World Mission Sunday on Oct. 19 supports the Church’s presence in mission dioceses across the world
The Church around the world will unite in prayer and generosity for World Mission Sunday on Oct. 19. This year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples,” takes on special meaning as we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, drawing inspiration from St. Paul’s powerful words: “Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5).
That hope is desperately needed in many places today. In 1,124 dioceses and territories across the globe, the Church is still young, often poor and sometimes persecuted. In these places, the presence of a missionary — priest, religious or layperson — is not simply welcome; it is essential. They bring not only sacraments and education, but also the healing and reconciling presence of Christ.
St. Louis’ history is deeply tied to the missionary impulse. Long before our city was called the “Rome of the West,” missionaries like St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and Father Pierre-Jean De Smet ventured into unknown territories to bring Christ to indigenous communities. They journeyed on foot, through rivers and forests, driven by the same Great Commission that guides our Church today: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
We are privileged to continue that tradition today — not only as a diocese that once received missionaries, but now as one that sends and supports them. Many of our priests and religious have answered the call to serve abroad, and our parishes remain generous in supporting the work of the missions. I often meet missionaries visiting from overseas who speak with deep gratitude about the help they’ve received from Catholics in Missouri — help that made the difference between building a chapel or turning parishioners away, between educating a child or sending them back to the street.
Our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope and a man shaped by decades of missionary service, recently reminded us that “the Pontifical Mission Societies are the primary means of awakening missionary responsibility among all the baptized.” His words call us to embrace this missionary responsibility not as a task for others but as part of our own discipleship. To be a Catholic is to be a missionary. Wherever we are — across the ocean or across the street — we are called to share the hope of Christ.
This year’s World Mission Sunday collection supports the Church’s presence in those 1,124 mission dioceses, sustaining catechists, building seminaries, providing transportation for missionaries and offering food and medical care to children or the elderly. Through the Universal Solidarity Fund, supported by this collection, the Holy Father can ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, regardless of geography or political circumstances.
At the same time, we in the United States must never forget that we, too, are missionary territory, no longer in the canonical sense but certainly in a spiritual one. Our neighborhoods, schools and communities are full of people searching for meaning, healing and hope. The same hope we support abroad is the hope we are called to embody here at home as we invite others to come to know Christ.
On this World Mission Sunday, I invite each of you to consider: How are you a missionary of hope? Are you praying for those who serve in difficult regions? Are you encouraging young people to consider a vocation to missionary life? Are you giving, even sacrificially, to support the Gospel’s spread?
Let us remember: We are all part of Christ’s mission. We are all part of the Church that brings hope to the world. And with the guidance of Pope Leo XIV and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will continue to be “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples.”
May God bless you for your prayers, your generosity and your missionary heart.
