Upcoming June collections support seminarians, pope’s humanitarian initiatives

HOUSTON — Catholics in the Archdiocese have two opportunities this month to support seminarians in formation for the priesthood and the pope’s humanitarian and social initiatives.

The Archdiocese continues to prepare the men who will shepherd the city’s rapidly growing 1.7 million Catholics at St. Mary’s Seminary.

On the weekend of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22 — also known as Corpus Christi, the total offertory in every parish of the Archdiocese supports the formation of seminarians of the Archdiocese studying at St. Mary’s or at other seminaries, the operation of St. Mary’s Seminary and the formation of seminarians of the religious communities who serve in our Archdiocese. More than 60 men from at last six dioceses are in formation for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary. To learn more about St. Mary's Seminary, visit www.smseminary.com. 

Catholics are called to unity with one another — not merely as individuals in their own communities but as the Body of Christ united in prayer and fraternity with their bishops in communion with Pope Leo XIV. On the weekend of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul — Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29 — parishes will host the Peter’s Pence collection, sharing the opportunity to express this unity with the pope in a practical way.

Since the earliest days of the Church, Christian disciples have given some of their resources to support the preaching mission of the apostles and to give aid to the poor and needy, both in their local communities and abroad. Based on this foundation, Catholics throughout the centuries have given an annual collection to the Holy Father as a sign of unity with his mission of mercy to preach the Gospel and aid those most in need.

This tradition continues to this day, when Catholics around the world answer the Holy Father’s call with “concrete signs of hope” by supporting the twofold mission of the Peter’s Pence Collection as set by the Holy See: “to support the Holy Father’s mission, which extends throughout the entire world, from the proclamation of the Gospel to the promotion of integral human development, education, peace and brotherhood among people: thanks also to the many activities of service carried out by the dicasteries, organizations of the Holy See that assist him every day; and to support the numerous charitable works in aid of people and families in difficulty, populations afflicted by natural disasters and wars, or who are in need of humanitarian assistance or support for development.”

To learn more about Peter’s Pence, visit www.obolodisanpietro.va/en.html.