World Mission Sunday Oct. 23 calls us to baptismal promises

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On Oct. 23, World Mission Sunday, we join Catholics worldwide in this annual Eucharistic celebration for the Missions of the Church.

Pope Francis reflects on this year’s theme: “You shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). He emphasizes the call to every Christian through baptism to bear witness to Christ, to participate in a mission of universal evangelization, and to seek strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, began this work 200 years ago. As Pope Francis reminds us, “She accepted God’s inspiration to establish a network of prayer and collection for missionaries so that the faithful could actively participate in the mission of Christ, ‘to the ends of the earth.’” The first monies collected from Pauline for the Propagation of the Faith came to us in support of the then-Diocese of New Orleans as a mission diocese. Her vision would lead to World Mission Sunday, which helps support missionary activity today.

Through prayer and sacrifice you can make it possible to support priests, religious women and men and lay missionaries throughout the world. Likewise, you support missionary seminarians in their formation. You can also assist in building schools and orphanages that care for children in places few will ever visit.

We ask God’s blessings to help us to reach out in solidarity and support for the Mission Church, and ask God to encourage the work and witness of missionaries.

In this spirit, I offer my sincere personal gratitude for your kind missionary heart, reaching out in love throughout October, designated as Mission Month.
 

Gratefully in the Lord,

Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond

Archbishop of New Orleans