PORTLAND — A special collection taken at every Catholic parish in Maine has raised $174,652 for Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims, the Maine Catholic Diocese reported.

Last month, Bishop Richard Malone directed all Maine parishes to participate in the collection following the disaster. The donations are being forwarded to Catholic Relief Services’ national office, which will give the funding to Caritas Japan, the social service arm of the Catholic Church in that region.

Caritas has indicated it will focus on the long-term recovery of the country.

“I am always impressed and overwhelmed by the generosity of the Catholic family in Maine,” Malone said in a prepared statement. “The contributions show the willingness of parishioners to sacrifice in order to help their brothers and sisters around the world who face incredible hardship.”

CRS is funded in part through collections taken by Catholic churches around the world and by individual donations made directly to CRS. The agency works in more than 100 countries worldwide.

CRS has earned an “A” rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy, and meets all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau, the diocese reported.