How We Help

Evangelization and Religious Education

All Catholics are missionaries - and are called upon to bring Christ to the nation's poorest, most isolated home missions. This part of Catholic Extension's work is vital and unceasing. Grants provide training and teaching materials for religious education to lead classes for children and adults in 56 dioceses.

Missionary Salary Subsidies (Priests and Religious)

Memorial Masses to Mission Priests

To help with bare minimum living expenses, Catholic Extension provides small monthly stipends of support to priests, religious, deacons, and lay ministers in America's mission areas. Some 400 receive salary subsidies so they can work in impoverished and rural communities. Offerings are distributed to missionaries in 40 dioceses for the celebration of Masses for the special intentions of donors.

Church Construction, Repair, and Furnishings

Catholic Extension donations assist in the construction and repair of church buildings - more than 12,000 across the United States since 1905.

Vocations/Seminarian Education

The cost of forming priests in the seminary is high, and with help from friends of Catholic Extension, many fine men called to the priesthood are able to answer the call. Donors help defray the cost of tuition, books, and liturgical supplies for more than 400 seminarians so they can one day serve the missions.

Donor Directed Grants

Grants help support projects specifically in line with the donors' wishes for the education and formation of faith and other ministries.

Emergency Relief and Other Special Aid

In the event of emergencies and natural disasters in mission areas, Catholic Extension stands ready to bolster the affected faith communities with emergency relief funds, thanks to the ongoing support of our donors.

Campus Ministry and Newman Centers

To strengthen young Catholic college students in practicing their faith, the sacraments, religious instruction, and counseling are provided at more than 90 state or private college campuses in 38 dioceses through grants from Catholic Extension.

Church Goods

Catholic Bibles, vestments, chalices, and other liturgical items are furnished to missions.