Building up faith communities that transform

What's New

Get email updates
Receive stories of faith and impact

COVID-19 Emergency Response

Catholic Extension supports Catholic communities in poor and isolated areas across the country. The COVID-19 crisis has ravaged these already struggling faith communities.

They need your help—now more than ever.

If you can, please consider a gift to help those in need.

  • Give

    Poor faith communities need your help—now more than ever.
    Read More

  • Pray

    Join us for online Mass, prayer and reflection.
    Read More

  • Inspire

    Inspire your faith with stories of Catholic solidarity during COVID-19.
    Read More

What We Do

Catholic Extension works in solidarity with people in America’s poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities.

We organize our work around these areas.

Click the images below to learn more.

  • Developing Leaders

    Catholic Extension offers financial asistant to 150 lay leaders and religious sisters attending Catholic universities across the country.
    Read More

  • Building Churches

    Catholic Extension funds the construction and renovation of churches and other critical church facilities.
    Read More

  • Strengthening Ministries

    Catholic Extension funds the operation of ministries that extend a basic church presence to the most under-resourced communities.
    Read More

  • Reaching Out to the Poor & Vulnerable

    Catholic Extension funds a variety of pastoral and social outreach efforts of the Church.
    Read More

  • Educating Seminarians

    Catholic Extension supports more than 550 future priests from around the country.
    Read More

  • Engaging Youth

    Catholic Extension supports ministries that provide faith formation for children, teens, and young adults and families.
    Read More

How You Can Help

Our Impact

We believe that faith communities are transformative — that it changes who we are, how we live and how we see the possibilities in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

  • 770+

    scholarships
    to Catholic universities given to lay leaders and religious sisters

  • 1/5

    US Catholics
    live in areas supported by Catholic Extension

  • 12,500

    grants
    provided for church buildings since 1905

  • 550+

    seminarians
    in poor dioceses receiving annual assistance.

  • 2,000+

    grants
    awarded annually to dioceses

View Our Annual Report

Where We Work

Catholic Extension’s mission areas are identified as isolated and/or financially under-resourced dioceses in the United States.

  • 86

    Catholic dioceses distributed throughout United States

  • 34

    States and 5 territories receive help and sponsorship for their communities.

  • 1

    Mission: to work in solidarity with people in America’s poorest regions to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities.

Explore Our Mission Areas

Get Involved