As Catholic Extension Society approaches our 120th year since our founding, we can say with confidence that our mission—to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities in the poorest regions of America—has not slowed down in the slightest.
In our early days, our founder, Father Francis Clement Kelley, recognized that small Catholic communities were developing all over the frontier lands of the country, but lacked the presence of a church. In addition to helping to build thousands of mission churches throughout the country, Catholic Extension Society also converted trains into mobile churches, delivering the Eucharist, the word of God and hope to these burgeoning communities.
Today, our mission is still “full speed ahead,” and we continue to develop initiatives tailored specifically to address the ever-changing needs of our country today.
Whether its identifying and investing in the Catholic leaders of the future; building new churches or Catholic outreach centers; launching cutting-edge programs; or remaining steadfast in our support of ministries and parishes that cannot sustain themselves—Catholic Extension Society remains at the forefront of building up the Church in America. The photos below showcase just a few examples of our mission in action this year:
44 Latin American sisters earn their university degrees
Sister Gladys Toapanta celebrates with 43 other Latin American women religious after they earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in May this year. They are part of our U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program, which invites Catholic sisters from religious congregations founded and based in Latin America to pursue a university degree as they create new ministries in the poorest regions of America.
Sister Gladys, who is originally from Ecuador, and two other women in her congregation, Siervas Misioneras del Cristo Rey (Missionary Servants of Christ the King), arrived in southern Missouri in 2019. For the next five years they ministered among Hispanic families as they pursued their degrees.
To date, 150 sisters from 44 congregations and 11 countries have participated in this program. All graduates are now deploying their newfound knowledge, skills and confidence in their ministries to serve hundreds of thousands of the poorest among us—benefiting all of society.
The legacy of the Josephites lives on
An altar server prepares to join the Mass procession at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Pascagoula, Mississippi. This parish was founded by the Josephites, a religious order of priests dedicated to serving African American communities. The Josephites have served over 170 parishes throughout the U.S. The education and care provided in these missions transformed entire families and communities. Read our story about the Josephites here.
Catholic Extension Society has supported the work of the Josephites for over a century, and also helped rebuild St. Peter the Apostle after it was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. (The plaque in the background of this photo commemorates our support!)
A Filipino feast day for all
Faithful celebrate the Feast of Santo Niño at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The Filipino tradition has become a holy day for everyone at this diverse parish. A few years ago the pastor, Msgr. Scott Friend, began welcoming the area’s increasing Filipino community into the church and celebrating Mass in their language.
This growing, diverse faith community sees itself as one universal family. They come together every Wednesday night to share a meal representing 18 different countries! Read about how this parish embodies a modern-day Pentecost here.
A lifesaving medical mission on wheels
Sister Mary Lisa Renfer leads her patient, Carolyn Dunaway, into St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic—a fully equipped doctor’s office on wheels. Dunaway credits the clinic for saving her life after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
As a Religious Sister of Mercy, physician, and medical director of the clinic, Sister Mary Lisa and her team of staff and volunteers provide free, quality healthcare—as well as spiritual care—to the medically uninsured in rural areas of East Tennessee.
She received our Lumen Christi Award this year for her compassionate leadership of this lifesaving, rapidly growing ministry. Speaking of her patients, she said, “they are worthy to be treated as a whole human person because of just who they are as a child of God.” Read the full story here.
New center constructed to transform a Texas colonia
Workers construct the second Proyecto Desarrollo Humano (Human Development Project) site in the colonia of El Faco, Texas. A colonia is a community without basic services or infrastructure such as paved roads, electricity or plumbing.
The first PDH center was founded 20 years ago in another nearby colonia called Peñitas, Texas, by the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The center provides economically poor residents a place to improve their education, health, professional skill sets and faith lives. Today, the center is thriving. The second site will expand this mission, giving El Flaco families an uplifting place that recognizes their God-given potential and offers opportunities to change their lives for the better.
Puerto Rico’s next steps on the long road to recovery
Catholic Extension Society is helping the Church in Puerto Rico rebuild hundreds of Catholic churches and schools that were damaged from natural disasters in the past few years, including Hurricane Maria and several earthquakes.
The Church’s impact in Puerto Rican society is profound as it serves the poor and suffering. With help from Catholic Extension Society, Catholic leaders on the island immediately responded to the dire pastoral and humanitarian needs that arose following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. On behalf of the bishops in Puerto Rico, Catholic Extension Society has led the efforts to secure funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to rebuild and fortify 600 of these structures so they can withstand future disasters. This has become one of the largest rebuilding projects in the history of American Christianity. Catholic Extension Society has supported Puerto Rico since its first days as a U.S. territory.
Counseling facility built to help healing in Uvalde
This year, Catholic Extension Society helped build an on-site counseling facility at Sacred Heart School in Uvalde, Texas. The center is providing a safe place for ongoing healing for the entire
community, which lost 19 children and two beloved teachers in the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.
We continue to walk in solidarity with the Uvalde community. To date, we have awarded 30 full scholarships to children of Robb Elementary to attend Sacred Heart Elementary following the tragedy, and have partnered with Uvalde-based Teresian nuns to support summer camps, therapeutic programs, and outreach to families. Read more about our support in Uvalde.
Native sacred symbols enrich the Church in Montana
A statute of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, resides at St. Thomas Catholic Church on the Fort Belknap Reservation in Montana. The reservation is home to Assiniboine (Nakoda) and Gros Ventre (Aaniiih) tribes.
The flag behind St. Kateri depicts a medicine wheel, a sacred symbol among many Native American tribes. The four colors represent concepts such as the four directions and the cycles of nature and life.
Catholic Extension Society supports Catholic faith communities among 40 distinct tribes, nations and reservations.
Remembering Father Norman Fischer: A joyful, beloved priest
In July, we joined the Lexington, Kentucky, community in mourning the loss of Father Norman Fischer. The devoted pastor passed away suddenly at the age of 50.
Father Fischer was known for his work among marginalized communities in Lexington and beyond. Under his leadership, the parish community of St. Peter Claver came to embody the beautiful diversity of God’s family. He enthusiastically led the building campaign for the new, beautiful St. Peter Claver Church built just last year.
He was beloved by all, including Catholic Extension Society staff. We will miss his boundless energy, can-do attitude and beaming smile. However, we know we need only to remember Father Fischer to inspire us in our mission to build up vibrant and transformative faith communities like his. Read our reflection on his legacy here.
A bar-turned-church offers a warm welcome
Our president, Father Jack Wall, speaks with parishioners outside San Pablo Mission in Beryl Junction, Utah. This extremely isolated and tiny church, which used to be a bar, manages to draw scores of Catholics from the surrounding area. Catholic Extension Society supports the priests who travel to this community to offer the sacraments. The married couple in the photo, Rosario and Ruben, helped the community through its grief after a mine collapse in 2007 killed six people. Rosario is a graduate of our Mujer Valiente program, which empowers Latina women to become leaders and evangelizers.
The vitality of this little parish serves as a reminder that sometimes the simplest churches can also be the most sacred. These families are looking to partner with Catholic Extension Society to build a larger church across the road.
Related: Check out our top photos from 2023, 2022, and 2021.
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. Please support our mission!
