In the midst of World Mission Month 2025, which gives more significance to this Jubilee Year, the late Pope Francis urged us to keep our gaze fixed on Christ, the center of history, emphasizing that His mission continues today through the Church.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV called the Pontifical Mission Societies a “primary means” of evangelization. Whether through prayer, financial support or personal commitment, we can all be Missionaries of Hope in today’s world.
On behalf of His Excellency Bishop Earl Fernandes, and The Pontifical Mission Society national director, Msgr. Roger Landry, I would like to thank you for your generosity and kindness toward the mission of the Church. In 2024, our diocesan contribution for the World Mission Sunday collection from the faithful was $68,437.19.
Who is a missionary? The one who builds God’s kingdom on earth is called a missionary. It can be as near or as far as God is allowing him or her to go.
Our 267th Holy Father, a native son to the Archdiocese of Chicago and Order of Saint Augustine who was a missionary, advocates that the Church herself, in all her members, is increasingly called to be “a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word … and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity” (Homily, Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate, 18 May 2025).
Before the papacy, Pope Leo XIV was a missionary priest who ministered globally as the prior general of the Augustinians, who serve in most of the continents. I’m happy that Pope Leo came to Kerala, India, and lived there in my home state because there is an Augustinian monastery there. Missionaries often leave their countries and families to go to unfamiliar places to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as their vocation and be witness to Christ until their death.
World Mission Sunday is a global celebration of the Church’s missionary mandate. Every parish in the world will be holding a special collection on this day.
One hundred percent of the funds will go to the Church in mission territories; places where the Church is young, poor or persecuted and unable to sustain itself without our support. These territories include Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe. Missionaries rely on the solidarity of the entire Catholic Church to continue their work of evangelization, service and support to those most in need.
The true influence of your life and love, your faith and goodness, is not measured in possessions. Real wealth is better reflected in what one gives from the heart, not what ones earns or acquires. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mat 25:40).
Through your generosity, you become a blessing for countless people and families in need. You may never meet them, but be assured that their prayers and blessing is yours! Above all, God’s never-failing reward is coming to you through your loving act of kindness.
We ask you to consider making a financial gift to support the Church in mission territories. Pope Leo wrote that “Here I would emphasize once more the importance of the missionary synodality of the Church, as well as the service rendered by The Pontifical Mission Societies in promoting the missionary responsibility of the baptized and supporting new Particular Churches. I urge all of you, children, young people, adults and the elderly, to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices and by your generosity. A Call to Support the Missions” (Pope Francis’ Message for World Mission Sunday 2025).
Your generosity will directly impact the lives of those who hunger for the Word of God and the tangible assistance the Church provides through education, health care and pastoral care.
How can we spread the Gospel to the whole world? Jesus inspires us and calls us to be a missionary for Him through our smile, a kind word, phone call, visit, helping hand and collecting funds for the needy. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (Jn. 20:21).
Millions of priests and nuns are missionaries throughout the world who are sent by God through their consecrated life. Even though we may feel it is impossible, it really is possible. We definitely can do so through media, letters, prayers, sacrifices and penance.
The words of St. Therse of Lisieux, the patroness of missionaries and missions, is very significant here: “I’m assured … that (the Lord) will listen to the desire of my soul by rendering fruitful your apostolate. I shall be truly happy to work with you for the salvation of souls … I wanted to be (a missionary) through love and penance” (St. Therese, Letter to Father Roulland).
St. Therese’s whole life was dedicated to the mission of Christ. She wanted all to know about the love of God who suffered and gave His life for everyone. He opened up Heaven for all mankind. Uniting her suffering with His, she offered her own life for the salvation of others.
The funds collected each year in every single parish in the world, no matter how big or small, directly aid Catholic communities in mission territories, build churches, donate Bibles, support seminarians and novices, and sustain religious sisters and catechists. When you risk something for those in need then you receive favor of God and grace of God because when you break out of your comfort zone and familiarity by offering your treasure for the needy, God will reward you in abundance. Jesus taught us that “When you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame or blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you” (St. Luke 14:14).
The Second Vatican Council teaches that the missionary proclamation has conversion as its goal: “that non- Christians be freely converted to the Lord under the action of the Holy Spirit who opens their hearts so that they may adhere to him” (Ad Gentes,13).
The key to mission spirit is evangelization, which is the identity of the Church, starts with commitment in a personal relationship with the Lord.
The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the living Christ, is the divine agent of evangelization. The Holy Spirt, the Advocate, will be our guide in preaching the saving message of Jesus Christ to others. The Holy Spirit animates the faithful to transform their lives into Christ’s teachings, the Gospel.
Thousands of missionaries at work in some of the poorest areas of the world. Missionaries, includes priests, religious sisters, brothers, they serve in parishes, schools, colleges, seminaries, orphanages. They proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the sacraments. Your generous help enables missionaries to build churches, chapels, catechism classes, operate training schools, clinics, and provide safe environments for orphans, girls, older people, and mentally challenged people. His Holiness Pope Francis exhorts us that, “Through his disciples, sent to all peoples and mystically accompanied by him, the Lord Jesus continues his ministry of hope for humanity. He still bends over all those who are poor, afflicted, despairing and oppressed, and pours upon their wounds the balm of consolation and the wine of hope” (Pope Francis’ Message for World Mission Sunday 2025).
We can together carry out the mission of the Church and continue to be foster and transform many in the light of Christ, who commanded us to spread the Gospel to the whole world. Let us humbly serve Christ by promoting universal Church’s Mission: Salvation of humanity only through Jesus Christ!
Let us evangelize, prioritize and empathize with the poor who cannot repay us, but our repayment will be from God, the source of abundance.
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