Collection Sept. 17-18 supports local, global Catholic media

Catholics in the Archdiocese of New Orleans will have the opportunity to give to support the Catholic Church’s communications efforts at all Masses Sept. 17-18.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) works to spread the Gospel through the media in all its forms. Its work is funded by an annual collection through which the faithful can support their local diocesan communications efforts, while also supporting national and international initiatives.

“Communicating the Gospel message is at the heart of evangelization,” said Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., of Atlanta, chairman of the USCCB Communication Committee’s Subcommittee on the Catholic Communication Campaign. “Through your gift, the church is able to spread the faith, hope and love of Jesus Christ, and of his church, both here at home and abroad to people and places where the word of God is needed most.”

One half of all donations made in the parish to the Catholic Communication Campaign collection remains in the Archdiocese of New Orleans to support local communications projects, including the award-winning Clarion Herald, recognized in 2022 by the Catholic media Association as the Best Non-Weekly Catholic Newspaper in the U.S. and Canada.

Other projects often include support for website updates and outreach campaigns or Mass and television programs to reach the faithful and share the Good News. The other half goes to the USCCB to be awarded in the form of national and international grants.

Global impact as well

In 2021, the Catholic Communication Campaign awarded more than $3 million.

The CCC also awarded a grant to support the communications efforts related to a gathering in Chicago in June 2022 for “Journeying Together: A National Intercultural Encounter for Ministries with Youth and Young Adults.” This event supporting the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church combines synodal listening and discernment to hear the voices and perspectives of Catholics from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Other initiatives supported include evangelization, creating digital resources that help the faithful better understand the richness of Catholic teaching, producing documentaries and videos on the lives of exemplary modern-day Catholics on the path to beatification and preserving church history.

The CCC has assisted with initiatives to keep mariners and seafarers connected to the faith, radio communications and television ministry. Gifts to the campaign will create a new app that the Apostleship of the Sea of the U.S. developed years ago to help seafarers maintain a spiritual life and find pastoral care in port.