Catholic Extension grants $175,000 in emergency relief funding to border dioceses

Catholic Extension announced that it is providing emergency relief funding to six border dioceses based on each diocese’s existing needs. Direct funding is being made to the dioceses of Las Cruces, Laredo, Tucson, Brownsville, El Paso and San Bernardino.

“We feel we have a moral responsibility to help the dioceses that are exhausting their resources on this monumental humanitarian crisis,” Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension, said. “No federal government funding has been received. In this vacuum, Catholic Extension is called to step up to support these heroic people at work in the dioceses. They are demonstrating love and outreach to the strangers who have shown up at their door.”

Catholic Extension’s reach continues to expand due to growing need for essential resources. In under-resourced dioceses all along the United States-Mexico border, thousands of Catholics live in communities that lack basic city support services and infrastructure.

Among the six dioceses, supported through this initiative along or near the Mexican border, there are 3.6 million Catholics—many of whom live well below poverty compared to other dioceses in the country.

In addition to these difficulties, the current international crises unfolding on the U.S. border is estimated to bring approximately 90,000 unaccompanied children into the United States in 2014, mostly from Central American countries. This will put a heavy strain on personnel, volunteers, and social services that must respond to the large numbers and needs of this population.

By providing the funding necessary for much-needed resources, Catholic Extension is a critical partner to these Catholic dioceses whose mission is to empower individuals and families to have faith, hope and opportunity, Father Wall said.