World Mission Sunday
On October 20, World Mission Sunday, we join Catholics worldwide in this annual Eucharistic celebration for the Missions of the Church. We set aside this day as a time for Catholics around the world to gather, pray, and fundraise for global mission.
This year’s theme comes from the Gospel of Matthew: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet.” In Pope Francis’s World Mission Sunday message, he shared, “Let us not forget that every Christian is called to take part in this universal mission by offering his or her own witness to the Gospel in every context, so that the whole Church can continually go forth with her Lord and Master to the ‘crossroads’ of today’s world.”
Please pray and give generously during the second collection in your parish on World Mission Sunday. Your offering of these spiritual and temporal resources will ensure that our brothers and sisters around the world will experience the joy and hope of the encounter with Christ.
World Mission Sunday Resources
Parish Resources and Prayer
- Click here to find resources to help our ADW parishes celebrate World Mission Sunday, including homily helps, bulletin announcements, flyers and more.
- World Mission Rosary: English | Spanish
- World Mission Rosary Pray Along Video
- Litany of Missionary Saints: English | Spanish
- World Mission Meditation on the Saints
Mission Formation
- About World Mission Sunday: English | Spanish
- Pope Francis Message to Pontifical Mission Societies: English | Spanish
- More Resources for Child Mission Education (courtesy of the Archdiocese of Chicago)
More Information About the Missionary Church
- The Pontifical Mission Societies of the USA
- Agenzia Fides (News from Mission Churches): English | Spanish
- ONE Magazine of Catholic Near East Welfare Association
- Catholic Home Missions
Blessed Pauline Jaricot: Foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith
- Biography: English | Spanish
- Prayers: English | Spanish
- Lessons from her life: English | Spanish
- Prayer card
- “Heart of a Missionary: The Story of Pauline Jaricot” film
On World Mission Sunday…
- Connect with all who are serving on mission by praying the World Mission Rosary.
- Connect with the Americas…where catechists travel to remote areas to bring the good news of God’s great love to families.
- Connect with Europe…where new churches are being built to welcome faith communities.
- Connect with Asia…where six million children receive an education from religious sisters in Catholic elementary schools.
- Connect with the Pacific Islands…where 1,000 young men are preparing for the priesthood to bring the Lord’s healing hope and peace to those in need.
- Connect with Africa…where those suffering from illness are provided with loving care at 6,400 Catholic clinics and hospitals.
Will you answer the call?
The men and women who serve on mission around the world have answered Christ’s call to go out and make disciples. Will you answer this call and help our brothers and sisters all over the world through your prayers, support, and resources? Your generosity helps support those who are working to bring God’s love and compassion to people living on the margins.
Priests, religious, and lay people from mission groups based in Washington, D.C. serve on mission throughout the world. Countries they are serving in include: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Donate online or send your gift to The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington Office of Missions, PO Box 223394 Chantilly, VA 20153-3394.
For more information, contact Maeve Gilheney-Gallagher, Global Solidarity Coordinator.