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CHARLOTTE — As Catholic Christians, we understand the importance of giving to those in need and what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters in need. The Church gives us opportunities throughout the year to share our blessings with people around the world and here at home, through seven diocese-wide second collections.

In 2012, two of these second collections have been shifted to different months to give each collection greater emphasis, said Barbara Gaddy, associate director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Pictured above: Ushers distribute collection baskets at St. Eugene Church in Asheville during a Mass in 2011. (Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald)

The Combined Mission Collection has been moved from May to January, and the International/National Combined Collection has been moved from October to May.

These collections combine several different appeals benefitting the Church around the world and in the U.S.

"Due to the importance of the World Mission Sunday collection for the (Society of the) Propagation of the Faith, that will now be an individual collection held in October each year," Gaddy said.

A ministry receiving funding from the Combined Mission Collection is the African American Affairs Ministry, which receives $10,000 yearly from the Black and Indian Fund.

"The Black and Indian Fund support of the African American Affairs Ministry is very important as it contributes at least one-fourth of our yearly budget," said Sandra Murdock, diocesan director of the African American Affairs Ministry. "Without this support, we would be unable to provide several of our programs."

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer

Second collections in 2012

Mark your calendars for the following diocesan second collections this year:

Jan. 15: Combined Mission Collection: benefitting the Church in Latin America, Church in Central and Eastern Europe, U.S. Mission Appeal (Black & Indian Missions), Catholic Home Missions, and the Church in Africa.

April 8: Seminary and Priests' Continuing Education

May 20: International/National Combined Collection: benefitting Catholic Relief Services, Collection for the Holy Land, Collection for the Works of the Holy Father (Peter's Pence), Catholic University of America, Catholic Communications Campaign

Sept. 9: Priests' Retirement and Benefits

Oct. 21: World Mission Sunday: benefitting Propagation of the Faith

Nov. 18: Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Dec. 9: Religious Retirement