By supporting World Mission Sunday, Catholics contribute to the Church’s global outreach
As we prepare to celebrate World Mission Sunday on Oct. 20, we are reminded of the rich missionary history that continues to shape the Church today. The call to bring the Gospel to all nations, especially to places where the Church is still young, poor or suffering persecution, is at the heart of our faith. This mission is not only global but also deeply connected to the story of the Catholic Church in St. Louis and the United States.
World Mission Sunday, established by Pope Pius XI in 1926, invites Catholics worldwide to support mission territories that rely on our prayers and financial generosity. Inspired by Blessed Pauline Jaricot, who encouraged Catholics to contribute even the smallest amounts — a penny a week — to support the missions, this collection has helped to build the Church in every corner of the world. Her vision, rooted in both prayer and action, reminds us that even the smallest coin can make a lasting impact on the future of the Church.
Here in St. Louis, we are heirs to a legacy of missionary work that began in the early days of our diocese. Once referred to as the “Rome of the West,” we were a mission territory in the 19th century. Missionary priests like Bishop Louis William Valentine DuBourg and Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick were pivotal in establishing the Catholic Church here, bringing the Gospel to the growing population of immigrants and Native Americans. St. Louis became a spiritual hub for the Church’s growth in the Midwest, and this missionary spirit continues to thrive today.
The missionary history of St. Louis is intertwined with our namesake, St. Louis IX, the great French king known for his love of the poor and dedication to the works of mercy. His legacy serves as a constant reminder of the Church’s call to care for the most vulnerable and to spread the Gospel with humility and compassion. St. Louis embodied the spirit of inviting everyone to the banquet of God’s love, a call that Pope Francis echoes in this year’s World Mission Sunday theme: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet.”
The World Mission Sunday Collection supports missionaries who are serving in over 1,100 dioceses across Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. These missionaries are on the frontlines of evangelization, working in places where the Church is still being built — physically and spiritually. Their work involves more than just preaching the Gospel; it includes providing education, health care and pastoral care to communities that are often marginalized or in need. As St. Louis once received help from others to grow, we are now called to give back, extending the same invitation to those who are hearing the Gospel for the first time.
Since its inception, the Pontifical Mission Societies have played a crucial role in fostering the Church’s global outreach. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Blessed Pauline Jaricot in 1822, is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies that coordinate this mission work.
When you give to the World Mission Sunday Collection, you are sharing the love of Christ with those who need it most. Your contributions help build churches, train seminarians and provide for the spiritual and material needs of communities in mission territories. In this way, you are directly participating in the mission of the Church, offering an invitation to the banquet of God’s love.
I invite you to prayerfully consider how you can support this vital work. As Pope Francis reminds us, the Church’s mission is universal, and we are all called to be a part of it. Let us continue to respond generously, extending the love of Christ to those in every corner of the world.
May God bless you abundantly for your missionary spirit and your generosity.
