Letter to the Faithful Regarding Catholic Relief Services Collection

By Archbishop Robert G. Casey

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A long-treasured value of our Church, dating back to its earliest days, has been the care for those who are most vulnerable. As Catholics we are called to love one another and accompany one another in moments of blessing and in moments of challenge. When facing any difficulty, we quickly discover our dependency, not only upon God, but upon each other in the exercise of charity and concern for our neighbor.

It is with this in mind that our archdiocese will take up the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Collection on May 3^rd and 4^th. These have been trying times for CRS. This year, CRS experienced a drastic reduction of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development, known as USAID. USAID dollars provided more than 50% of the CRS budget. Dozens of life saving projects, providing critical aid to millions of people worldwide, have been impacted. Some of these projects have been permanently terminated.

Historically, the Collection supports Catholic agencies that carry out international relief and solidarity efforts: Catholic Relief Services for international relief and development; Migration and Refugee Services for refugee resettlement; Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) for immigration legal services; Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development for advocacy; the Holy Father’s Relief Fund for emergency relief; and Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for evangelization and ministry. These programs include relief and resettlement for victims of persecution, war, and natural disaster; development projects to improve living conditions for the poor; legal and support services for poor immigrants; peace and reconciliation work for people suffering from violence; and advocacy on behalf of the powerless.

These projects do more than save lives. They help lift communities and countries out of poverty. They support local faith-based and church partners that provide services and stability to their communities and to their countries. They demonstrate our Church’s commitment to living out the great commandment of love.

Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection this year. Thank you for all the support you have given in the past. To learn more about the collection and the people who benefit, please visit https://www.usccb.org/national-collection/catholic-relief-services-collection.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverand Robert G. Casey

Archbishop of Cincinnati