World Mission Sunday

In this year's message, the Holy Father reminded the faithful that he has asked that the Church take the entire month of October as a time to revive missionary awareness and commitment. In fact, the theme is the same for both the month of October and World Mission Day 2019: Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World.   

This year, Francis addresses his World Mission Sunday message to us as we live out our baptismal call to be sent forth to evangelize the world. This is the mission that all Christians have received, and God gives us the grace to live it out wherever we may be.

As we pray and respond on World Mission Sunday here at home, we share in those celebrations taking place in every parish, seminary, school and convent all over the world. Together with the Church of Christ on mission in the world, we are baptized and sent, providing the prayerful and financial support necessary to bring the Lord’s mercy and concrete help to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.

The following are words from Pope Francis' public letter in regards to the 2023 World Mission Sunday:

Dear brothers and sisters!

For this year’s World Mission Sunday, I have chosen a theme inspired by the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, in the Gospel of Luke (cf. 24:13-35): “Hearts on fire, feet on the move”. Those two disciples were confused and dismayed, but their encounter with Christ in the word and in the breaking of the bread sparked in them the enthusiastic desire to set out again towards Jerusalem and proclaim that the Lord had truly risen. In the Gospel account, we perceive this change in the disciples through a few revealing images: their hearts burned within them as they heard the Scriptures explained by Jesus, their eyes were opened as they recognized him and, ultimately, their feet set out on the way. By meditating on these three images, which reflect the journey of all missionary disciples, we can renew our zeal for evangelization in today’s world.

From the Vatican, 6 January 2023.
Read The Holy Father’s Full Message Here: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

As we approach World Mission Sunday, donation envelopes will be mailed to your local parish to extend your generosity for this year's event. However, if you would like to make a contribution before then, donations can be made payable to the Propagation of the Faith and mailed to the following address:

Office of the Propagation of the Faith c/o Diocese of Oakland
2121 Harrison Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612

 
NOTE: The Diocese of Oakland combines both The Catholic Home Missions Appeal and World Mission Sunday into one collection date. Both parish donations and independent mail donations will be divided equally.