10/15/2026
The third Sunday in October was designated by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as World Mission Sunday. It is a day reserved throughout the world to recognize, first and foremost that we are, by virtue of our baptism, all mandated to be missionaries. We also remember those women and men, members of the laity, religious sisters and brothers as well as priests who leave their family, their home, their country in order to evangelize in foreign lands. Mission Sunday is canonically mandated (canon law #791)and comes under the umbrella of the Holy Father who entrusts Mission Sunday to the Pontifical Mission Societies. The work of the Catholic Missions is ongoing and is in adherence to the words of Jesus at the end of the Gospel of Matthew "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." Mt. 28:19.
World Mission Sunday traces its roots to Blessed Pauline Jaricot, who lived in the 19th century. She mobilized prayer and financial support for the Church's evangelization efforts in the early years of the U.S. It has now been one hundred years since the inception of World Mission Sunday. A special collection is taken up in every parish around the world. The money goes to the Holy Father each year and then it is distributed to those places where it is needed most. Our present Pope Leo was a missionary himself in Peru for two decades, so the missionary work of the Church is very dear to him. Please be generous in contributing to the Missions.
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