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STRENGTHENING THE
CHURCH AT HOME
WHAT IS A HOME MISSION DIOCESE?
While there is no canonical definition, home mission dioceses are those
dioceses in the United States and in its territories and former territories
that cannot provide basic pastoral services to Catholics without outside
help. Basic pastoral services include essentials of the faith, such as Mass
and the sacraments, religious education, and ministry training for priests,
deacons, religious sisters, and the laity. Right now over 40 percent of US
dioceses are considered home missions.
Dioceses like Knoxville, Laredo, and Great Falls–Billings demonstrate
the varied challenges and needs of home mission territory and the
importance of the assistance received from the Catholic Home Missions
Appeal (CHMA).
DIOCESE OF
KNOXVILLE
The Diocese of Knoxville
in eastern Tennessee has
experienced great growth
in its Hispanic com-
munity in recent years.
With support from
the Subcommittee on
Catholic Home Missions
(CHM), the diocese is
providing for the spiri-
tual needs of this rapidly growing population. With the creation of the
diocesan Hispanic Ministry Council, parishioners are receiving leader-
ship training and learning about resources available to assist them in their
ministry. Through the generosity of parishioners across the United States
for CHMA, the faith and culture of our newest brothers and sisters have
been strengthened.