ACA 2023 Funding Allocations
Relief & Hope
14%
Pastoral & Ministerial Formation & Support
49%
Catholic Education & Faith Formation
20%
Parish Support
17%

Ministry and Program Descriptions

Catholic Education and Faith Formation

Journey – What is Journey? Journey is a three-day retreat that is available to anyone, where people can come together and have the amazing opportunity to experience Catholic spirituality from the lives of other Catholic laypeople. Local priests, deacons and religious assist during the weekend as spiritual directors and attendees grow through reflecting on the Faith, personal testimonies, and prayer.

Lay Ministry Formation – Well-formed ministers that actively participate are crucial in the life of the Church. While providing professional support to our priests and religious, they offer an example of Christ to others while leading a life of discipleship.

Legendary LodgeLegendary Lodge provides a weeklong experience of joy, excitement and Catholic community for youth. Excellent counselors serve as role models and guides in an encounter with Christ through prayer, sacrament and fun-filled days on Salmon lake.

Youth, Young Adult and Adult Catholic FormationYouth, Young Adult, and Adult formation encompasses the training and resources for the development of a comprehensive vision of youth and young adult ministry in parish, school, and community settings.

Historical Preservation – The Diocese of Helena Archives curates the records and artifacts that tell the story of the Diocese from its beginnings in 1884 to the present. The The archives operate in accordance with church law and collaborate with local civil and private organizations. Parish Baptismal and Marriage records through the year 2000 are digitized, with further records retention underway.

Liturgical Training – Provides education  and ongoing training to those who will participate as ministers at Mass.

Campus Ministry – Providing funding for Campus Ministry at Carroll College, Montana State University, University of Montana, Montana Technological University, and University of Montana Western.

Catholic Schools – Supports the development of and collaboration with Catholic Schools; Butte Central High School, Loyola Sacred Heart High School, St. Andrew School, Butte Central Elementary, St. Andrew, St. Joseph Catholic School, and St. Matthew Elementary.

De La Salle Blackfeet School – Operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, De La Salle Blackfeet School is for boys and girls who live on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. DLSB is dedicated to creating an environment that recognizes the reality of God’s living presence and nurtures the dignity of each student within a supportive community of teachers, parents, and guardians.

Catholic University, Washington D.C. – A Component of National Catholic Collections – Catholic University of America was founded by American Bishops over 130 years ago to be the university of the Catholic Church in America. Catholic University has produced graduates that embrace both reason and faith as they apply the resources of the Catholic intellectual tradition to help solve the problems of contemporary life.

Relief and Hope

Prison Ministry – Discovery Weekends – Prison Ministry and Discovery Weekends provide inmates with the opportunity to experience Christ  through a ministry of genuine human connection that is often absent during incarceration. Participants engage in prayer, song, reflection and personal discussions throughout the weekend.

Catholic CemeteriesMontana Catholic Cemeteries’ Vision is to provide the most meaningful places of interment by people of all faiths, traditions, and circumstances, giving the gift of remembrance to the living while honoring those who have passed.

Catholic Social Services of MontanaCSSM is a licensed, non-profit adoption agency that offers many services to parents facing unplanned pregnancy as well as families interested in adoption. CSSM social workers operate from a Catholic life ethic, embracing and celebrating life and walking with families long-term to encourage the best outcome for all.

Guatemala Mission – Maintained since 1964, the Guatemala Mission serves La Asunción School, Clinica Maxena, and nearby Santo Tomas Apóstol Church (and around 25 other churches). The 40 Guatemala Highlands communities in the area receive medical care, spiritual support and education that would not otherwise be available either due to high risk and/or cost of travel and services.

provides residence for four priests, and many others who serves the parish. The Guatemala Mission also provides accommodations for those who serve the medical clinic and other facilities such as La Asuncion School.

Montana Catholic ConferenceThe Montana Catholic Conference serves as the public policy branch of the Catholic Church in Montana and as the liaison for Montana’s Roman Catholic bishops with state and federal government. Inspired by Scripture and Catholic social teaching, the conference seeks to advocate for the weak and vulnerable and act as a catalyst for the transformation of society.

Archdiocese for the Military Services – National Collections – The Archdiocese for the Military Services was Created by Pope Saint John Paul II to provide the United States Armed Forces with the pastoral ministries and spiritual services of the Catholic Church.

Church in Central and Eastern Europe – National Collections – “The USCCB-Church in Central and Eastern Europe program funds projects in 28 countries to build the pastoral capacity of the Church and to rebuild and restore the faith in these countries after decades of communist oppression.”

Church in Africa – National Collections – The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa was founded on the basic principles of Saint John Paul II’s call to action Ecclesia in Africa and the adoption of the statement A Call to Solidarity with Africa from the bishops of the United States.

Pastoral and Ministerial Formation and Support

Permanent Diaconate – Supports the activities of the bishop in promoting the needs and concerns of those in diaconal ministry. It also assists in coordinating the development of diaconal formation programs on the diocesan and national levels.

Priests’ Continuing Formation – Serves priests of the Diocese of Helena through continuing education, spiritual formation and ongoing support.

Priests’ Retirement and Clergy Benefit – “Over their lifetimes of ministry, our priests have celebrated the signs of the sacred with us. They have walked with us through hardship and celebrated our joy. Now we have an opportunity to assist them. The Priests’ Retirement Appeal helps our senior status priests live with the dignity and care that reflects our great gratitude.

Seminarian EducationFormation and education for seminarians on their journey to serve our communities as holy priests.

Vocation Awareness Promotion – Helping priests promote and share the beauty of religious and priestly vocations to those who are discerning the call of Christ in their lives.

Bishop’s Office and Pastoral Outreach – The Bishop’s Office and Pastoral Outreach consists of his ongoing deanery visits, as well as visits to the college campuses in the diocese.

Delegate for Religious – The delegate for religious cares for the ordinary needs of religious who serve the people of our diocese.

Tribunal – The Tribunal of the Diocese of Helena assists with the pastoral care of divorced and remarried persons seeking to have their marriage recognized in the church, divorced persons seeking to remarry, and divorced persons seeking clarification of their standing in the Church.

Vatican Apostolic Ministries – Contributes to pastoral ministries and initiatives of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Parish Support

Campaign Expenses – Provides for the administration, processing and materials required to successfully run the Annual Catholic Appeal.

Diocesan Communications – “The office of Communication Services assists the Bishop, parishes and diocesan entities with communication efforts through media relations, website development, graphic services and print publications.”

Human Resource ServicesHuman Resource Services provides resources and direction for employees working in the parishes, institutions and offices of the Diocese of Helena.

Safe Environment/Protecting God’s Children – “The Diocese of Helena implements the VIRTUS, Protecting God’s Children, program to help educate personnel to act as advocates for safe environments at all times in all programs. The VIRTUS programs empower organizations and people to better control risk and improve the lives of all those who interact with the Church.”

Catholic Communications Campaign – National Campaign – Through websites, social networks, television, radio, and print, the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) helps the Church spread the Gospel message through media locally and nationally. Half of all donations to the CCC collected in your diocese stay in your diocese to support your local communications needs, such as radio and television programming and diocesan publications.