas of our country that are still reeling from the catastrophic devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," particularly in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Diocese of Biloxi, where 428 of the 433 Church-owned structures were "destroyed or severely damaged."

To support the rebuilding efforts, the Diocese of Albany will combine the 2006 Home Missions Appeal with the diocese's recent special hurricane collection.

"Once again, parishioners will have the opportunity to help their fellow Catholics in America live out their faith under difficult circumstances. Again, I am grateful for your continual generosity," said Bishop Hubbard.

(8/24/06) [[In-content Ad]]