Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday. So, I would like to include some information about it from the Society of the Propagation of the Faith.

• What is World Mission Sunday?
World Mission Sunday is an annual global celebration within the Catholic Church, observed on the second to last Sunday in October. This special day is dedicated to the support of the missionary work of the Church through prayer and sacrifices.

• Why do we celebrate it?
Established by Pope Pius XI in 1926, World Mission Sunday is an opportunity for every Church community worldwide to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters living in mission territories. The collection supports mission dioceses in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe.

• This year’s Theme: “Hearts on Fire, Feet on the move”
Pope Francis invites us to set our hearts ablaze with the faith and put our faith into action, serving God’s mission with joy, enthusiasm, and tireless dedication.

Hearts on Fire
As Christians, we’re called to kindle the fire of Christ’s love in our hearts. Our burning faith fuels our actions, inspiring us to serve others in our daily lives.

Feet on the Move
Pope Francis encourages us to not only feel the faith but to act on it. It’s our mission to move, serve, and spread the good News, bringing God’s love and peace to all His children.

• The monies raised in 1822 supported the vast diocese of Louisiana, which then extended from the Florida keys to Canada, as well as the missions of Kentucky and China. In the United states, we benefited from the collection until 1908. Throughout the years, we received the equivalent of $250 million today, while the dioceses in our country considered mission territories have continued to receive subsidies.

Today’s second collection will be for World Mission Sunday. But, if you would like more information you can visit the Society’s website: www.onefamilyinmission.org.

God bless!

Fr. Carter