Donate to Mission Appeal

Dear Friends in Christ,

Greetings from the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. As we approach our annual Mission Appeal, we share with you the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Diocese of St. Thomas, and to invite you to partner with us in our mission.

Our Unique Situation

The Diocese of St. Thomas, while blessed with natural beauty, faces significant challenges:

• We are the smallest and economically poorest diocese in the United States.
• Our Chancery, parishes, and schools rely heavily on outside donations for their operations.
• Recent hurricanes have devastated our economy and tourism industry, compounding our financial struggles.

Our Community's Needs

Many in our territory live below the poverty line, and the need for support is great:

• Our Catholic Charities program operates homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, and clothing distribution centers across all three islands.
• We provide financial support to nuns working in our schools and parishes, many of whom live in rented apartments.
• Our recovery efforts to repair and rebuild schools and parish structures affected by hurricanes are ongoing.
• With no local seminary, it costs approximately $40,000 annually to form our seminarians

 

How Your Support Makes a Difference

Your generous contributions to the Mission Cooperative Plan will help us:

1. Fund our vital Catholic Charities programs
2. Continue our hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts
3. Care for our priests and support our seminarians

An Invitation to Partnership

We invite your parish to join our "missions' program." This initiative offers groups from your parish or affiliated organizations the opportunity to engage in meaningful mission work within our diocese. By witnessing our challenges firsthand, you can deepen your understanding of our needs and the impact of your support.

Our Gratitude and Promise

Your partnership enables us to make a real difference in the lives of God's people entrusted to our care. We encourage you to visit our islands and witness our struggles and triumphs firsthand.

Thank you for your generosity, prayers, and active support of our pastoral work. May God abundantly bless and reward you for your kindness.

Take Action Today

Your support can transform lives in the Diocese of St. Thomas. Consider making a financial contribution to our Mission Cooperative Plan, which directly funds our essential programs and recovery efforts. Every prayer, donation, and act of support brings hope to our community.