The Diocesan Annual Appeal aims to reduce the need for these second and special collections in our parishes. The Annual Appeal collect funds for eleven different second and special collections promoted by the USCCB. The funds raised are part of the global missionary distribution of the Church. Below are the groups and their missions.
Pontifical Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land
The Collection for the Holy Land, in the words of Paul VI, is “not only for 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. MORE ABOUT THE PONTIFICAL COLLECTION >>
Catholic Home Missions
The Catholic Home Missions funds a broad range of pastoral services, including evangelization, religious education, and the maintenance of mission parishes, the training of seminarians and lay ministers, and ministry with ethnic groups in the US, its territories.
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Collection for Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE)
This group focuses on training seminarians and lay leaders, supporting social service programs, youth ministry, pastoral and catechetical centers, schools, church construction and renovation, and evangelization through Catholic media in Central and Eastern Europe.
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Collection for the Church in Latin America (CLA)
The Collection for the program expenses supporting Church in Latin America supports pastoral programs; projects include the work of evangelization, formation of the laity, religious and seminarians, as well as youth ministry and catechesis.
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The Catholic Relief Services Collection (formerly the American Bishops Overseas Appeal)
This collection provides funding for Catholic Relief Services; the USCCB Offices of International Justice and Peace, Migration and Refugee Services, and Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees; relief work of the Holy Father; and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. MORE ABOUT THE COLLECTION >>
Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC)
The essential mission of the CCC is to contribute to the process of evangelization by fostering activities in relation to television, radio, the internet, and other media, and through special projects of the Catholic press. Dioceses remit 50% of the funds collected to the National Office. A USCCB Subcommittee on the Catholic Communication Campaign grants these funds. The Diocese retains the remaining portion of the collection for use in local communication projects. MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN >>
Peter’s Pence Collection
(Collection for the Holy Father)
The Peter’s Pence Collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to requests to aid the neediest throughout the world—those who suffer because of war, oppression, and natural disasters. It likewise provides the faithful with a tangible opportunity to empower not only the weak, defenseless, and voiceless, but also sustain those who suffer. MORE ABOUT COLLECTION >>
Black and Indian Missions (BIM)
Mandated by the III Plenary Council in 1884, the 125-year-old National Collection for Black and Indian people continues as the embodiment of the Church’s concern for evangelizing the Black and Indian peoples of the United States. The funds are distributed as grants to dioceses throughout the United States, supporting and strengthening evangelization programs which otherwise would cease.
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The Catholic University of America (CUA)
In response to the commitment made by the bishops at its foundation in 1887, this collection 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.
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Diocese of La Crosse Home Mission
The Mission Office assists the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse in carrying out Jesus’ directive to his apostles before his ascension into heaven … “to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” The Faith must be kept and guarded in our souls, but it must also be generously passed on to every person in the world. The Church must be a missionary if she is to be the faithful spouse of Christ.
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