Hope at the border: what the Church looks like when she is at her best.!

Join us to hear about those ministering to migrant families at the U.S. - Mexico border. Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension will share some of his experiences at the border and reflect on the heroic work the Catholic Church is doing with those making the journey to the United States.

The History and Mission of Catholic Extension

In 1905, many Catholics were isolated in rural towns across America with little to no access to Catholic fellowship. Father Francis Clement Kelley from Lapeer, Michigan, heard these stories and got to work. He established the Catholic Church Extension Society—now Catholic Extension Society—to bring the sacraments to remote faith communities across the country.

This mission with the support of the Catholic Extensions's earliest donors, allowed priests to ride into tiny frontier towns to celebrate Mass from the back of rail cars or motor chapels where there were no train stops. Two years later, Father Kelley began publishing Extension magazine to tell the stories of the resilient, faith-filled Catholics he had met across the United States.

Today, Catholic Extension Society, through the generosity of many donors, reaches over 15 million American Catholics, many of whom live in faith communities which are located in poor Extension dioceses. Grants are provided to build churches, fix facilities and award scholarships for emerging leaders to empower diverse ministries. Catholic Extension is investing in the future of the faith through efforts to engage young people.

While methods continuously evolve to meet the demands of the times, the Catholic Extension mission remains as alive and important as ever!

More on Father Jack Wall

Reverend John J. Wall was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago after graduating from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in 1968. He has served as a faculty member of Niles College and Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Chicago. For 24 years Father Wall served as Pastor of Chicago's historic Old St. Patrick's Church and is the co-founder of the popular Theology on Tap program for young adult Catholics. He was appointed president of Catholic Extension Society by the Vatican in 2007.

Father Wall has served on several boards and advisory councils, including the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, and the Illinois Patrons of the Arts-Vatican Museums.