President Rev. John J. Wall Affiliations Roman Catholic Church | Main organ Board of Governors | |
Formation 18 October 1905; 111 years ago (1905-10-18) Purpose Supports poor mission dioceses across the United States Location 150 South Wacker Dr, 20th fl
Chicago, IL 60606 | ||
Catholic Extension (also known as "Catholic Church Extension Society") is a national fundraising organization which supports and strengthens poor mission dioceses across the United States. They provide funding and resources to dioceses and parishes through programs and services investing in people, infrastructure and ministries. This support is given based on need, passion and commitment to the growth of the Catholic faith.
Contents
History
Father Francis Kelley from Lapeer, Michigan, first envisioned Catholic Extension in 1905. Through his travels, he discovered places and communities that were struggling to keep the Catholic faith alive and growing. The Archbishop of Chicago, James Edward Quigley, agreed to help Father Kelley launch this new organization. As a result, the Catholic Church Extension Society was organized on October 18, 1905. Temporary headquarters were established in Lapeer, Michigan, where a charter was granted to the society by the state of Michigan on December 25, 1905.
In January 1907, society headquarters were moved to Chicago, and the president was transferred to that archdiocese. In April 1906, the society began the publication of a quarterly bulletin called Extension. In May 1907, this quarterly was enlarged and changed into a monthly bulletin.
On June 7, 1907, Catholic Extension received its first papal approval by an Apostolic Letter of Pope Pius X addressed to the Archbishop of Chicago. Almost exactly three years later, on June 9, 1910, the Pope issued a brief by which the society was raised to the dignity of a canonical institution directly under his own guidance and protection. By the terms of this brief, the Archbishop of Chicago will always remain chancellor of the Society, and the president must be appointed by the Pope himself. The President's term of office is not more than five years. The board of governors has the right to propose three names to the Holy See for this office, and to elect, according to their laws, all other officers of the society.
Leadership
Past presidents
Extension Magazine
In 1906, just six months after founding Catholic Extension, Father Francis Clement Kelley envisioned a new way to communicate the needs of the Church in frontier America to Catholic homes across the United States. Thus, Extension magazine was born, with Father Kelley serving as the original writer, editor and publisher. Since then, Extension has developed in a collection of articles—illustrating the history of the Catholic Church in America and telling the moving stories of spirit-filled Catholics across the United States. A now quarterly publication, Extension is the voice of Catholic Extension's mission to strengthen the Church in America's poor mission dioceses.
Lumen Christi Award
Every year, Catholic Extension's Lumen Christi Award honors an individual or group working in one of America's mission dioceses who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities. The Lumen Christi Award is accompanied by a $50,000 grant - $25,000 for the honoree and $25,000 for his or her nominating diocese.