This weekend, our parish will take part in a special collection shared with parishes everywhere. It is known as the Peter’s Pence collection and is a special contribution made by Catholics for the Holy Father.

This collection enables the Holy Father to respond with financial assistance to emergencies throughout the world, to those who suffer from war, oppression, and natural disasters.

How did it begin? The beginnings of the worldwide collection for the works of the Holy Father, or “Peter’s Pence”, are found in ninth-century England, when King Alfred the Great collected from English landowners to financially support the pope.

Pope Pius IX instituted the modern collection in the 1860’s.

Since then, special appeals have been held in many countries on the Sunday closest to June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. For more information on this collection, search for “Peter’s Pence” at www.vatican.va.

This collection involves more than one billion Catholics worldwide in active support of Christ’s love for the poor.

Your giving envelopes will be at the back of church for the next few weeks or you can donate online at allhallows.com.