Second Collection: Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to serve World War II survivors in Europe. Since then, CRS has expanded in size to reach more than 130 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents.

As the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, their mission has been to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person.

The annual CRS collection supports six Church-related agencies that offer relief and resettlement for victims of persecution, war, and natural disasters; develop projects to improving living conditions for the poor; provide legal services to immigrants; support peace and reconciliation work for people suffering from violence; and advocate for the powerless.


The recent termination of foreign assistance programs has significantly impacted CRS projects providing immediate, critical, lifesaving aid to over 20 million people worldwide facing hunger, religious persecution, conflict, and other affronts to their human dignity. Though organizations have started receiving some payments of U.S. foreign assistance funding, more funds are urgently needed.

When you give, you help fill the bellies of young children so they can study hard in school. You help prevent trafficking and provide welcome kits for survivors. You help mothers and babies receive nutritional care and health exams. Your generosity helps to provide relief and support for struggling communities, aids victims of persecution and natural disasters, and provides legal services to poor immigrants. Every gift helps a child thrive, brings hope to a family, and rebuilds a community.