2025 marks the 50th anniversary of “This Land Is Home To Me: A Pastoral Letter On Powerlessness In Appalachia”.
The document, written in 1975, remains relevant to this day for the way it thoughtfully captures the difficulties Appalachian inhabitants face, honors the region’s most marginalized residents, and advocates for the protection of its environment. It was signed by 25 regional Catholic bishops.
The pastoral went on to influence the writing process of pastoral letters nationwide. At the end of August 2025, ReImagine Appalachia sat down with Bishop John Stowe to discuss the enduring legacy of the letter and what we can learn from it in 2025.
Read the complete pastoral letter here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e0ebce33d6a6002f3105cc7/t/5e3321856cac3d0b6f059a5a/1580409225664/AppalachianBishopsPastorals.pdf
Watch more uplifting videos on ReImagine Appalachias website:
https://reimagineappalachia.org/videos-2/
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