More About Second Collections

1. SOLIDARITY WITH FOREIGN CHURCHES

Church in Latin America
According to the PEW Research Center, 69% of Latin Americans identify as Catholic, while 19% belong to Protestant churches (https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/). To learn more about the relationship between the Church in the United States and the Church in Latin America, please click this link: https://www.usccb.org/committees/church-latin-america.

Church in Central and Eastern Europe
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the people of Georgia have been working to rebuild the Church in their communities. “With assistance from the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, Catholics in Georgia are able to rebuild churches, provide medical care for the poor, and to pass on the faith to the next generation so that the Church can once again thrive where it was once persecuted” (USCCB). https://www.usccb.org/committees/church-central-eastern-europe

Church in Africa
“Africa faces the economic and social hurdles of enormous debt, epidemic, severe poverty, and political unrest. In spite of these challenges, the Church in Africa has almost tripled in size in the past 30 years.  However, it is difficult for the church to sustain its growth and maintain essential pastoral outreach. The Fund provides grants to finance pastoral projects including outreach programs, schools, evangelization, and education of clergy and lay ministers. Our solidarity is necessary to help the ‘salt of the Earth’ Church in Africa realize its potential as a ‘light of the world’” (USCCB). https://www.usccb.org/committees/church-africa

World Mission Sunday
World Mission Sunday is intended to celebrate the universality of the Catholic Church. “In a world where so much divides us, World Mission Sunday rejoices in our unity as missionaries by our Baptism, as it offers each one of us an opportunity to support the life-giving presence of the Church among the poor and marginalized in more than 1,111 mission dioceses” (USCCB). https://www.usccb.org/committees/evangelization-catechesis/world-missions

2. NATIONAL MISSIONS

Black and Indian Missions
Funds from this collection are “distributed as grants to dioceses throughout the United States, supporting and strengthening evangelization programs which otherwise would cease” (USCCB). The Diocese of Tulsa is a recipient of one such grant, which is used to help fund the Prison Ministry and bring the Gospel to the inmates of eastern Oklahoma. https://blackandindianmission.org/

Catholic Home Missions
The Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions is a grant-making agency and supports missionary activities to strengthen the Church in the United States, its territories, and former territories. “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.” https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-home-missions

Catholic Communications
“Through websites, social networks, television, radio, and print, the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) helps the Church spread the Gospel message through the media locally and nationally. Half of all donations to the CCC collected in your diocese stay in your diocese to support your local communications needs, such as radio and television programming and diocesan publications.” https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-communication-campaign

Catholic University of America
This collection helps to support students attending the Catholic University of America. But more than that, “Support of the National Collection not only provides critical support to students but also it helps the University serve dioceses and parishes through innovative research initiatives and training programs...” (Catholic University of America). https://engage.catholic.edu/giving/how-give/national-collection

Retirement Fund for Religious
Unlike the laypeople, religious sisters and brothers have no 401(k) option or any equivalent retirement plan. They also work for little to no pay. This fund not only provides for their direct support, but also provides educational training for religious communities to help them prepare for retirement. To learn more, please click this link: https://www.usccb.org/resources/RFR-Backgrounder.pdf

3. SOCIAL JUSTICE

Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services provides support for refugees, migrants, and those who have suffered due to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. CRS also provides immigration services and advocates for justice, peace, and human development around the world. To learn more, please visit: https://www.usccb.org/national-collection/catholic-relief-services-collection

Catholic Campaign for Human Development
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development, or CCHD, is committed to helping low-income Americans to break the cycle of poverty. The central belief of the CCHD is those who are directly affected by unjust systems and structures have the best insight into knowing how to change them. This is the anti-poverty program of the USCCB. To learn more, please visit: https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-campaign-human-development

4. INFIRM & RETIRED PRIESTS

A collection to support the infirm and retired priests in the Diocese of Tulsa. Like the fund for retired religious, this collection helps directly support infirm and retired priests. However, rather than a national collection, this collection stays local to our diocese and supports the priests that have served the people of eastern Oklahoma their whole lives. This is an opportunity to give back and support them as they have supported us.

5. FAITH & WORKS ANNUAL APPEAL

6. PRO-LIFE

Birthright of Tulsa
Birthright International provides free, confidential help to women with unplanned pregnancies. Services include information about pregnancy, parenting, adoption, child safety programs, etc. as well as referrals for financial, medical support, legal, and more. Birthright also offers support and resources for anyone supporting the expectant mother.  https://birthright.org/ 

Go Life Mobile Medical
Go Life provides free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and adoption resources, as well as counseling to expectant mothers. All appointments are kept confidential. Go Life also has a mobile medical clinic to provide ultrasounds to those who cannot make it to the clinic. They provide medically accurate information on abortion, as well as informing women considering abortion about the emotional and spiritual grief that results. Go Life also provides referrals to adoption agency specialists. https://www.golife.org/

7. GOOD FRIDAY HOLY LAND

“Every year on Good Friday, a collection is taken up in Catholic Churches to support the work of the Franciscans working in the Holy land. Christinas there rely heavily on the help that comes to them during this special day in the Church and our life of faith” (myfranciscan.org). https://myfranciscan.org/pontifical-good-friday-collection/
 

8. PETER'S PENCE

Peter's Pence helps to support the Holy See: "It expresses the sense of belonging to the Church and love and trust for the Holy Father. It is a tangible sign of communion with Him, as Peter's Successor, and also of attention to the needs of the most disadvantaged, for whom the Pope always cares." https://www.obolodisanpietro.va/en/cos-e-l-obolo.html. To learn more about the history of Peter's Pense, and the ministries it supports, please visit:  https://www.obolodisanpietro.va/en.html

9. CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA ANNUAL APPEAL

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