Catholic Church Extension Society

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The Catholic Church Extension Society is a charity, in the USA and Canada, supporting Catholic mission work.

[edit] Early history, USA

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.

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."

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 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. 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 Sebastian Martinelli. The Brief limits the society's activities to the United States and its possessions. A similar Brief was issued to the Church Extension Society in Canada.

[edit] In 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 Canadian society purchased the Catholic Register, a weekly paper, enlarged it, and turned it into its official organ.

[edit] External link

This article incorporates text from the entry Catholic Church Extension Society in the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.