Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The 2009 Catholic Home Missions Appeal is scheduled nationally for the weekend of April 24-25. It provides a unique opportunity for Americans to assist struggling Catholic communities in the United States.
Catholic Home Missions is committed to providing poorer dioceses in the United States with the support they need to sustain essential pastoral care. Over the years, the appeal has supported religious education, evangelization, youth ministry, seminarian education and ministry training in mission dioceses in Alaska, Appalachia, the Southwest — all across the United States — as well as in Puerto Rico and U.S. territories in the Pacific islands.
From dioceses where a few Catholics are scattered across tens of thousands of square miles to those that struggle with overwhelming numbers — especially ethnic and migrant communities concentrated in smaller areas, the home missions find challenges in bringing the faith to all. To be a Catholic in these settings takes a strong faith. The Catholic Home Missions Appeal offers essential support to the missions in the United States so that Catholics living in these areas can continue to hear the Gospel message.
This is a wonderful opportunity for American Catholics to be brothers and sisters to one another, to extend one another a helping hand. Over 95 cents of every dollar donated to the appeal goes out to the missions. I invite you to respond generously to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal to share our faith and to help strengthen our church in America.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Martin Amos
Bishop of Davenport
