Church Collections
What are they for and what do they do?
National:
The Collection for the Church in Latin America supports catechetical and
lay leadership programs, youth ministry, evangelization programs, and
formation programs for religious, priests, and deacons. CLA is making it
possible for the Catholic faithful in the Western hemisphere to help each
other.
The National Black and Indian Mission Collection
Since 1884, proceeds from the Black and Indian Missions Collection (BIM)
are distributed as grants to dioceses supporting and strengthening evangelization
programs, which would otherwise be in danger of disappearing among the Black,
American Indian, Eskimo, and Aleute communities of the United States.
The BIM collection is taken up in most parishes on the first weekend in Lent.
For more information please write: The Commission for the Catholic Missions Among
the Colored People and the Indians, 2021 H Street, Washington, DC 20006.
Phone: (202) 331-8542
The Holy Land Collection
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 of the local communities.”
The Holy Land collection is taken up in most parishes on Good Friday.
The Retirement Fund for Religious (RFR) distributes grants to religious
institutes for the retirement needs of senior religious priests, brothers, and
sisters. The fund also helps religious institutes plan and manage their retirement needs
and programs.
The RFR collection is taken up in most parishes on the second weekend in December.
By Baptism, all Catholics are called to participate in the mission of the Church,
called to share their faith as missionaries. World Mission Sunday gathers support for the
pastoral and evangelizing programs and needs of more than 1,150 mission dioceses
in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America. The
funds gathered on World Mission Sunday are distributed in the pope’s name by the Society
for the Propagation of the Faith—a Pontifical Mission Society.
The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, D.C., is the national
university of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1887, CUA offers students an excellent
education in a faith-filled atmosphere that is grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The
Collection for The Catholic University of America underwrites scholarships to assist
financially deserving students in completing their education at CUA in over 50 disciplines.
The collection for Catholic University is taken up in most parishes on the first or second
weekend in September.
Its purpose is to help a Church which suffered through decades of
communist oppression, during which schools, seminaries, administrative
agencies and vehicles of communication had been largely decimated, get back
on its feet.
Most diocese take up the collection to aid the Catholic Church in Central
and Eastern Europe on Ash Wednesday or on the first Sunday of Lent. More
than $39 million collected thus far has helped fund some 1,400 projects in
such areas as communications, training of priests and religious, and getting
local Caritas agencies up and running.
The CRS Collection Making a Difference
The funds collected through the Catholic Relief Services Collection
supports six vital Catholic programs that share in the Church’s mission of
promoting the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.
They provide hope to people faced with overwhelming circumstances, reminding
us that Christ is present in those who suffer—and in those who respond
compassionately to their needs.
Catholic Relief Services for international relief and development.
USCCB Migration and Refugee Services for refugee resettlement.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) for immigration legal
services.
USCCB Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development for advocacy.
Holy Father’s Relief Fund for emergency relief.
USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for evangelization and
ministry.
Operation Rice Bowl
Began as a response to the drought in the African Sahel. Operation Rice
Bowl supports CRS' development projects that improve peoples' ability to
access food, overseas and in local diocesan communities in the United
States.
Catholic Communication Campaign
Proceeds are split equally between each participating diocese and the
national office. Dioceses use their share of the CCC collection to support
local communications efforts such as televised Masses and diocesan
newspapers. On the national level, CCC funds support the development and
production of a wide range of media initiatives that are carried out by
USCCB staff and grantee organizations. A portion of the CCC’s national funds
are also set aside for grants to aid Catholic communication efforts in
developing nations.
The Appeal primarily supports home mission dioceses, that is, those
unable to offer their people the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship
and service without outside help.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development works to uphold the dignity
of human life by breaking the cycle of poverty across the United States
through grants to local community-based groups who create jobs, improve
education, and strengthen neighborhoods.
Twenty-five percent of the CCHD collection stays in the diocese to fund
local anti-poverty projects; seventy-five percent supports national grant
and education programs.
Peter's Pence
The purpose of the Peter’s Pence Collection is to provide the Holy Father
with the financial means to respond with emergency assistance to those who
are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural disaster, and disease.
Catholic Charities USA is the national office for over 1,700 local
Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide. Catholic Charities
USA provides strong leadership and support to enhance the work of local
agencies in their efforts to reduce poverty, support families, and empower
communities.
Financially struggling parish communities receive necessary support; The
elderly, infirm and the disabled find comfort through outreach care;
Seminarians are trained and educated to serve in our parish communities; The
precious rights of the unborn are defended; Newcomers to our country are
welcomed with guidance, instruction and direction; The un-churched in our
midst hear the Good News proclaimed; Humanitarian aid efforts are thoroughly
coordinated so that assistance can be promptly distributed to those areas
where it is most needed; Catholic Schools can offer the lasting benefits of
Christian values and education; and more!
Local
CHS Expansion (Catholic High School)
This collection is for the retirement of the debt at Catholic High.
School Collection
This pink envelope is for expenses in our religious education programs.
St. Peter's Carpenters
This funds their program in providing housing needs for the elderly and indigent.
Funds for this are used to assist our seminarians as needed. At the moment,
St. Peter's does not have a seminarian of our own, but it does help to pay the
salary and expenses for the ones that come to our parish during the summer.
St. Francis Xavier Society
This collection goes directly to their mission. This is a Diocesan
Mission Cooperative.
Capital Campaign
This is used for the debt acquired from the new windows and the new organ.
Solt Haiti Kobonal Mission - Letting the light of Jesus Christ shine in
the darkness
Christmas
This collection goes to Catholic Charities and stays in the parish. It is used
during the year along with any "poor box" funds, for assistance that we do directly from the office.
Fridays during Lent (12:10 & 5:30 pm) and Thanksgiving
These collections go to the
Disch-DeClouet Social Service
Center in New Iberia, which helps the poor in our community.
All Holy Days of Obligation and First Fridays
These envelopes go into the general fund, which is used for the general running of
the parish. The general fund is used for everything in the parish except cemetery expenses
and Mass intentions. It pays all bills, payroll, and diocesan
assessments.
