Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday 100 years ago, but Pope Leo XIV – a missionary for many years himself – is the first pontiff to release a video specifically to celebrate this day. With this year’s theme “One in Christ, united in mission,” the Holy Father calls for a “deeper understanding of the greatness of the missionary task, fervent prayer for the work of evangelization [and] encouragement for the missionary vocation and support for the Pontifical Mission Societies.”  On October 18, Michael Mitchell from the Pontifical Mission Societies explains, the universal Church will once again unite to pray for missions around the world. On World Mission Sunday, there is also an opportunity to give to a second collection that provides for missionary needs – from helping missionary dioceses operate, to building churches, seminaries, convents and pastoral centers. The Pontifical Mission Societies reports that over 900 infrastructure-related projects are funded on average each year Read More…

Pope Leo and Blessed Fulton on 100th year of World Mission Sunday