Please find attached the CRS Emergency Factsheet on Venezuela and a Prayer for the People of Venezuela (Maryknoll). While the full impact of this situation is still unfolding, the needs of Venezuelan families are already overwhelming. They need support—and the Church is there, ready to respond.
Please support and share the CRS Save Lives Campaign—an urgent call to action in response to a global funding crisis that threatens millions of lives.
Save Lives: Your Support, Their Survival is Catholic Relief Services’ initiative to sustain critical humanitarian programs amid declining aid. These programs provide essential food, water, shelter, and health care to vulnerable communities around the world.
Every day, lives are lost to preventable tragedies that can be averted through timely action, coordinated efforts, and unwavering commitment. The Save Lives Campaign is a beacon of hope, calling us to unite, mobilize, and act. Your support truly means survival.
Enhance your work for justice with these new advocacy how-to videos, including how to write impactful letters to your congressional members. The complete set of videos, in both English and Spanish, is available here.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS is the official international relief and development agency of the United States Catholic community. The CRS provides emergency supplies to families in other countries following disasters and assists with food, water, and housing. In poverty stricken areas of the world, CRS provides better agricultural practices, public health information, microloans to help individuals or groups wanting to start a business, and a number of other ways of helping people to help themselves. CRS operates in more than 90 countries.
The collection supports six Catholic organizations:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international Catholic humanitarian overseas relief and development agency of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). CRS provides emergency relief and long-term assistance to help people become more self-sufficient.
Migration and Refugee Services of the USCCB helps dioceses and churches resettle refugees, as well as victims of human trafficking.
Holy Father’s Relief Fund assists victims of natural disasters and other emergencies around the world.
Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development of the USCCB advocates for poor and vulnerable people throughout the world, and works for international justice and world peace.
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is a network of legal immigration programs that promote the dignity and protect the rights of immigrants. It provides technical assistance and training to dioceses with immigration programs like ours in the Diocese of Davenport.
Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church of the USCCB supports a network of national pastoral centers and diocesan personnel who minister to various ethnic groups and migrant communities.
On March 9-10, 2025, our diocese will take up The Catholic Relief Services collection. Your support for this collection provides emergency assistance to victims of war and natural disasters; assists migrants and refugees who need housing, education, and specialized legal assistance; and supports travelers and others whose livelihoods require special pastoral support to access the sacraments. Among the most vulnerable of migrants are the victims of human trafficking. Read more...
Deacon Kent Ferris, OFSferrisdavenportdiocese.orgSocial Action & Catholic Charities Director
Esmeralda Guerreroguerrerodavenportdiocese.orgAdministrative Assistant Social Action & Catholic Charities
Photo by CRS