CANADA MONTRÉAL:A Century of Solidarity for World Mission Sunday

One hundred years after its establishment, World Mission Sunday, the highlight of October’s Missionary Month, will bring Catholics around the world together on October 18 around a shared commitment: to give thanks, pray and support the work of missionaries and emerging and newly established Churches in the 1,130 mission territories.

In French-speaking Canada, Mission foi (the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith) is celebrating this centenary with great joy and gratitude and is inviting the faithful to renew this solidarity through prayer and the collection requested by the Holy Father.

Established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI, World Mission Sunday reminds Catholics that proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world is a shared responsibility of all the baptized. Its centenary is being marked throughout this year by numerous national offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) around the world, including the French-speaking Canadian office.

World Mission Sunday will be at the heart of Missionary Month, which begins October 1, the feast of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, co-patroness of the missions with Saint Francis Xavier.

For this 100th edition, Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.” His message calls believers to strengthen their unity in Christ, build peace within their communities and work together in the mission of the Church.

“For a century, this day has opened a window onto the world and brought us into communion with the missionary in the field, who accompanies a people and their emerging Church,” says Father Yoland Ouellet, O.M.I., pro tempore national director of the PMS in French-speaking Canada. “In this sense, World Mission Sunday creates a link between communities that will often never meet, but that share the same faith and support one another.”

On October 18, World Mission Sunday, parishes around the world will hold a collection. Requested by the Holy Father, this special collection will benefit Churches in mission territories. All funds collected are directed to the Universal Solidarity Fund and then distributed in the Pope’s name by the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, according to the needs of the missions.

This assistance supports, among other things, the work of catechists, Christian formation, and the construction of places of worship and gathering. In 2025, Mission foi distributed approximately $750,000 to support projects in mission dioceses through donations collected in French-speaking Canada.

“For a parish, preparing for this day begins by explaining the purpose of the collection and making known the projects and dioceses it can support,” explains Father Rodrigo Zuluaga, national coordinator of Mission foi. “Every community can find its own way to participate: organizing a time of prayer, offering a discussion around the Missionary Month video, or inviting young people to an activity. We hope the resources of this month will help everyone feel united in Mission.”

A New Video and Resources for Communities

The video One in Christ, United in Mission, published September 10 on the OPM Canada YouTube channel, accompanies this year’s Missionary Month. Produced in collaboration with the Lucien-Labelle Foundation, it explores the place of Christ in the lives of believers, welcoming others and ways of living communion amid diversity.

Parishes, groups and movements can also consult the resources gathered at missionfoi.ca/mois-missionnaire. The materials include the Pope’s Message, a poster, a leaflet, prayers, Sunday reflections, daily biblical meditations and an activity for young people.

Mission foi encourages communities to use and share these resources throughout the month in preparation for World Mission Sunday on October 18. Donations can be made at missionfoi.ca/faire-un-don.