World Mission Day (Mission Sunday) this year falls on Sunday October 20. The Church has celebrated it on the penultimate Sunday of October since 1926, when it was proclaimed by Pope Pius XI.
The motto for this year's Mission Sunday is: Go and invite everyone to the feast (cf. Mt 22:9)
During Mission Sunday, everyone prays together and financially contributes to the world solidarity fund, which supports projects helping those in need and young churches on all continents through the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Propagation of Faith (PMS PF).
Details for sending collections for the propagation of faith: account number 72540444/2700, VS – 10 Support for the basic global missionary activity of the Church, Mission Sunday.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations and prayers!
The primary and basic document for Mission Sunday:
On April 14, 1926, Pope Pius XI established the introduction of Mission Sunday by approving the rescript prepared by the Sacred Congregation for Sacred Rites, which:
1. Establishes the penultimate Sunday of October as Mission Sunday, which will be celebrated as a day of prayer and missionary animation throughout the Catholic world.
2. Proposes that the introductory prayer of the Holy Mass on Mission Sunday be the prayer for the propagation of the gospel.
3. Enjoins that the homily on this day should have a missionary character with specific contemplation on the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of Faith and encourage the faithful to enroll in PMS PF themselves. The collection on this day is dedicated to the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of Faith.
4. Grants plenary indulgences to those who receive the Eucharist on this Sunday and pray for the acceptance of the gospel by all nations.
5. Establishes a solemn votive Mass for the propagation of the gospel, which will be celebrated on special occasions.
Pope Francis, in his Message for World Mission Day, writes among other things:
“Mission is an untiring journey to all humanity that is to be invited to meet God and share in communion with Him. Untiring!
In the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and my predecessors, I recommend to all dioceses of the world the service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which are the main means “both to awaken a truly universal and missionary feeling in Catholics, and to organize successful collections for the benefit of all missions, so that their proceeds can be distributed according to needs” (Decree Ad gentes, 38).
Thus, the collections from all local churches on World Mission Day are completely designated for the General Solidarity Fund, from which the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith distributes resources on behalf of the Pope to meet the needs of all church missions.”
You can find the full message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day here
The National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Czech Republic writes in his Letter for Mission Sunday:
“I take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your prayers and all your support of the pontifical missions last year. I am truly proud of the donors from the Czech Republic. Thanks to your generosity, we provided assistance to poor people in six countries across three continents amounting to more than 18.1 million crowns. We support pastoral and educational projects in Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Papua New Guinea. We help catechists, operate Christian radios, and build and repair churches and chapels. We help people improve their living conditions. By supporting religious congregations and diocesan organizations, we extend a helping hand to all in need.
With joy and care from our Mother, with the strength of tenderness and love, let us walk and bring to all the invitation from the King, the Savior.”
You can find the full Letter from the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Czech Republic for Mission Sunday here
As every year, the Pontifical Mission Societies have prepared materials on the occasion of World Mission Day that you can use for the promotion and celebrations of Mission Sunday in your parish.
Downloadable Materials:
Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Day
Letter from the National Director of PMS for Mission Sunday 2024
Calendar for Children Mission October 2024
Pray with us the Mission Rosary for all the children of the world
Mission Rosary for all the children of the world
Mission Rosary for all the children of the world – for coloring
Mission Newsletter 36 with information about Mission Sunday daily
Mission Reflections – daily meditations for the missionary month of October can be ordered here
Individual reflections will be published from October 1st each day also on the mission Facebook.
If you need advice on mission decoration of the church for Mission Sunday, also follow our Facebook pages, where you will find more inspiration: Facebook of the Pontifical Mission Societies
Prayer of Pope Francis for world missions
Heavenly Father, when Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, rose from the dead,
He entrusted to His disciples an important mission:
“Go to all nations and make disciples of me.”
You remind us that by the power of baptism we participate in the missionary mission of the Church
and bear responsibility for it. Give us the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
so that we may boldly and decisively witness to the gospel.
The mission entrusted by Jesus Christ to His Church is not yet complete,
therefore we ask you for new ideas and effective forms,
how to bring life and light into today’s world.
Help us so that all nations may experience the saving love
and mercy of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer for the propagation of faith
We ask You, Lord, to send workers into Your harvest and grant them grace, so that Your Word may spread quickly and be glorified, so that all nations may know You, the only God, and Him whom You sent – Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You. Amen.
Prayer of the Founder of the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of Faith, Pauline Jaricot
Lord, you welcome me at your table because I am Your child.
Through the Eucharist, transform my weakness into Your strength,
my smallness into Your greatness, my rage into Your meekness,
my anger into Your holiness, my insignificance into Your Divinity,
my foolishness, darkness, and ignorance into Your wisdom, light, and truth.
I rely on You and welcome You into my heart.
Please fill me with Your presence. Thank You. Amen.
We wish you a blessed and joyful experience of the missionary month of October!
Reproduced from www.missio.cz
