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St. Joseph's Mission, church and school, was founded by the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) to serve the African American community of Madison County in Alabama. When Salvatorian Sisters Ruth Dittman and Bernadette Kline opened St. Joseph’s School in 1956, they began with a simple mission: educate African American children. In August of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, DC. That fall, 12 white students whose families were inspired by Dr. King’s message enrolled and attended classes alongside 118 black students. That school year, St. Joseph’s School became the first racially integrated elementary school in the state of Alabama. The event is noted not only for the first integration of elementary schools in Alabama but also for its "reverse” integration nature.
In 1979, St. Joseph's School merged with St. Mary's School and the combined school, named Holy Family School, continues to operate on the site. The bishop members and staff for the Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions visited the school this October to learn more about its history, current student population which is now largely comprised of African American and Hispanic students. The delegation also had the opportunity to tour newly constructed classrooms and preview the plans for the next two phases which will provide first class facilities not only to the students and faculty, but the wider community and their families.
Mission
The bishops' Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions is a grant-making agency. It offers financial support to missionary activities that strengthen the Catholic Church in the United States, and in its territories and former territories. Through its annual fundraising campaign, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, Catholic Home Missions educates American Catholics about mission needs and invites them to assist fellow Catholics in the practice of the faith.
Interview with the Director
In a time of public liturgies being suspended due to efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Catholics across the country miss receiving the Sacraments and participating in Mass in their local parishes. In this interview with Catholic News Agency, Catholic Home Missions director Kevin Day, invites Catholics to learn more about mission dioceses.
Every year, parishes across the U.S. take up the Catholic Home Missions Appeal. Because of those generous donations, this year the Appeal will fund over $7 million in grants to more than 70 dioceses.
Funded Groups/Programs
The Appeal primarily supports home mission dioceses, that is, those dioceses in the United States that are unable to offer their people the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship, and service without outside help. It may also give grants to other dioceses in the U.S. for particular projects, and to organizations and religious communities engaged in missionary work.
The Subcommittee funds a range of pastoral services. However, it principally focuses on (1) evangelization activities, (2) religious education, (3) ministry training for priests, deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and laypeople; (4) support of poor parishes across the country. See a map of Catholic Home Mission-funded dioceses.
Did you know that over $1.8 million from the 2023 Catholic Home Missions Appeal went to help priests and religious? Learn more about the .
Funding Sources
The U.S. bishops established the Catholic Home Missions Appeal in 1998 to support the missions here in America. The Appeal is taken up in most parishes on the last weekend in April each year. Diocesan Coordinator's Planner
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