THEME: “MISSIONARIES OF HOPE AMONG THE PEOPLES”
Under the theme “Missionaries of Hope among the Peoples,” the Church unites in prayer and solidarity for all who carry the Gospel to the world’s frontiers. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, we are each called by baptism to bring Christ’s hope to every heart, through prayer, generosity, and daily witness of faith.
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, On World Mission Sunday every year, the whole Church prays, united, particularly for missionaries and the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors. When I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities. I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday. Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories. This October 19th, as we reflect together on our baptismal call to be “missionaries of hope among the peoples,” let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our Hope to the ends of the earth. Thank you for everything you will do to help me help missionaries throughout the world. God bless you all!” — Pope Leo XIV, Message for World Mission Sunday 2025
The links to Pope Leo’s video appeal for the World Mission Sunday, October 19, 2025 |
SPANISH:
Thank you so much for your support of the mission, and may the good Lord continue to bless your efforts as you spread His Gospel!.
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY | CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS | OCTOBER 19, 2025 | https://fwdioc.org/world-mission-day
Greetings and blessings, beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Diocese of Fort Worth will celebrate World Mission Sunday with a special diocesan celebration at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Prosper at 11:30 AM, presided over by Bishop Michael Olson.
This global event encourages Catholics to reaffirm their baptismal call to mission through prayer and financial support for mission territories.
- Diocesan Celebration:
Join the Diocese of Fort Worth for a special Mass presided over by Bishop Michael Olson at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Prosper, beginning at 11:30 AM.
- Purpose:
The day is dedicated to supporting the mission territories of the Catholic Church, where the faith is still young and resources are often scarce.
How to participate:
- Prayer: Offer prayers for missionaries and the communities they serve.
- Generosity: Make a financial contribution to the collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Your donations will help fund seminarian education, the work of religious sisters, catechist training, and the support of health clinics and orphanages in mission territories.
Message from Pope Leo XIV:
Pope Leo XIV has issued a special message for World Mission Sunday, urging Catholics worldwide to participate and support the missions.
- You can watch and reflect on the message from the Pope, which is available on the diocese’s YouTube channel.
Links to Pope Leo’s Message in English and Spanish above.
MEANING OF WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
World Mission Sunday is a global day of prayer and solidarity for the Church’s missionary work across the world. Established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI, it invites Catholics everywhere to recognize and renew their commitment to the universal mission of the Church — to bring the light of Christ to all peoples. On this day, the faithful are called to pray for missionaries, to support them through their generosity, and to reflect on their own vocation as witnesses of the Gospel.
It is coordinated by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, which sustains over 1,100 mission territories. These are places where the Church is young, often materially poor, and sometimes persecuted, yet where faith continues to flourish through the zeal of missionaries, catechists, and local communities. Through World Mission Sunday, every parish becomes truly “catholic” universal, extending its care beyond borders in prayer and charity.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND & FOUNDING PURPOSE
The roots of World Mission Sunday reach back to Blessed Pauline Jaricot, a 19th-century French laywoman who founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Inspired by her deep love for Christ and His Church, she organized small circles of believers who prayed and contributed regularly for the missions.
Her efforts supported the early missionary work of the Church, including in the United States, which was once a mission territory itself. In 1926, Pope Pius XI universalized her vision by instituting World Mission Sunday, ensuring that every Catholic throughout the world would have an opportunity to unite spiritually and materially with the Church’s missionary endeavors. Since then, the observance has become an annual reminder that mission is not reserved to a few but is the call of every baptized person (cf. Matthew 28:19–20).
THEME FOR 2025: “Missionaries of Hope among the Peoples”
This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope among the Peoples,” originally introduced by the late Pope Francis, echoes the voice of Christ who calls His disciples to be bearers of hope in a world often marked by fear, suffering, and division. Pope Leo XIV reminds the faithful that our baptism is both a gift and a sending forth, to bring the hope of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Hope is not a fleeting emotion but a spiritual force rooted in Christ’s Resurrection. Missionaries embody this hope when they preach the Gospel, serve the poor, educate children, and bring healing to wounded hearts. They remind us that God’s love is stronger than despair, and that the message of Christ transcends all boundaries of culture and race. In the spirit of this theme, each believer is invited to rediscover their role as a “missionary of hope,” in family life, in the workplace, in community service, and in witness to the faith. As Saint Paul wrote, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:15).
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
World Mission Sunday reveals the true face of the Church, a communion of believers sent forth to proclaim Christ. It is not merely a day for collections or charity; it is a celebration of unity and shared responsibility for the Gospel.
Through prayers and offerings, Catholics everywhere assist in building churches, supporting catechists, training priests, and providing healthcare and education in mission territories. No contribution is too small, for each act of generosity participates in God’s great plan of salvation.
In an increasingly fragmented world, World Mission Sunday is a call to global solidarity, reminding us that we are one body in Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:12). It strengthens the bonds of faith across continents and renews our awareness that mission begins wherever we are, in our homes, parishes, and daily encounters.
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
To be a missionary of hope is to live as a witness of Christ’s love amid uncertainty. It means trusting in the power of the Gospel even when results are unseen, and continuing to sow seeds of faith where the soil seems dry. True missionary work springs not from mere activism, but from union with Christ in prayer and the Eucharist. As Pope Leo XIV reflected from his own missionary experience, the faith, prayers, and generosity of believers have the power to transform entire communities. Hope is contagious; it spreads quietly through acts of compassion, forgiveness, and courage. Every time we speak a word of faith or show mercy to the suffering, we become living instruments of that same hope which sustains missionaries in distant lands.
CALL TO MISSIONARY ACTION
On this World Mission Sunday, let us not only remember the missionaries abroad but also renew our own missionary spirit at home. Each of us, by baptism, is sent to proclaim the Good News, not only with words but with lives marked by joy, compassion, and service.
Let us respond to Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to pray, give, and go forth in love. Through our prayers, we accompany those who risk their lives for the Gospel. Through our generosity, we sustain their ministries. Through our daily witness, we make the hope of Christ visible in our world.
May this day rekindle in all believers the flame of missionary zeal, so that, united as one Church, we may bring the message of salvation “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son Jesus to bring light, peace, and hope to all nations. Bless and strengthen all missionaries who labor to spread Your Word. Fill them with courage, compassion, and unwavering faith in Your providence. May we, too, answer Your call to be missionaries of hope, bringing Christ’s love to the poor, the weary, and the forgotten. Through the intercession of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, may our prayers and sacrifices bear fruit for Your glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.🙏🏽
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY | CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS | OCTOBER 19, 2025 | https://share.google/brRptUmQAMiSUFkGE
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY | OCTOBER 19, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/world-mission-sunday-october-19-2025/
POPE LEO XIV’s CANONIZATION OF SEVEN NEW SAINTS – October 19, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/pope-leo-xivs-canonization-of-seven-new-saints-october-19-2025/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/