THE CHURCH IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

“Your people shall rebuild the ancient ruins;the foundations from ages past you shall raise up;‘Repairer of the breach,’ they shall call you,‘Restorer of ruined dwellings.’ ”

—Isaiah 58:12

“Reedificarán, de ti, tus ruinas antiguas,levantarás los cimientos de pasadas generaciones,se te llamará Reparador de brechas,y Restaurador de senderos frecuentados”.

—Isaías 58:12

Dear Pastor/Parish Administrator,

The Church in Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE) endured a difficult past marred by oppressive political and religious regimes. Often, church buildings were confiscated, communities were destroyed, pastors were arrested and many martyred, and the faith was practiced secretly. Today, these churches are rebuilding their community life. Through this collection, your parishioners can help rebuild not only their physical places of worship but also their church ministries and outreach.

The city of Rreshen in Albania is home to one community working to rebuild community and hope in the wake of communist rule. In this depressed mountain area, many young people find themselves tempted by drugs, alcohol, and violence in a culture that was devastated by the worst communist regime in the region. With your support of the collection for CCEE, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul will be able to renovate a crumbling house and transform it into a caring home for Albanian youth, a makeshift medical clinic, and a food pantry for the poor. In this home, the sisters will offer activities so young people are given the opportunity to broaden their skills and interests and build a hopeful future. In supporting this collection, you accompany these sisters to the peripheries and embody Pope Francis’s call to serve marginalized communities.

The most effective thing you can do to promote the collection is to mention it at Mass. Use the parish appeal and bulletin announcement found inside this mailer, and find additional resources online at www.usccb.org/ccee/collection. If you have questions, please contact Nicole Germain, assistant director for promotions, at 202-541-3346 or at ncpromo@usccb.org.

Thank you for your continued support to build the future for communities in Central and Eastern Europe.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Cardinal Blase J. CupichChairman, Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe

to promote the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe:

1 ANNOUNCE the collection. Use the bulletin announcements and parish appeal to educate your

parishioners about the collection and the people it supports. This is the best way to ensure the success of the collection. Additional resources, including a social media tool kit and print ads, can be found at www.usccb.org/ccee/collection.

2 PREACH about the troubles facing the people in the region and the work being done by the Church in

Central and Eastern Europe to combat them, such as the story of Albania included in this resource.

3 PRAY as a community for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, that God will give strength to those

who serve and relief to those who suffer.

Parish AppealENGLISH

This week, our second collection is for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. The fall of communism occurred over 25 years ago, but the Church continues to struggle to rebuild after 70 years of oppressive rule. Many churches in this region were confiscated or destroyed, leaving the faithful without a place to worship or find spiritual nourishment. Your support of this collection will help to rebuild churches, support seminary programs, promote ministries and education for children and families, and renew community life around the region. Please be generous, and prayerfully consider how you can support this collection.

SPANISH

Nuestra segunda colecta esa semana es para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental. La caída del comunismo ocurrió hace ya más de 25 años pero la Iglesia continúa luchando para reconstruir luego de haber estado 70 años bajo un régimen opresivo. Muchas iglesias en esta región fueron confiscadas o destruidas dejando a los fieles sin un lugar en donde rendir culto o encontrar un alimento espiritual. El apoyo que le den a esta colecta ayudará a reconstruir iglesias, financiar programas para seminaristas, fomentar ministerios y educación para niños y familias y renovar la vida de la comunidad en esa región. Por favor, sean generosos y, en oración, consideren la manera de dar su apoyo a esta colecta.

Simple Steps

ALBANIA • ARMENIA • AZERBAIJAN • BELARUS • BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA • BULGARIA • CROATIA • CZECH REPUBLIC • ESTONIA

GEORGIA • HUNGARY • KAZAKHSTAN • KYRGYZSTAN • LATVIA • LITHUANIA • MACEDONIA • MOLDOVA • MONTENEGRO • POLAND

ROMANIA • RUSSIA • SERBIA • SLOVAKIA • SLOVENIA • TAJIKISTAN • TURKMENISTAN • UKRAINE • UZBEKISTAN

Bulletin AnnouncementsENGLISH

Week Before the CollectionNext week, we will take up the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. This collection supports the Church in over 25 countries that are still struggling to recover in the aftermath of communist rule. Funds from this collection support pastoral care, catechesis, building renovations, and seminary formation. Your support restores the Church and builds the future in this region. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection next week. More information can be found at www.usccb.org/ccee.

Week of the CollectionThis week, our second collection will be for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Your donation today helps restore the Church and build the future in over 25 countries still struggling to recover in the aftermath of communist rule. Funds from this collection help support reconstruction, education, formation, and poverty outreach. For more information, please visit www.usccb.org/ccee. Thank you for your generosity.

Week After the CollectionThank you for your generous contributions last week to the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe! As a parish, we collected $[amount] to help restore the Church and build the future in over 25 countries. If you missed the collection, it’s not too late to give, visit www.usccb.org/nationalcollections, and click on the “How to Give” link on the left.

SPANISH

Semana antes de la colectaLa próxima semana realizaremos la Colecta para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental. Esta colecta ayuda a la Iglesia en más de 25 países que están luchando por recuperarse luego del régimen comunista. Los fondos de esta colecta financian el cuidado pastoral, la catequesis, la renovación de edificios y la formación de seminaristas. El apoyo de ustedes restaura la iglesia y construye el futuro en esta región. Por favor, en oración, consideren la manera de dar su apoyo a la colecta la próxima semana. Más información la pueden encontrar en www.usccb.org/ccee.

Semana de la colectaEsta semana, nuestra segunda colecta será para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental. Sus donativos de hoy ayudarán a restaurar la iglesia y construir el futuro en más de 25 países que todavía están luchando por recuperarse luego del régimen comunista. Los fondos de esta colecta ayudan a financiar la reconstrucción, la educación y formación y la mejor manera de llegar a los pobres. Para más información, por favor, visiten www.usccb.org/ccee. Muchas gracias por su generosidad.

Semana después de la colecta¡Muchas gracias por sus generosas contribuciones a la Colecta para la Iglesia en Europa Central y Oriental la semana pasada! Como parroquia, hemos recaudado $[poner cantidad] para ayudar a restaurar la Iglesia y construir el futuro en más de 25 países. Si no alcanzaron a dar en la colecta, ¡todavía lo pueden hacer! Visiten www.usccb.org/nationalcollections, y hagan clic en el enlace “How to Give” al lado izquierdo.

To learn more about this collection or to find additional resources, please visit www.usccb.org/ccee.

Support the Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe

Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern EuropeOffice of National Collections3211 Fourth Street NE • Washington, DC 20017-1194

202-541-3400 • fax 202-541-3460 • www.usccb.org/nationalcollections

Copyright © 2017, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Photos: © Getty Images, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

DISTRIBUCIÓN DE DONACIONES 2016Número total de donaciones aprobadas: 239

Monto total aprobado y desembolsado: $7,069,646

ÁREA DE PROGRAMA

■ Construcción y equipo■ Apoyo operativo■ Programas de extensión

dirigido a los pobres y otros programas

■ Becas■ Educación, formación, y

evangelización■ Adquisición de vehículo■ Programas para las

comunicaciones

2016 DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTSTotal Number of Grants Approved: 239

Total Amount Approved and Paid: $7,069,646

PROGRAM AREA

■ Construction and Equipment

■ Operational Support■ Poverty Outreach

and Miscellaneous Programs

■ Scholarships■ Education, Formation,

and Evangelization■ Vehicle Purchase■ Communications

Programs