National Collections

2018 Disasters Collection

"We offer our prayers to families who have lost loved ones or are among those injured. As is often the case, the poor are the hardest hit by these conditions, but many will have immense unmet needs." -Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo

In September, Hurricane Florence dropped 35.93 inches of rain in the Carolinas resulting in flooding and extensive damages.  With the traditional storm season upon us Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, called for a special collection for the humanitarian, long-term recovery, and Church needs arising from these storms. Cardinal DiNardo recommend the special collection be taken up on the weekend of September 29-30 or October 6-7.

The funds collected in this special appeal for 2018 Disasters will be used to support the efforts of Catholic Charities USA and/or Catholic Relief Services, the official relief agencies of the U.S. Catholic Church, as they and their local agencies respond to immediate emergency needs for such necessities as water, food, shelter, and medical care and aid in long term rebuilding and recovery efforts, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church. Funds will be used in response to Hurricane Florence and any other natural disasters that occur this year.

A man goes through the debris of his destroyed home in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Hurricane Maria

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm, swept through the Caribbean devastating Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Dominica following Hurricane Irma's aftermath of the previous week. 

Assisting with reconstruction and the pastoral needs of the Church in Puerto Rico are also major elements of this emergency appeal.  You stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters by supporting the Hurricane Maria fund. The fund will enable the USCCB to support Catholic Charities USA to deliver assistance and aid to thousands impacted by this crisis and in the long-term recovery efforts.

Mexico Earthquakes Funds

In the wake of multiple earthquakes, the Church in Mexico has experienced significant damage in some of the poorest dioceses in the country. Your support to the Mexico Earthquakes Fund will provide support for the immediate humanitarian needs of the people and Church needs arising from the disaster.

Hurricane Irma

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galeveston-Houston, president of the USCCB, invited the bishops to take an emergency collection the weekend of September 23-24, 2017, on behalf of those devastated in parts of the Caribbean and southeastern United States by Hurricane Irma. These funds will be used to support the efforts of Church relief agencies they reach out to provide humanitarian aid in the form of water, food, shelter, and medical care, as well as long-term efforts to restore communities after widespread destruction, and to the USCCB for pastoral and reconstruction aid to the Church in the Caribbean and the United States. Learn more about this special collection and prior emergency appeals.

Hurricane Harvey

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, vice-president of the USCCB called on bishops to consider taking up a special collection in response to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. Funds given to the collection will support the humanitarian and recovery efforts of Catholic Charities USA and will provide pastoral and rebuilding support to impacted dioceses through the USCCB. Learn more about this special collection and prior emergency appeals.

Read more about Catholic Charities USA.

"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.

One Church. One Mission. Real Lives.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) was founded in 1970 by the Catholic bishops of the United States as their domestic anti-poverty program. Designed to address the policies and structures that perpetuate poverty to create sustainable solutions, CCHD empowers poor and marginalized people to join together and make decisions to improve their lives and neighborhoods.

Marleny came to the United States from El Salvador, escaping violence and an unsafe situation. She had a dream to start a pupuseria restaurant and to serve traditional Salvadoran food and support her family. She entered the Business Education and Loan Program at El Pájaro CDC and in October 2014 opened Pupuseria Marleny's. 

With the support and education she received, her business has been so successful that she has already opened a second restaurant. The restaurants have allowed Marleny to provide gainful employment to five new workers and help revitalize her community. 

Use the social media tool kit and resources to promote the CCHD collection in your parish. If you missed the collection or diocese does not participate learn how to give.

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.

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

2019/2020 National Collection Schedule

• 2019/2020 National Collections Schedule

The Pope Francis Effect

USCCB National Collections partnered with Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA) to conduct a survey on recent giving patterns within the Catholic Church. This survey focused particular attention on whether Pope Francis has had a positive effect on giving. Read the survey results.

CARA Report - Online Giving

Thirty-two percent of working-age Catholics have given online at some point, according to a report on U.S. Catholic and online giving from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).