Catholic Extension
| File:Cces logo.png | |
| Formation | 18 October 1905 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Support of Catholic missions in the United States |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 41°52′48″N 87°38′12″W / 41.879984°N 87.636663°W |
President | Rev. John J. Wall |
Main organ | Board of Governors |
| Affiliations | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | www.catholicextension.org |
 | |
| Formation | 23 September 1908 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Support of Catholic missions in Canada |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 43°40′56″N 79°23′28″W / 43.682218°N 79.391174°W |
President | Rev. Philip J. Kennedy |
Main organ | Board of Governors |
| Affiliations | Roman Catholic Church |
| Website | www.cmic.info |
The Catholic Church Extension Society is a charitable organization affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church that seeks to support the Church's activities in under-resourced and isolated communities in the United States. The society's Canadian counterpart is called Catholic Missions In Canada.
History
United States
The first active agitation for a church extension or home mission society for the Catholic Church in North America was begun in 1904 by an article by Francis Kelley published in the American Ecclesiastical Review (Philadelphia). Under the leadership of James Edward Quigley, Archbishop of Chicago, a new society, called The Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States of America, was organized on 18 October 1905.
Temporary headquarters were established at Lapeer, Michigan. The second meeting was held in December of the same year, when the constitution was adopted and the work formally launched. A charter was granted on 25 December 1905, by the State of Michigan to the new society, whose objects were set forth as follows:
To develop the missionary spirit in the clergy and people of the Catholic Church in the United States. To assist in the erection of parish buildings for poor and needy places. To support priests for neglected or poverty-stricken districts. To send the comfort of religion to pioneer localities. In a word, to preserve the faith of Jesus Christ to thousands of scattered Catholics in every portion of our own land, especially in the country districts and among immigrants.[1]
In January 1907, the headquarters of the society were moved to Chicago, and the president was transferred to that archdiocese. In April 1906, the society began the publication of a quarterly bulletin called Extension. In May 1907, this quarterly was enlarged and changed into a monthly.
On 7 June 1907, the society received its first papal approval by an Apostolic Letter of Pope Pius X addressed to the Archbishop of Chicago. On 9 June 1910, the pope issued a special brief by which the society was raised to the dignity of a canonical institution directly under his own guidance and protection. By the terms of this brief, the Archbishop of Chicago is always to be chancellor of the Society, and the president must be appointed by the Pope himself. His term of office is not more than five years. The board of governors has the right to propose three names to the Holy See for this office, and to elect, according to their laws, all other officers of the society. The brief also provided for a cardinal protector, living in Rome. The Pope named Cardinal Sebastiano Martinelli. The brief also limits the society's activities to the United States and its possessions.
Canada
The church extension movement was organized in Canada as an independent society, bearing the name of "The Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada", by a group including Fergus Patrick McEvay, Archbishop of Toronto. The society was formed on 23 September 1908, by Monsignor E. Alfred Burke from the Diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. A papal brief was issued to the Church Extension Society in Canada on 9 June 1910, granting it papal approval and pontifical status.[2] The Canadian society purchased the Catholic Register, a weekly paper, enlarged it, and turned it into its official organ.
In 1999, the name of the Society was changed to Catholic Missions In Canada to better reflect its mission and outreach.[2]
The society today
The current president of the Catholic Church Extension Society is Rev. John J. Wall.[3] The president of the Catholic Missions in Canada is Rev. Philip J. Kennedy.[4]
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "The Catholic Church Extension Society". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ Kelley, Francis (1912). "The Catholic Church Extension Society". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Our history". Catholic Missions In Canada. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "President's Page". Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States of America. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ "Our board of governors". Catholic Missions In Canada. 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.