Peter’s Pence Collection date set for weekend of June 26-27

Speak the Truth in Love, Live the Truth in Deeds" is the theme for the 2004 collection for the Works of the Holy Father - Peter’s Pence.

This annual collection will be held in parishes throughout the Diocese of New Ulm as well as most Catholic parishes in the United States on the weekend of June 26-27, 2004.

The Peter’s Pence collection enables the Holy Father to respond with immediate Emergency assistance to the most disadvantaged throughout the world - those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters. More than 1 billion Catholics worldwide participate in the collection in an active expression of Christ’s love for the poor.

More than 98 cents of every contributed dollar goes to the pope’s spiritual and charitable works. In the last ten years, the dioceses of the United States have contributed more than $180 million to provide disaster relief and aid to their brothers and sisters across the globe.

The worldwide collection for the Works of the Holy Father - or Peter’s Pence - began as a "pence" in ninth-century England when King Alfred the Great collected monies from English landowners as financial support for the pope.

Pope Pius IX formally instituted the modern Peter’s Pence Collection in the 1860s. Special appeals have since been held in many countries on the Sunday closest to June 29, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The tradition of an annual collection continues today for the charitable works of the Holy Father. This is an opportunity as Catholics, through our works of charity, to provide a witness of love and deeds throughout the world.

For further information about the Collection for the Works of the Holy Father, please visit www.usccb.org/ppc.