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

One Church. One Mission—Guidelines for Administering USCCB National Collections in Dioceses 
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.

One Church. One Mission. Real Lives.

Fr. Juan J. Molina, Associate Director for the Church in Latin America recently traveled to Colombia to meet with Padre Miguel Antonio Diaz Camacho, the Diocesan Delegate for Family Life and Padre Andres Mauricio Salas Carmona, Delegate for Religious Education in the Diocese of Armenia in Colombia. These dedicated priests took some time to speak about pastoral care of those preparing for marriage and other family life issues that are important in the diocese. 

 

Padre Miguel Antonio Diaz Camacho, Diocesan Delegate for Family Life.

Q: Your diocese provides pastoral care for those preparing for marriage. When do those seeking the sacrament gather?

A: They gather four times a year for preparation of couples and their families. The biggest gathering is called “Noche Romantica.” Also, in the parishes, there are meetings every month.

Q: What is the average distances a family (couple) travels to the gathering?

A: It is usually a short trip of 20-30 minutes in the rural areas. Armenia is a small diocese

Q What is the average age of the couple?

A: Typically ages range from 23, 30, or 35.

Q: How many parishes and how many priests does your diocese have?

A: We have 102 priests serving 43 parishes.

Q: Can you explain the program in detail?

A: There are several steps in this program. The program is called “Programa de Educación para el Amor." This program was the result of seeing the need to help form many of the couples that brought their children to the religious education in the style of family catechesis, where a parent checks with the children the homework and the class outline. It was noted that couples were not married by the Church or  needed catechesis themselves. So this program reinforces the catechesis but that is separate program. The preparation with this program is for the sacrament of matrimony but the preparation is not only talking but with workshops and gatherings of all the couples so they can find ways to implement what they are learning.

There is also a pastoral de seguimiento-acompanamiento book in which there is a follow-up with the couples after the preparation and the wedding. In the book that is used now, one notices some themes that are not there but some of them will be included in the next edition. The program uses 3 books: the human dimension, the sacramental dimension, and the communication dimension.

Most of the families that participate in the program are middle class to poor.

 

Fr. Andres Mauricio Salas Carmona, Delegate for Religious Education and Family Catechesis

Q: The Collection for the Church in Latin America has helped your diocese be able to produce a few manuals to help promote family catechesis. Can you describe those resources?

A: There are two manuals or guides: One on methodology which is for the teacher on how to do family catechesis. (These are the animators, or have other different roles in catechesis, logistics, etc.). The other one is the accompanying manual for the parents to help children with the catechesis. The book itself is the lesson plans for the children.

Q: How often do groups meet?

A: Most groups meet every week in the parish. Sometimes every other week depending on circumstances, like rural areas.

Q: What is the demographic of the children helped through this program?

A: The children range in age from 8-12, and are typically preparing for first communion. There is another group for catechesis with children who have not been baptized (ages 10-12).

Q: What is the number of parishes that have family catechesis

A: Almost all of them (of the 43 in the diocese)

Q: How often does your office work on the issue of catechesis?

A: The office does training two times per year on how to implement family catechism. These are called diocesan assemblies on Catechesis. There is also a catechesis day in august in honor of Pius X for encouraging 1st communion. Parents have remarked that this program helps them to learn and share the faith with their children. Many become parish catechist or also go on to the other program on marriage preparation.

Q: How many families per parish use this program?

A: An average of 90 families per parish participate.