The largest rebuilding project
in American Christianity
In 2017, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, causing over 3,000 deaths and more than $100 billion in damages—including severe destruction to Catholic churches and schools.
The dioceses of Puerto Rico asked Catholic Extension Society to lead the establishment of an island-wide recovery program.
Catholic Extension Society has had a strong relationship with Puerto Rico since our founding in 1905. Our support increased exponentially since the hurricane, when we began collaborating with five dioceses on this project.
Now in 2025, we are set to begin the construction process to repair over 600 damaged Catholic churches, schools and other critical facilities.
A groundbreaking ceremony on March 31, 2025, at the Cathedral of San Juan, marks the beginning of the construction phase of the project. This historic 16th century building sustained heavy hurricane damage. It will be among over 600 Catholic churches, 25 schools and other church facilities to be repaired or rebuilt.
Catholic Extension Society helped the Puerto Rican dioceses secure $400 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We established a recovery team, including an office based in Puerto Rico and staffed by local professional experts, to help the dioceses submit applications and navigate the complex funding requirements.
The churches and schools damaged in the 2020 catastrophic earthquakes are included in the recovery project as well.
The recovery program, which is estimated to take years to complete, will strengthen Catholic infrastructure, allowing for greater spiritual and charitable care on an island where nearly 45% of the population lives in poverty. The reinforced Catholic Church buildings will provide greater shelter and security to save lives in the face of future disasters.
Read the stories below to learn about the resilience, creativity and unwavering faith of Catholic parishes, priests and leaders in Puerto Rico during these turbulent years:
Pope Francis has taken great interest in and supported Catholic Extension Society’s work to rebuild Puerto Rico. He has sent our chancellor, Cardinal Blase Cupich, to the island to make pastoral visits on his behalf and to keep him informed on the reconstruction progress.
In 2018 we brought the Holy Father a Puerto Rican flag, which he blessed. He is pictured here with our president, Father Jack Wall, in Rome. We hand-delivered the flag back to Catholic leaders in Puerto Rico.
Pope Francis told Catholic Extension Society:
I thank you for your valuable contributions to the rebuilding of the Church and the broader society in Puerto Rico, following the various hurricanes and earthquakes which brought such devastation to the island in recent years.”
The progress we have made in Puerto Rico to date gives us hope, but there is still so much to be done.
While FEMA funds will cover a significant portion of reconstruction costs, many program expenses and facility needs remain unfunded. We are asking for additional support to ensure that this recovery effort can be fully executed across Puerto Rico.
Your generosity can help ensure that Catholic churches, schools, and service centers in Puerto Rico rise again.
You can help Puerto Rican children—like these students pictured here, whose school gym is still ruined from the hurricane—experience a brighter, hopeful future!
Or, make a donation by contacting:
Gildren Bengoa, Director of Development
Email: gbengoa@catholicextension.org
Phone: 786-616-0255
Among the many ways Catholic Extension Society has supported the Church in Puerto Rico, building and repairing churches has been the most central and consistent form of assistance. Since 1905, we have supported 1,400 construction and repair projects across Puerto Rico. There are few churches on the island that Catholic Extension Society has not helped at some point in our history.
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Rebuild 600+ churches and schools in Puerto Rico