Catholic Extension, U.S. home mission agency, marks 100 years

Published: 2005-01-17

CHICAGO (CNS) -- The Catholic Church Extension Society has marked its centenary with an educational book and videotape on the home missions, the thousands of remote places in the United States where Catholics in the 21st century have no resident priest or where they gather to worship in a local school, fire station or living room. The society, more commonly known as Catholic Extension or just Extension, was formed in 1905 by Father Francis C. Kelley, a Canadian-born priest serving in Michigan. He pioneered the work of asking Catholics in more affluent parishes to help poorer congregations by building parish churches and funding mission work throughout large areas of the country. Even today 80 of the 195 U.S. dioceses depend on outside assistance, says the video, "The Invisible Church: America's Catholic Missions." The 56-page book, "Mission America," looks at the history and current challenges of U.S. mission areas. It reports that over the past century Extension has helped build or expand nearly 12,000 churches. The video, "The Invisible Church," costs $12.95; the book, "Mission America," costs $5.95; together they cost $16.95. More information is available by calling: (888) 47-FAITH (473-2484), or on the Internet at: www.catholicextension.org.

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