Second Collection

The Catholic Home Missions Appeal (CHMA) supports those dioceses here in the United States and its territories that face fragile financial situations, vast distances, or difficult terrain that significantly affects their ability to offer the most basic pastoral programs to the faithful.

"Home mission" dioceses are those Catholic dioceses in the United States, its territories, and former territories that cannot provide basic pastoral services without outside help. Basic pastoral services include Mass, the sacraments, religious education, and ministry training for priests, deacons, religious sisters, and laypeople. Right now, over 40% of dioceses in the United States and its territories are considered home missions — including the Diocese of Baker here in Oregon.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public Masses were suspended across the country at the time of the 2020 CHMA. Unfortunately, this significantly impacted the appeal and the other national collections throughout the year. The unaudited total for the 2020 CHMA as of January 2021 was less than $3.1 million, more than a 63% decrease from the prior year.

However, as the pandemic continues across the world, the CHMA has remained faithful in providing vital assistance to 87 dioceses and eparchies across the United States, its territories, and several former territories in the Pacific. Without these funds, these dioceses and eparchies would not be able to minister to their parishioners in all the ways that are needed. Read their Annual Report for 2019 and see how your gift makes a difference in mission dioceses across the United States.