Catholic Home Missions Appeal, May 1

April 26, 2011

HOUSTON — The national Catholic Home Missions Appeal is May 1 at parishes in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. There are 87 Catholic home mission dioceses in the United States. Whether due to the rugged terrain or the poverty of the population, these dioceses are for the most part unable to fund by themselves the most basic and essential pastoral works. The Catholic Home Missions Appeal, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, works to bridge the gap between need and available resources in mission dioceses, thus strengthening the Church here at home. The Catholic Home Missions Appeal funds an array of pastoral projects, including catechesis, seminary education, youth ministry, Hispanic and other ethnic ministries and lay ministry training. It also provides aid to struggling parishes in poor dioceses. For more information, including a map of U.S. home missions, visit www.usccb.org/hm.