Aid to African Church New to Annual Appeal
Mission Appeal Weekend Oct. 20-21
By Amanda Hudson, News Editor
October 11, 2018
DIOCESE—Several distinct appeals will be combined into one collection to be held in parishes the weekend of Oct. 20-21.
This year’s annual Mission Appeal for the Universal Catholic Church offers a new opportunity to assist the Church in Africa.
The Catholic faith is expanding rapidly in Africa, and the Church there needs our support to provide pastoral resources to nurture that exciting growth. “When you contribute to this collection,” says Bishop David Malloy in his Mission Appeal letter, “you help people across that continent grow closer to Christ and His Church.”
In addition to this new appeal for the Church in Africa, the annual Mission Appeal benefits several other missionary efforts, including:
â–º U.S. Missions: This includes the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, which supports poorer U.S. dioceses (more than 40 percent) where there are not enough resources to provide evangelization, religious education and ministry training, and the Black and Indian Mission Collection that supports the Church among the Native American, African American and Alaska Native peoples. Last year, this diocese provided $32,192 to each of these two home missions collections.
â–º Latin America: The Church in Latin America Appeal funds the formation of seminarians, religious sisters and brothers and lay leaders who serve the Church in those countries, and supports pastoral projects to help Church members to grow in faith. In 2017, the Diocese of Rockford sent $16,200 for this appeal.
Info: www.usccb.org/latinamerica.
â–º World Mission Sunday is a global effort that serves over 1,000 local churches in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and parts of Latin America and Europe. Last year, parishioners in our diocese contributed $62,163 to this appeal.
â–º Propagation of Faith: Donors have the opportunity to consider membership in the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Members pray daily for the missionary work of the Church, offer their personal crosses in union with the suffering of Christ for the redemption of unknown men and women, and provide financial donations whenever they can during the year. Designating this appeal on the Mission Appeal envelope means your name and address will be sent to the National SPF Office. Last year, $7,621 was contributed.
â–º Diocesan aid: And finally as part of this appeal, both Catholic elementary schools in the Rockford Diocese as well as the Rockford Diocesan Priests’ Pension fund are assisted through this collection.
“Each one of us is called to proclaim our faith and encourage others, both near and far, to grow closer to our Lord,” says Bishop Malloy. “Through this appeal, we can join these missionary efforts and say yes to God’s call to teach His message.”
Info: Online donations can be made at: www.rockforddiocese.org/donate.