USCCB - (Office of Media Relations) - Missions and Ethnic Ministries Press Releases

Missions and Ethnic Ministries Press Releases

Catholics Involved In World Mission Sunday Help Themselves Too, Official Says (04-201)
October 21, 2004
Those who contribute to the collection on World Mission Sunday, October 24, may gain as many benefits as the recipients of their generosity, according to Sister Marie de la Trinit� Siopongco, SSVM, Assistant Secretary for World Missions in the Department of Education, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Bishop Expresses Solidarity With Carribean Flood Victims, Urges Assistance For Survivors (04-107)
June 8, 2004
The floods and landslides that erased entire villages in Haiti and the Dominican Republic two weeks ago should be met with an outpouring of solidarity and charity, according to the chairman of the bishops' Committee on the Church in Latin America.
Record of Almost $12 Million in Grants Announced by Bishops' Committee on Home Missions, but Collection Hard Pressed to Keep Pace with Needs of Poorest Dioceses (04-067)
April 14, 2004
The Catholic Home Missions Appeal, which helps the most financially strapped dioceses in the United States carry out their work of preaching the Gospel, will award $11.9 million in grants this year, the highest total in its seven-year history.
Navy Chaplain, Nun in Prison Ministry Focus of ABC Show (03-198)
October 15, 2003
A U.S. Navy chaplain on a warship and a nun ministering in a California state prison are highlighted in "Never Far From God: Portraits in Ministry," a documentary slated to air on ABC television.
Bishops' Report on Native American Catholics Released (03-130)
June 19, 2003
Nearly half-a-million Native Americans are Catholic, according to a report released today, Native American Catholics at the Millennium, by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Ad Hoc Committee on Native American Catholics.
Record $11.1 Million in Grants Announced By Bishops' Committee on Home Missions; 40% Directed to Hispanic Ministries (03-088)
April 16, 2003
The Catholic Home Missions Appeal, which helps the most financially-strapped dioceses in the United States to carry out the work of preaching the Gospel, will award $11.1 in grants this year, the highest total in its history.
Bishop 'Deeply Disappointed' With Refugee Admissions Authorization For 2003 (02-212)
October 22, 2002
President Bush's authorization of only 70,000 refugee admissions in fiscal year 2003 continues a "gradual abdication of U.S. world leadership in refugee protection," and is a source of deep concern for the nation's Catholic bishops, according to the chairman of the their Committee on Migration.
Bishops' Agenda Includes Pastoral Framework for Hispanic Ministry (02-198)
October 11, 2002
A renewed framework for the Catholic Church's ministry to Hispanics will come before the U.S. bishops for a vote at their annual meeting in Washington, November 11 to November 14.
Media Advisory: Refugee Groups to Issue Report on Current Refugee Arrivals (02-093)
May 20, 2002
Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, will join other members of Refugee Council USA to mark the six-month anniversary of President Bush's order allowing for the admission of 70,000 refugees in fiscal year 2002 with a news conference on Tuesday, May 21, at the U.S. Capitol.
Pastoral Statement Celebrates Asian-Pacific Presence in The U.S. Church (01-211)
December 3, 2001
Recognizing the growing Asian and Pacific presence in the Catholic Church in the United States, the nation's Catholic Bishops have approved their first pastoral statement on the topic and called for a stronger pastoral response to the needs of these diverse communities.
Bishops Offer Parishes Guidance in 'Welcoming The Stranger Among Us' (01-149)
August 28, 2001
How to develop a parish welcoming plan is just one of the many practical suggestions included in a resource packet for implementing the Bishops' call for Catholics to "welcome the stranger among us".
Bishop Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on 'Indefinite Detention' (01-120)
June 28, 2001
The chairman of the board of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), today hailed the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the indefinite detention of immigrants is unconstitutional.
Bishops Mark 'World Refugee Day' with Call for Renewed U.S. Commitment to Refugees (01-113)
June 20, 2001
The United States should reaffirm its commitment to refugee protection by reversing the recent trend of admitting fewer refugees into the country.
Cardinal Maida Urges Extension of Visa Program For Religious Workers (00-088)
April 13, 2000
A visa program which allows foreign religious pastoral workers to enter the United States should be extended permanently, according to Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida, who today testified before the Senate Immigration Subcommittee.
Raleigh, North Carolina Bishop Urges Support for Encuentro 2000 After Anti-Immigrant Vandalism, Rally (00-071)
March 30, 2000
An anti-immigration rally led by former Ku Klux Klansman David Duke in Siler City, North Carolina, has become the catalyst for renewed support for Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God's House by Bishop F. Joseph Gossman of Raleigh, North Carolina.
National Migration Week Small Grant Winners Announced (00-069)
March 29, 2000
Eleven dioceses have been awarded grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 in this year's National Migration Week Small Grants Program, the U.S. Catholic Conference/Migration and Refugee Services announced today.
New Study Reveals Hispanics at Center of Catholic Church in the United States (00-044)
March 9, 2000
Hispanics, who will constitute a majority of the Catholic Church in the United States in the next few years, account for 71 percent of the growth in the U.S. Church in the last 40 years, according to a new study released today by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
New Staff Members Aid Work of Church's Home Missions Office (00-028)
February 16, 2000
New staff members will share the work load of the Catholic Home Missions Appeal as preparations move forward for the third annual collection for the home missions, which will be taken up in the parishes of the United States this spring.
