National Collections

"As faithful disciples and imitators of Christ, you are urged to go against the current, choosing the evangelical option of serving the brethren…above all, because you are impelled by the unceasing power of divine charity."

— Pope John Paul II (2001)

Each parish is part of the Church Universal; it is the Catholic Church in a particular place. The bishops of the United States created the national collections so that, by combining resources, we can more effectively carry out our mission as Catholics. Each of these important collections is worthy of your support. Each collection represents our community of faith at work in the world, saving souls and improving lives.

The bishops encourage us to view the national collections in the light of stewardship and of sharing. God has given us our light and our prosperity, all we need and more. It is right and just that we give something back through these collections, helping people in our own country and around the world to live better and to grow in the love of Jesus.

Guidelines

This document, approved in November 2011 and addressed to bishops and to diocesan and parish personnel, provides guidance and explanation about the nature and meaning of the national collections and direction on how they should be best administered.

2013/2014 National Collection Schedule

• 2013/2014 National Collections Schedule

One Church. One Mission. Real Lives.

The Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) makes it possible for each of us to take the messages we receive from the web and use them to deepen our own faith by supporting podcasts of the daily readings, Catholic television and radio broadcasts, and Catholic use of the ever-expanding social media realm.

For example, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) prepared an immersion program in the Middle East for Catholic journalists from the United States and Canada. By experiencing firsthand the cares and concerns of the Middle East's Christian community, Catholic media professionals are able to stimulate the growth of quality news coverage of the Middle East from a Catholic perspective. Instead of sitting down for a presentation on the flight of Christians out of Palestine, the group experienced the harsh reality lived by the refugees at a Palestinian refugee camp near Beirut. With support from the CCC, the immersion program helps improve the writing of Catholic journalists while at the same time strengthening the roots of their personal Catholic faith.

In most dioceses, the Collection will occur the weekend of May 11-12, 2013, although your (arch)diocese may schedule it at a different time. Materials to promote the Collection are available on our website. There you will find ads, web banners, and other useful information. Please use these materials to increase awareness of the Campaign's work.

For more information, please contact the National Collections staff at 202-541-3346 or ncpromo@usccb.org. We truly appreciate your support of the Catholic Communications Campaign.