Catholic Kinship Across America

Saint Paul Mission parishes in Dillingham are comprised of 30 villages—some with under 50 residents—that are only accessible by plane. Pastors like Father Scott Hikes often fly through treacherous weather conditions to deliver the sacraments and the Eucharist. He is dedicated to providing a basic Catholic presence to the many Native Alaskans scattered throughout the remote region.

Queen of All Saints is located in the Appalachian mountain area. At least 38% of the people live below the poverty line. At the same time, less than 1% of the population is Catholic. Yet it is these small Catholic Churches that are making a difference in their communities by helping everyone who is in need. Queen of All Saints operates a local parish outreach center, which delivers essential items such as coats, blankets and diapers, to the poor and homeless.

St. Teresa Mission is located along the U.S.-Mexico border, where more than a third of residents live below poverty. Sister Silvia is the parish administrator and is working hard to care for the basic necessities of her people by distributing food, but she also realizes that her people are starved for human and spiritual connection.

Sacred Heart, a mostly African-American parish about an hour north of Jackson, Mississippi, offers a variety of social outreach. Sacred Heart serves lunches to seniors and the homebound of the region every day, offers summer and after-school programs for children, food pantry, credit union, day care, housing rehabilitation, and financial literacy classes, all of which contributes to the life of the local community. Sacred Heart is located in a small, rural community where 60% of the people live below poverty level, and only 2% are Catholic.

St. Anne Mission Church on Navajo Nation serves the physical and spiritual needs of the Native American families living on the reservation. The area’s remoteness presents daily challenges for this community. Sister Monica Dubois leads the mission’s vital work. She helps to provide parish activities for Navajo youth, such as group meetings and summer Bible camps. She provides clothing and a food pantry to address the area’s extreme poverty.