The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America approved funding for 132 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, worth over $3.1 million, to aid pastoral work in that region. The funds also will allow young people to attend World Youth Day (WYD) inBrazil, July 23-28.
On March 21, the subcommittee approved a total of 129 grants for projects in 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and three for reconstruction efforts inHaiti. The amounts awarded were a little over $2 million from the Collection for the Church in Latin America, and $1.1 million from the Special Collection for the Church inHaiti, which funds the reconstruction projects.
Some conferences of bishops received funding to strengthen youth ministry programs in preparation for World Youth Day. For example, the Conference of Bishops of Ecuador received a $30,000 grant to hold their third National Youth Congress. This event will help gather youth who are unable to go to WYD and prepare those who will attend the event inBrazil. “We are very glad to continue helping youth across the hemisphere to attend World Youth Day and have an opportunity to see Pope Francis,” said Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo, M.Sp.S, auxiliary bishop ofSeattleand chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Church inLatin America.
“We are committed to supporting migrants and helping provide pastoral care to them not only in our country but also across theAmericas. With this in mind, projects related to the pastoral care of migrants and refugees also received funding at this meeting,” said Bishop Elizondo.
InPeru, the conference of bishops received a grant of $15,000 to strengthen Pastoral de Movilidad Humana, the conference’s official organization for the pastoral care of migrants.
The subcommittee also supports the pastoral care of migrants at the regional level. Members approved funding for Latin American Church leaders to attend this year’s Consultation on Migration, which will take place inLos Angeles. The consultation brings together Church leaders from theUnited Statesand over ten countries in the Caribbean,MexicoandCentral America. Representatives will work to understand the impact of migration and to improve the pastoral care of migrant workers.
InHaiti, reconstruction grants are showing results. “We are pleased to see our efforts beginning to pay off as reconstruction is finally gaining momentum for theChurchofHaiti. Our approval of new reconstruction grants helps maintain this momentum,” said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski ofMiami, a member of the Subcommittee on the Church inLatin America. “We also are pleased to continue supporting pastoral projects throughoutHaiti.”
The subcommittee approved $575,000 for the reconstruction of thechurchofSainte Genevievedes Orangers, in a poor and rural suburb ofPort-au-Prince, near Croix des Bouquets. The church, built in 1978, was damaged by the 2010 earthquake, and must be demolished and reconstructed. This grant, combined with a $50,000 gift from a parish inHartford,Conn., will allow for reconstruction.
The Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America oversees the Collection for the Church in Latin Americaas part of the USCCB Committee on National Collections. More information on the Collection for the Church in Latin Americaand the projects it funds can be found at:www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/latin-america/
