What is World Mission Sunday ?

World Mission Sunday, organized by the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. This celebration takes place on the same day in every Catholic parish in the world!

Click Here to listen as Boston's Mission Director, Fr. Rod Copp, and our National Director, Fr. Andrew Small, OMI discuss the importance of the day for the mission of the Church.

Annually, World Mission Sunday (WMS) is celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday in October. This year, we gather on October 23 at 11:30 AM at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston with Cardinal Sean O'Malley as our celebrant. For Pope Benedict XVI the importance of World Mission Sunday, entrusted to the Propagation of the Faith, is central to our faith. He says,

"It is a matter of supporting institutions necessary for establishing and consolidating the Church through catechists, seminaries and priests and of making one's own contribution to improving the standard of living for people in countries where the phenomena of poverty, malnutrition - especially among children - disease, the lack of health care and education are the most serious." Click here for the Holy Father's full WMS message.

Every year the needs of the Church in the Missions grow - as new dioceses are formed, as seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ's call to follow Him, as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. Offerings from the U.S., on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings to the Propagation of the Faith worldwide for use in 1150 mission dioceses.

This year our Eucharistic celebration on World Mission Sunday will honor Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers as they celebrate their 100th anniversary year. Co-founded from the Boston office of the Propagation of the Faith by Bishop James Anthony Walsh, Maryknoll continues to serve God's poor in Latin America, Asia and Africa.

For more information on how you can be a participant in Boston's World Mission Sunday celebration on October 23, 2011 at 11:30 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, call 617-542-1776 or email us at info@propfaithboston.org. All attendees will receive a World Mission Rosary and are invited to join us for a light luncheon in the Cathedral High School gym immediately following Mass.