Washington D.C., Oct 21, 2009 / 04:14 am
This year’s Collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is intended to help struggling families in the midst of the national economic crisis, the U.S. bishops’ conference says.
The Collection, which has as its theme “Families are struggling. Faith is Calling,” will be held in most Catholic parishes the weekend of November 21-22, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reports.
The USCCB said that many face insecurity in employment, health care and retirement. The U.S. Census estimates there are 39.8 million people in poverty in the U.S., an increase of almost three million over the previous year.
Bishop of Biloxi, Mississippi Roger Morin, who chairs the USCCB Subcommittee on CCHD, described the purpose of the campaign’s “crucial” mission: “To uplift and embolden all who are one layoff or one medical scare away from the poverty line—and all who are already there.”