The Mission and Work of the Conference

The mission of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is to be a means by which

the bishops exercise in a communal and collegial manner certain pastoral functions entrusted

to them by the Lord Jesus of sanctifying, teaching, and governing “in order to promote the

greater good which the Church offers to humanity” (CIC, c. 447).

To accomplish this mission, the Conference identifies both ordinary responsibilities derived

from the mission and specific mission directives deemed necessary by the bishops after

discerning the signs of the times.

The ordinary responsibilities are identified and assigned to various committees in their

mandate. The specific mission directives are identified and assigned for a three-year period.

2025-2028 Mission Directive 

Responding even more deeply to the call of Christ to proclaim the Gospel and form Missionary Disciples, the Committees and Staff of the USCCB, submitting to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will prioritize the work of the Conference to help equip bishops, clergy, religious, and the laity in evangelizing those who are religiously unaffiliated or disaffiliated from the Church, with special focus on young adults and the youth.