Building up Catholic faith communities in America's poorest regions

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What We Do

Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America.

We organize our work around these areas.

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  • Developing Leaders

    Catholic Extension Society offers financial assistance to lay leaders and religious sisters attending Catholic universities across the country.
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  • Building Churches

    Catholic Extension Society funds the construction and renovation of churches and other critical church facilities.
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  • Strengthening Ministries

    Catholic Extension Society funds the operation of ministries that extend a basic church presence to the most under-resourced communities.
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  • Reaching Out to the Poor & Vulnerable

    Catholic Extension Society funds a variety of pastoral and social outreach efforts of the Church.
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  • Educating Seminarians

    Catholic Extension Society supports hundreds of future priests from around the country.
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  • Engaging Youth

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

  • 13,000

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

  • 87

    Catholic dioceses distributed throughout United States

  • 35

    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

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