National Migration Week Raises Awareness, Encourages Outreach (00-007)
January 7, 2000
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops marks the 21st observance of National Migration Week January 3-9, highlighting its ongoing efforts to raise public awareness of the plight of refugees and immigrants, and encouraging outreach to "the stranger among us."
Bishops' Spokesman Hails Temporary Protected Status For Honduras and Nicaragua, Urges Reconsideration for El Salvador, Guatemala (98-270)
December 30, 1998
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Migration, welcomed the decision by the U.S. government today that the countries of Honduras and Nicaragua have been granted Temporary Protected Status in the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Mitch in Central America.
Spanish-Language Public Service TV Ads Promoting Family Relationships To Be Launched Nationwide by Catholic Church (98-214)
October 13, 1998
Two public service TV ads designed for the Hispanic community will be distributed the week of October 12 to more than 60 Spanish TV stations throughout the country.
New Series in Successful Spanish-Language Radio Campaign Launched (98-183)
August 31, 1998
Building on the success of last year's acclaimed Spanish-language public service radio announcements, the Catholic Communication Campaign has launched a new series of eight advertisements in the campaign, "La familia unida esperanza en la vida" ("A united family provides hope throughout our lives").
North and South American Church Relations on Bishops' Agenda; Book on Topic Wins Award (98-141)
June 16, 1998
U.S. Bishops meeting later this week in Pittsburgh will discuss ways to build relationships between the Church in the United States and in Latin America, just as a tool they have used to raise awareness of the topic has been honored by Catholic journalists.
Assistant Director for Latin America Secretariat Named (98-136)
June 11, 1998
Daniel A. Liz�rraga, currently a field representative for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, has been named Associate Director of the Secretariat for Latin America at the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Church Leaders to Expand Common Witness in Mission Work (98-116)
May 21, 1998
Approximately 70 Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Evangelical and Orthodox participants explored the changing character of mission work and how that work might be better accomplished ecumenically at the Third Ecumenical Conference on Common Witness.
Latin American Projects Funded by U.S. Bishops (98-079)
April 14, 1998
The Bishops' Committee on the Church in Latin America has approved funding for 120 projects across that region, completing the first half of their semi-annual grants process for 1998. A second round of grants will be approved in November.
U.S., German Bishops Discuss Initiatives for Latin America (98-060)
March 12, 1998
In the cooperative spirit of last year's Synod of Bishops for America, Bishops from Germany and the United States have opened a dialogue on ways to offer financial assistance to the Chuch in Latin America.
U.S. Bishops' Conference and Celam Held Catechetical Meeting (98-041)
February 17, 1998
Representatives of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference (NCCB/USCC) met recently with representatives of the Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM) to discuss catechesis in America.
Hispanics' Fourth Encuentro in Year 2000 Approved by Bishops (97-251)
November 10, 1997
The Bishops of the United States will invite all members of the Church to celebrate the Millennium with them by gathering for the fourth national Encuentro in the year 2000, following a vote today by their national meeting here.
Statement Commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month (97-223)
October 17, 1997
With a focus on new immigrants from Latin America, the Chairman of the Bishops' Committee on Hispanic Affairs has issued a statement commemorating October's Hispanic Heritage Month and the D�a de la Raza.
Mission Spirit of the Church Is Focus of Television Special (97-186)
September 2, 1997
Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston will participate in a television special exploring how Catholics in the United States have experienced their faith in practice by reaching out to their brothers and sisters in Latin America.
1997-1998 Respect Life Materials Are Now Available (97-167)
August 22, 1997
Materials for the 1997-98 Respect Life program are now available from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Respect Life Sunday, which begins the year-long effort, falls on October 5 this year.
South African, African American Women To Continue Dialogue Begun in 1996 (97-181)
August 26, 1997
Fulfilling a promise made at the conclusion of historic meetings in South Africa last October to continue their dialogue, African American Catholic women will host a delegation of women from southern Africa, September 5-7, in the Washington suburbs.
Vietnamese Catholic Congress to Hear from Archbishop Imprisoned for 13 Years (97-156)
July 18, 1997
Archbishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who now works in the Vatican after spending 13 years in Vietnamese prisons, will lead several sessions at the third biennial Vietnamese Catholic Congress in Houston, July 21 to July 25.
Hispanic Ministry Leaders to Gather in Denver (97-118)
June 9, 1997
Diocesan Hispanic ministry leaders will continue their preparations for the Millennium at a three-day meeting at the University of Denver June 23 to June 26.
NCCB Official Returns to Alma Mater to Receive Honorary Doctorate (97-098)
May 9, 1997
Father James Ronan, Executive Director of the Bishops' Secretariat for the Church in Latin America, will return to his alma mater this weekend to receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Synod Preparation Should Include Committee's New Book, Chairman Says (97-064)
March 19, 1997
Formal announcement by Pope John Paul II of a special meeting of the Bishops of North and South America for late 1997 is expected soon, and one United States Bishop is hailing a recently published book as a "must read" for those who will attend.

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