Collection for the Church in Latin America: Please inform parishioners about the upcoming collection for the Church in Latin America, the weekend of January 21-22, 2023. Gifts help fellow Catholics in Latin America and the Caribbean to live a more faith filled life through prayer, study of the faith, fellowship and service. The Diocese of Les Gonaïves in Haiti has used proceeds from the collection to support seminars and workshops as well as activities that build community and help people better serve the sick and imprisoned. Visit the USCCB website for a Parish Resource Guide about the special collection.
Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe: The collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe will be taken up on Ash Wednesday. Donated funds are used to help the Church to overcome the challenges of rebuilding after decades of communist rule. The most effective thing you can do to promote the collection is to mention it at Mass. Visit the USCCB website for a Parish Resource Guide. Bulletin announcements are also provided to promote the annual collection to Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE).
CRS Lenten Resources: Lent is fast approaching! Catholic Relief Services (CRS) offers several resources to inform and enter into this sacrificial liturgical period.
- Lenten Resources for parishes with planning ideas, educational resources and other tools to use for a successful Lenten collection.
- Lenten Resources for teachers to use for the Rice Bowl campaign. Resources include communication tools, lesson plans and activities for grades 1-8, and prayer resources.
A majority of the funds goes to fund CRS national projects, and 25% of funds collected goes directly to support local organizations without our diocese. If you have questions about the collection, contact Donna Moore in the Office for the Missions, at 217-321-1161.
MCA Annual Christmas Artwork Contest: Calling All Young Artists – Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) has an annual Christmas Artwork Contest for students from K-8th grade. Entries should be sent to the Office for the Missions, 1615 W. Washington St, Springfield, IL 62702 no later than January 31, 2023. Local, diocesan winners will be submitted to the National Office of the Missionary Childhood Association. National winners will be on display in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Throughout Advent and Christmas 2023. General information, guidelines and entry form can be found at: MCA Artwork Contest Entry Form (missio.org). Please share this information with school principals, art teachers, and DREs.
Rome MCA Artwork contest: The International Secretariat of the Missionary Childhood Association in Rome is launching a drawing competition to celebrate the occasion of the centenary of the designation of the first three societies as “pontifical.” The theme for the drawing competition is: "What does it mean for me that Missionary Childhood is pontifical?"
The competition is for children in grades K-8. Each entry should include: a drawing, a brief description of the drawing (no more than 100 words), and an explanation of the meaning of “pontifical” (no more than 400 words). Attached to each entry should be a sheet of paper with the student's first and last name, their age, school/parish, city, email, and phone number.
Send artwork, description, and essay to the Office for the Missions, 1615 W. Washington St, Springfield, IL 62702 NLT February 15, 2023. Select artwork and essays will be forwarded to the National Office to be considered for inclusion in a book, with winning drawings from around the world, that will be presented to the Holy Father.