Catholic Relief Services Special Appeal

For migrant farmworkers in California’s San Joaquin Valley, workdays during the grape harvest begin at 6:00 a.m. and last until 7:00 p.m. Some workers have lived in the valley for years, renting nearby trailer housing, and others live in towns nearby. Still others are recent migrants from Mexico and Central America. Catechists and lay ministers serve all these workers by visiting migrant camps near the vineyards where they work. They bring religious instruction and share prayer, theological reflection, and Catholic social justice teaching about the inherent dignity and rights of migrant workers like the people they serve.

Through funds from the collection, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ program for the pastoral care of migrants, refugees, and travelers collaborates with local dioceses to visit and attend to the needs of underserved migrant farm workers and others who live on the margins.

Your support of this collection makes a difference for so many around the globe. Please prayerfully consider how you can support the collection this year