Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City encouraged all Catholics to contribute to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual Catholic Home Missions Appeal in a recent USCCB news release.

“In Alaska, courageous missionary priests from as far away as Nigeria travel through ice and snow by seaplane and snowmobile to serve remote churches scarcely larger than mobile homes,” McKnight, chairman of the USCCB, said, according to the release. “God does not measure the vitality of our faith by the quality of our stained glass or the height of the arches in the naves of our churches. When he sees the faithful traveling large distances during extreme weather conditions to worship and receive the sacraments in a small, simple chapel, God sees a treasure greater than gold.” 

During the weekend of April 29-30, the USCCB invites Catholics across the U.S. to contribute to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal through their dioceses. This collection supports dioceses in the U.S. and its territories in providing pastoral services such as Mass, sacraments, religious education and more. According to the USCCB, this can be challenging due to geography, population and other factors.

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal granted over $8 million in 2022 to nearly 80 dioceses and Eastern Catholic eparchies for ministries such as evangelization, youth and young adult ministry, formation of religious and lay leaders, cross-cultural outreach, church communications, and pastoral planning, according to the USCCB release.

In specific dioceses such as Fairbanks, Stamford, Beaumont, and Steubenville, the collection supported training for new missionary priests, ministry to refugees, the formation of catechists, and revival efforts for youth and young adult ministry.

“When you give to the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, you are making a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters right here in the United States,” Bishop McKnight said in the release.

The Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, a part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, provides financial support for missionary activities to strengthen the Catholic Church in the United States and its territories. It raises funds through the Catholic Home Missions Appeal and educates American Catholics about the needs of missions in the country.