Our Catholic Identity

The mission of Cross Catholic Outreach is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Our work is accomplished with the support of local Catholic bishops in the developing world who supervise Catholic missionaries serving the needy. These priests, nuns and lay Catholics engage in frontline work such as feeding the hungry, bringing water to the thirsty and providing a Catholic-based education to the next generation.

Oversight of the ministry of Cross Catholic is provided by our Board of Directors, comprising eight Catholic archbishops and bishops from around the United States. Their episcopal oversight guides Cross Catholic in where we provide aid and how we do so effectively, always honoring the intention of our donors.  

The oversight of the bishops on our board is just one facet of our Catholic identity. In a historic designation on September 18, 2015, at the Vatican, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum decreed the conferral of private canonical juridical personality on Cross Catholic as an International Catholic charitable organization and granted approval of our statutes along with the bylaws of Cross Catholic that were duly authenticated by the Pontifical Council. 

Pontifical Council Cor Unum stated that our approved statutes offered firm and secure guidelines for the fulfillment of the mission of Cross Catholic.

Later this year, Cross Catholic will celebrate the fifth anniversary of this historic designation.