Established in 1905, Catholic Church Extension Society—now Catholic Extension— was established to bring the sacraments to remote faith communities across the country.  

The mission first spread by way of the railways. With support from the earliest donors, priests rode into tiny frontier towns to celebrate Mass from the back of rail cars. In places with no train stop, they sent motor chapels instead.

Today, Catholic Extension works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America.