WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. bishops have designated May 17-18 as the weekend for the annual national collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign.

In the past several years this collection was included within the Annual Catholic Appeal. This year, the collection is separate and is supported solely through a parish collection.

Half of the donations remain in the Diocese of Toledo to fund local communications projects, including the Diocesan and Catholic Chronicle websites and the efforts of local Catholic Radio stations in the Toledo and Mansfield areas.  The campaign also provided funds for a documentary on the ecumenical pilgrimage to Germany and Italy by Catholics and Lutherans in Northwest Ohio, and purchased new computers and software for the Catholic Chronicle.

The funding also supports an array of multimedia projects developed by the CCC, an initiative of the U.S. bishops that promotes Gospel values through the media. Building on the popularity of the daily Mass readings featured on the U.S. bishops' Web site, www.usccb.org, the CCC now supports audio readings that can be downloaded through iTunes, Podcast Alley and other sources. Daily reflections can be viewed on the Web via streaming video at: www.ccc-tv.org.

Most recently, the CCC sponsored a Web site dedicated to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States that featured live streaming video, blog entries, the pope's itinerary and texts of his speeches, homilies and other remarks, plus information on his life and ministry and background material on the Catholic Church in the United States.

Other CCC projects supported from past collections have included Lenten radio retreats; the PBS special "Picturing Mary," a public-TV staple since December 2006; the U.S. bishops' "For Your Marriage" public service announcements for TV and radio and a Web site to celebrate marriage and provide resources and support; and the expansion of the Web site www.catholiccommunicationcampaign.org, which contains information on TV and radio programs, streaming video, movie and TV reviews, interviews and stories of faith in action.

More information about the projects of the Catholic Communication Campaign are available online at: www.usccb.org/ccc.