WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

                Next weekend, October 17th and 18th, is World Mission Sunday. This year’s theme is “It’s Our World on Mission.” In 1926, Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday. He asked for prayer, celebration, and offerings for Missions. His concern was to engender a sense of responsibility in people for supporting the missions throughout the world.

                The first commemoration was in 1927 and the Pope asked that this would be observed in every diocese, parish and institute. It was to be a true World Mission Sunday. The collection on that first World Mission Sunday, like today, is for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, providing support for the life-giving and hope-filled work and witness of priests, religious and lay pastoral leaders in mission churches.

                World Mission Sunday, organized by the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice.

                Your prayers and generous support on World Mission Sunday directly benefit the Mission Church today. That support reaches clinics caring for the sick and dying, orphanages providing a place of safety and shelter, and schools offering education. Your help provides for seminarians  preparing for the priesthood, and religious Sisters and Brothers in formation programs. All of this takes place in 1,150 mission dioceses, mostly in Africa and Asia, where the poorest of the poor receive an education and healthcare.

                The second collection next weekend will support the missions throughout the world. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.