During the weekend of Aug. 6-7, parishes throughout the Diocese of Columbus will take up a collection for the Church in Latin America. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) invites you to help our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In 2021, the diocese contributed $50,817.64 to the collection. I thank you for your generous contributions on behalf of Bishop Earl Fernandes and the USCCB committee in charge of the collection. This yearly collection strengthens connections between the Church in the United States and the Church in Latin America.
Through this contribution, Catholics from across the United States have supported the formation of priests and religious, the training of catechists and other pastoral ministers, the education of children and young people and relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters.
The funds help to accomplish spiritual programs such as evangelization among non-Christians, the urban poor and minorities; raises mission awareness; and promotes vocations and work toward justice and peace.
Last year, Pope Francis joined virtually with Latin America Church leaders in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The pontiff said, “We have much to learn, this is a meeting of the people of God: lay men and women, religious men and women, priests, bishops. All the people of God walking together: praying, speaking, thinking, discussing, and seeking the will of God.” (Vatican news, Jan. 24, 2021).
The pope urged the Church leaders to focus on one theme: “We are all missionary disciples on the move.” His zeal and love empowered by the Church can show God’s love to a world in need of change and renewal.
The Church in Latin America Collection supports pastoral work and other spiritual programs there. In Haiti, for instance, the Diocese of Jacmel formed more than 600 youths from its 31 parishes in reading, praying and living the Gospel over the course of a 21-day program.
This same spirit of outreach was also at work across Haiti during the COVID-19 outbreak when the Haitian Episcopal Conference initiated a communication and pastoral ministry formation campaign to inform people, especially those in remote or marginalized areas, about the nature of the coronavirus pandemic and how to stop its spread.
This collection is a tremendous opportunity for all the faithful to participate actively in the evangelization mission and ministries of the Church. Your gifts and prayers will be a great blessing for the poor and needy who benefit from this outreach of funds.
Pope Benedict XVI addressed the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean: “To you, who represent the Church in Latin America, today I symbolically entrust my encyclical Deus Caritas Est, in which I sought to point out to everyone the essence of the Christian message.
“The Church considers herself the disciple and missionary of this Love: missionary only insofar as she is a disciple, capable of being attracted constantly and with renewed wonder by the God who has loved us and who loves us first. (cf. 1 John 4:10)
The collection for the Church in Latin America provides a solid expression of solidarity with our brothers and sisters throughout this hemisphere. This expression is a visible sign of faith and hope on our path to communion with God.
For many living in Latin America and the Caribbean, a rising secular culture, difficult rural terrain and a shortage of ministers make it difficult for people to practice the faith. Your donations would take care of the evangelization programs of these regions.
Please prayerfully consider supporting this collection to share your faith with our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, pray for us!
