Our national collections allow us to help our neighbors and serve as faithful stewards of our gifts from God. Below is a letter from Bishop Gruss regarding changes the Diocese instituted in August of 2025, followed by a list of National Collections.
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Annual Rice Bowl Collection
In addition to the National Collections, an opportunity to stand in solidarity with the poor within the 11 counties of our diocese and beyond is offered each year during Lent through Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl.
Rice Bowl calls us to:
Pray with our families and faith communities
Fast in solidarity with those who hunger
Learn more about our global community and the challenges of poverty overseas
Give sacrificial contributions to those in need
How Rice Bowl Funds are Used
Seventy-five percent of alms collected through the program fund Catholic Relief Services’ development projects overseas, helping families produce more food, increase their income and escape abject poverty (93% is used for programming; Catholic Relief Services maintains a very low overhead, only 7% is used for administrative costs).
To raise awareness on the work of the Church throughout the world; parishes are invited to participate in Rice Bowl.
Twenty-five percent of Rice Bowl contributions are used locally to address hunger and poverty-related needs within the Diocese of Saginaw (100% of these funds are used for grants, 0% are used for administrative costs).
Mission Co-op Appeal
To raise awareness on the work of the Church throughout the world; parishes are invited to participate in the annual Mission Co-op Appeal. On one weekend each year, a representative of various approved mission organizations visits our parish communities to ask for support while sharing the “Good News” about the work they do to bring Christ to others in some of the poorest areas in the United States and around the world. To learn more, contact our Mission Office.
Emergency Appeals
Each year, catastrophes strike in regions of the United States and throughout the world, and people like you reach out to us and ask how to best help. We help through special collections at our parishes, which support relief efforts to help communities and the Catholic Church in the affected areas to rebuild and reach out in mercy and compassion to victims of naturals disasters. Domestic emergencies are responded to through Catholic Charities USA, while Catholic Relief Services helps those affected overseas.
Visit our Emergency Relief page to donate.