Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we gatheer in communion this World Mission sunday, I extend to your a heartfelt invitation from Pope Francis, nspired by the Gospel: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet (ef. Mt 22: 9)”. This call to mission resonates deeply with our faith’s core, urging us to share God’s love with the world.
Over a century ago, our own Catholic community in the United States was nutured through the generosity of the worldwide Church that contributed to the World Mission Sunday was nurtured through the generosity of the worldwide Church that contributed to the World Mission Sunday collection. Now, we are called to extend that same generosity to our bothers nad sisters in over 1,150 mission territories across Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Island, and the Middle East.
The collection on World Mission Sunday directly surpports seminaries, future religious sisters, catechist, Catholic schools that provide essential education, and healthcare centers that provide essential care, embodying the love of Christ.
As members of the Catholic Church, which is universal by its very nature, we are invited to participate actively in this mission. Our contributions and prayers on World Mission Sunday support the Church’s viral work of evangelization, inviting all to experience the joy and hope found in Christ.
I urge you, dear friends, to respond generously to this call, Let us unite in prayer for the success of the Church’s missionary activities and for the missionaries who dedicate their lives to spreading of Gospel. Your generosity is a powerful witness to the love and compassion at the heart of our faith.
May this World Mission Sunday deepen our commitment to the Church’s universal mission. Together, let us rejoice in the oppoprtunity to share God’s love with the world, inviting everyone to the banquet of the Lord.
With every blessing, Most Reverend Michael F. Olson, STD MA.