Bishops in U.S. mission areas discuss financial, ministry challenges

Published: 2004-09-13

CHICAGO (CNS) -- In many ways, mission dioceses in the United States need what they have always needed: enough money and people to provide the basics, according to their bishops. They need money to build adequate worship space, to feed and support priests, to pay lay ministers who can help form children and adults, and to educate seminarians who can be shepherds to their people. But now they face new challenges, including a huge influx of immigrants from Latin American countries; the gift and burden of new technologies that can both help and hinder communication; and the call to develop lay leadership. Those were among the messages about 50 bishops from mission dioceses delivered to the leaders of the Catholic Church Extension Society. The society will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, and to prepare to move ahead, the society invited the bishops to come together Sept. 7-8 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary to share their stories with one another, talk about what further assistance the society could offer and suggest ways to build awareness.

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