Many of us are finding life to be a little more difficult this year as a result of the economic and political uncertainty that our country faces. The challenges we face are multiplied many times over in other parts of the world where resources are much more limited and people struggle to survive even in normal times. Many of the Catholics in the 34 countries and 14 dependent territories in Latin America are experiencing serious challenges. A high percentage – 31% – of the people in Latin America live in poverty. In 1965, the bishops of the United States established the annual Collection for the Church in Latin America as a practical expression of unity and love for our brothers and sisters in Central and South America and the islands of the Caribbean. For more than 60 years, Catholics in the United States have answered the invitation to share their faith by supporting pastoral ministries that strengthen the Church in the present day and help it pass on the Gospel to future generations. A large percentage – 67% – of the funds collected through this appeal support the everyday pastoral care that parishes and mission churches provide throughout these countries. Almost 20% of the Collection for the Church in Latin America goes toward the formation and education of clergy, religious and laity so they can share the gospel message throughout this vast area. And, 10% of the funds provide emergency disaster aid in the case of fires, earthquakes and civil unrest.
Allow me to provide some examples of where your contribution to this collection will have positive impact on the lives of our fellow Catholics in Latin America. We’re all familiar with the serious challenges that the people in Haiti have faced for many years; they were exacerbated by the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the island in 2010. Since then, uncontained gang violence has terrorized communities and taken the lives of untold inhabitants. Several grants have offered a wide variety of assistance to the Catholic population in that country for the past 15 years.
The Catholic Church continues to grow in Brazil but the dioceses lack the funds to pay for the education and formation of the seminarians there. Last year, a grant helped nearly 150 men as they prepared to be ordained as priests or permanent deacons.
In Cuba, economic hardship makes it difficult to sustain the formation of catechists and the diocesan mission and Bible ministries that help the faithful grow in their understanding of the Word of God. Funds from this annual collection support the programs that train and form catechists and sponsor workshops that promote local Bible study groups.
We will take up a second collection to support the Church in Latin America next weekend and, again, I encourage you to be particularly generous so that the message of our salvation in Jesus Christ will be proclaimed untiringly throughout these countries where good news is so desperately needed!