STRENGTHENING the CHURCH AT HOME

Dear Father,

When your supports the Home Missions Appeal (CHMA), you help make the Church in the United States stronger. The generosity of your parishioners makes a difference for our brothers and sisters across the country. Without your help, basic pastoral programs would not be accessible for the faithful who long to grow closer to Christ. The most effective way that you can support this appeal is to mention it at Mass on collection weekend.

One way your support makes a difference is in the of Jackson. This diocese covers 65 counties in Mississippi, but only 5 percent of the population is Catholic. that cover such a large area with so few Catholics, such as Jackson, face challenges including lengthy travel times for priests to reach all the parishioners and limited funding for parish ministries. Additionally, Jackson faces the challenge of an aging clergy. Only 34 active diocesan priests and 35 religious priests serve 73 parishes and 19 missions. The average age of these priests is 60 years old, and many serve more than one parish. But with your parish’s support to CHMA, you help provide formation for the next generation of priests. The generous contributions of your parishioners are helping provide seminary education for nine seminarians in this diocese. Your support will help continue to spread the gospel message and ensure the sacramental life of these communities well into the future.

Thank you for your continued support of this appeal. Additional resources for this appeal, including a social media tool kit, bulletin cover, and web ads can be found online at www.usccb.org/home-missions/collection. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Germain, assistant director for promotions, at 202-541-3346 or at [email protected].

Thank you for strengthening the Church at home.

Ih the Heart of Christ,

Most Rev. Paul D. Etienne of Anchorage To learn more about this appeal or to find additional resources, Chairman, USCCB Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions please visit www.usccb.org/home-missions. WHAT IS A “HOME MISSION” DIOCESE? SIMPLE Home mission dioceses are those dioceses in the United States, its territories, and former territories that cannot provide basic pastoral services without outside help. Basic pastoral services include Mass and the sacraments, STEPS religious education, and ministry training for priests, , religious sisters, and lay people. Right now, over 40 percent of dioceses are considered Follow these simple home missions. steps to strengthen the Church at home: ¿QUÉ ES UNA ANNOUNCE DIÓCESIS “MISIONERA”? the appeal in your parish, using the bulletin Las diócesis misioneras son aquellas diócesis en los Estados Unidos, en 1announcements and sus territorios y antiguos territorios que no pueden proveer los servicios parish appeal provided pastorales básicos sin recibir ayuda de fuera. Los servicios pastorales básicos so parishioners know incluyen la Misa y los sacramentos, la educación religiosa y la capacitación what it is, where their en el ministerio para sacerdotes, diáconos, religiosas y laicos. En el presente, money goes, and when más del 40 por ciento de las diócesis son consideradas diócesis misioneras. to expect it. This is the most effective way to ensure the success of the appeal.

PARISH APPEAL PREACH about the difficulties faced ENGLISH SPANISH by home mission 2dioceses. These dioceses This weekend, we will be taking Este fin de semana realizaremos struggle with poverty up the Catholic Home Missions el Llamado para las Misiones and unemployment, Appeal. Nearly half of our country Católicas. Casi la mitad de nuestro rugged terrain between is considered home mission país es considerado como territorio parishes that is difficult territory. This appeal helps our misionero nacional. Este Llamado to travel, a lack of neighbors here in the United States ayuda a nuestros vecinos aquí priests and lay ministers, who do not have access to basic en los Estados Unidos quienes and limited financial pastoral services like Mass, the no tienen acceso a los servicios resources to fund vital sacraments, and religious education. pastorales básicos como la Misa, pastoral ministries. Through your support, the Catholic los Sacramentos y la educación Home Missions Appeal helps these religiosa. Con su apoyo, el Llamado mission dioceses form vibrant para las Misiones Católicas ayuda faith communities and strengthens a estas diócesis misioneras a formar the Church at home. Please comunidades vivas de fe y fortalecer be generous. la Iglesia en casa. Por favor, sean generosos. WHAT DOES YOUR GIFT FUND?

4.6% STRENGTHENING MARRIAGE • Grants and & FAMILY LIFE Donations: $9,664,936 % • Promotions and % 30.7 13.5 DIOCESAN & PARISH Fundraising Expenses: $301,197 CULTURAL ASSISTANCE • Administrative DIVERSITY Expenses: $231,347 • Program Costs: $220,870 Total Expenses: $10,418,350 22.5% PRIESTLY & RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS

28.7% FAITH FORMATION

WHERE DOES YOUR SUPPORT GO?

Other Funded Dioceses/ The of the Chair of St. Peter-Houston, TX Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA EASTERN CATHOLIC EPARCHIES Armenian – Glendale, CA Byzantine – Parma, OH; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA Chaldean – San Diego, CA Maronite – Brooklyn, NY; St. Louis, MO Melkite – West Roxbury, MA Romanian – Canton, OH Syriac – Union City, NJ Syro-Malabar – Chicago, IL Syro-Malankara – Elmont, NY Ukrainian – Chicago, IL; Parma, OH; Philadelphia, PA; Stamford, CT

To learn more about this appeal or to find additional resources, please visit www.usccb.org/home-missions.

Catholic Home Missions Appeal | Office of National Collections 3211 Fourth Street NE | Washington, DC 20017 | 202-541-3346 | www.usccb.org/nationalcollections

Copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC.All rights reserved. Photos: © Getty Images, courtesy of the Byzantine of Parma, Luke LaFleur and Liz Landreneau Shaw, Sr. Maria Elena Méndez/MGSpS. 30200600