Catholic Extension Society

March Madness has arrived! As men’s and women’s basketball teams get set to hit the hardwood across the country, we’d like to celebrate some of this year's competing schools where we proudly support campus ministry. This includes Vandal Catholic at @uidaho!

Catholic Extension Society is proud to work in solidarity with immigrant communities today who work hard to build their churches and are proud of their Catholic faith and heritage.

“When​ ​many​ ​Irish​ ​immigrants​ ​first​ ​arrived​ ​in​ ​this​ ​country,​ ​they​ ​were​ ​not​ ​always​ ​welcomed​ ​warmly.​ ​They​ ​often​ ​faced​ ​suspicion,​ ​discrimination,​ ​and​ ​hardship,” he said.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York celebrated his​ ​first​ ​St.​ Patrick’s​ ​Day​ ​homily​ ​at​ the cathedral named after the beloved Irish saint, St. Patrick’s Cathedral—often known as “America’s Parish.”

30 years ago Susan Sarandon won an Oscar for her role in “Dead Man Walking.” The film is about a nun, Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, and her ministry to a man on death row at Angola Prison. We currently support a ministry that brings family members to visit incarcerated loved ones.

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, began a ministry to death row inmates at Angola Prison in Louisiana. In "Dead Man Walking," she was played by Susan Sarandon, who won an Oscar for the role in 1996. Read about our prison ministry support here today: bit.ly/4bo36HT

Sacred Heart in Camden, Mississippi, opens its doors as a church and reaches out through its food pantry, feeding 75 people daily. Read more about the parishes in rural America pitching in to help feed and love their neighbors: bit.ly/4b5RkmC

Grocery stores in rural communities are few and far between and food costs are high. But the people in the rural towns we support across the country have a way of taking care of each other through their local churches.

Christina Kihn's faith-filled service to the homeless at the Center of Charity has become her "divine calling." Once homeless herself, she meets each person with dignity and empathy, reminding them they’re seen and loved as a child of God. See how she's turning lives around.

With support through our U.S.-Latin American Sisters Exchange Program, Sister Maryud Cortés earned her bachelor's, master's and Ph.D., all while ministering to marginalized women and farmworker communities in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan ❤️ #NationalCatholicSistersWeek

During Lent we continue to reflect on Pope Leo XIV's guidance for this liturgical season rooted in prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We hope to provide some helpful resources to follow the Holy Father's call. Here are 7 more ways to observe Lent: bit.ly/4amrJFx

Father Curtis is one of 525 pastors from 85 dioceses who have participated in immersion trips. Read more about the program: catholicextension.org/stories/why-bi…

He witnessed the islands’ proudest treasure: the indomitable, faith-filled spirit of the Puerto Rican people. St. Catherine of Siena Parish partnered with us to support Catholic ministry to impoverished children in Puerto Rico.

Fr. Gabriel Curtis, administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Hillside, New Jersey, joined Catholic Extension Society on an immersion trip to Puerto Rico. He visited schools and churches that were still recovering from the devastating natural disasters.

Food insecurity in rural America is prevalent due to increasing grocery prices and limited access to grocery stores. The Church knows that one cannot tend to the soul while the body goes hungry. Read about two parishes determined to feed their neighbors: catholicextension.org/stories/father…

We are proud to support eight dioceses in Texas—helping to strengthen parishes, form leaders, and reveal the light of Christ in communities across the Lone Star State! We sat down with several Texas bishops who shared what’s unique about each of their dioceses.

Bishop Robert Brennan of the Diocese of Brooklyn met farmworkers in Washington State on our mission immersion trip. Read more about his experience here! bit.ly/4aR5FlE

The mosaic of Pope Leo XIV was recently installed, joining a historic series of 267 mosaics. Among these are 5 popes who greatly influenced American Catholic history. See how we, as a papal society founded in 1905, are connected to them: bit.ly/3YZoUnG

For over a century, Catholic Extension Society has supported the work of the Josephites as they ministered to Black Catholics. This #BlackHistoryMonth, learn more about the incredible work of the Josephites: catholicextension.org/stories/why-do…

Father Plantevigne belonged to St. Joseph’s Society of the Sacred Heart, a religious order better known as the Josephites. They stood in solidarity with the Black community, and established their presence in the U.S. right after the Civil War to serve newly emancipated slaves.

In a 1909 issue of Extension magazine, Catholic Extension Society published this photo of Father John J. Plantevigne, SSJ, one of the first Black priests ordained in the United States, with his statement: “The Negro shall be treated as a man and not a problem.”