Founders' Appeal 2024

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

Many people lack the hope described in the letter to the Hebrews. They see a world filled with despair and uncertainty, and it is heartbreaking. But amid this darkness, we know that hope is alive in the person of Jesus Christ!  And CCO™ is working hard to make Jesus known to everyone they meet.

Through your generosity and prayers, CCO missionaries and students work tirelessly to bring hope to the world. They are sharing the life-saving message of the gospel on campuses and in parishes and in dioceses, in Canada and beyond. And in all of this, we are witnessing new life. Transformed by Jesus, hope is taking root. Hope for the future, hope for their lives, and hope for the world. Dear friends, hope is on the rise! 

Bishop Mark Hagemoen, Bishop of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, sees the result of decades of influence of CCO alum all over his diocese, and hope is the fruit.

“Throughout my priestly vocation and now as the Bishop of the Diocese of Saskatoon, I witnessed the significant and transformative impact that CCO had on the lives of young adults. Many shared with me that the opportunity CCO gave them to encounter Jesus has changed their lives. 

A hallmark of a spirit-filled apostolate is its ability to build up well-formed Catholics. When I look at the people who have experienced CCO’s accompaniment and programming, I see Catholics who are not only well-formed but full of passion and focus on the mission of evangelization. They want everyone to know Jesus!  Their reflections typically centre on deepening their faith and how they can impact the world. I see that fire, the love for Jesus Christ, lived out in the ministries, parishes, workplaces and families that they serve. My brother bishops echo this.

CCO serves not only as leaven for the Church but also for the world. It is a movement that is not closed in on itself but that is dedicated to outreach, grounded in the support of Christ and His Church. This healthy, mission-oriented approach is crucial for being hope for the world today.” 

As Bishop Hagemoen says, CCO has a significant impact, raising up dynamic leaders who are shaping the Church’s landscape and spreading hope to the wider world. Your partnership is making a tremendous difference. These lives encountered by Jesus wouldn’t have happened without your sacrificial giving and prayer. You have brought hope to the hopeless. And in this upcoming Jubilee of Hope, let hope continue to take hold in your own heart. Be a pilgrim of Hope for the world.

To continue to reach people and spread hope in 2025, we need to raise $200,000 through this appeal. We invite you today to consider what kind of impact you could make to renew hope in Canada and the world?