Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The annual National Black and Indian Mission Collection will be gathered in the Archdiocese of Atlanta on the weekend of February 12-13, 2005. For over a hundred years there has been a strong program of the Church for evangelization programs. Bishops sending priests and sisters to minister with the people found that they needed financial assistance to continue bringing the Church to the people. And the people themselves made a strong appeal to the National Church for consideration and assistance. At this time in the Church there remains a definite need for the Collection.

With the conveniences of today – automobiles, telephones,—the distances of the past are not the problem as they were for early missionaries. The ministry remains the same, though, providing evangelization, the Sacrifice of the Mass, the sacraments to the Black and Native American people and there is a definite need for those ministering to receive financial assistance for parishes and schools.

Each year by contributing to the Collection there is a real opportunity for Catholics to participate actively in evangelization programs.

Over the span of the hundred years of the Collection, the willingness of pastors nationwide to appreciate and support the work of the Black and Indian Mission office, by promoting the Collection, has been a great part of the success of the Collection. I ask everyone in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, priests and people, to be as generous as possible for the year 2005 Collection. Together we can assist the Church’s ministry through gifts to help their evangelization programs. If we all do a little a lot can be accomplished.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory
Archbishop of Atlanta