We are celebrating World Mission Sunday throughout October 2022

We are celebrating World Mission Sunday throughout October 2022

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Throughout the year, the Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) support the proclamation of the Gospel, the building of the Church, and the work and witness of mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders. These missionaries provide food, education, and medical care to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions. Through their work, they reveal the compassionate heart of Jesus. Help support their efforts this World Mission Month.

HIGHLIGHTS OF WORLD MISSION MONTH

  • This year’s theme: “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8)
  • Supports more than 1,100 Catholic mission dioceses around the world
  • Special celebrations will be held in churches around the world on October 23, 2022
  • Helps Catholics to actively participate in the Pope’s Missions through prayer, sacrifice and donation.

WHY WORLD MISSION SUNDAY?

Meet Rihanna Omoll
 from Garissa in northeastern Kenya, who, along with children from 11 African countries, exchanged thoughts on a virtual conference about her commitment to mission.  “I was very happy for the opportunity to share my experiences as a missionary child to my fellow missionary children within our continent,” Rihanna said. “I was also happy for the interaction seeing children from Zambia, Ethiopia, Nigeria just to mention a few. It was a very nice experience and it’s my wish to have such meetings often.” Your donation this World Mission Month will help more than 2,000 children like Rihanna to learn about our faith in Jesus. Your generosity also provides 700 children in Garissa with support for school expenses and supplies, and 3,200 little ones with proper nutrition in Church-run feeding programs.  Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for the education of some 26 million children.

Meet Lo Kroem
a Khmer seminarian who traveled to study at the Lux Mundi Major Seminary in Thailand. He is from a small community in Cambodia, but now, the fourth Khmer seminarian to study in a major seminary. There is a need to encourage vocational discernment and to promote the faith. Help in the way of support for studies of boarding is crucial for the future of the local church in Cambodia. Your donation this World Mission Month will help seminarians like Lo Kroem to continue their studies for the priesthood, preparing to give witness to the Gospel, celebrate the Sacraments, and serve the poor in the Pope’s missions. Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for more than 38,000 seminarians. 

Meet Sister Veronica Cibarika
a missionary in Solomon Islands who answered, as she puts it, a “vocation within vocation.” Sister’s journey to religious life begins at the age of 15 when she entered a convent. “I was thinking a lot about missions,” she shared. “However, I knew that before I go, I should gain more experience in religious life.”  There is a need to offer financial support for young women who want to become Sisters so that they may have all the resources to learn, grow and give back to vulnerable communities. Your donation this World Mission Month will help prepare more religious, like Sister Veronica, bringing their hope-filled, loving service to children and families in the Pope’s missions. Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for the efforts and service of religious Sisters among children and families. 

Meet Anna
Aroonprapha Sukkasee
catechist in Chanthaburi in eastern Thailand. The COVID-19 global pandemic restructured her full-time role to now include programs and activities that are offered as part of short-term online courses. The design and promotion of these educational resources is accomplished by a team of dedicated persons, and there is a need for technology and books to make these classes a reality. Your donation this World Mission Month will help more some 136 full-time catechists like Anna, and an additional 170 part-time catechists in Chanthaburi, as they continue to grow in faith and to teach others of God’s great love for each one of us. Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for more than 844,000 catechists who teach the faith.

Meet Father Tarcisio Kyaw Aye 
local priest at St. Joseph Parish in Taunggyi, Myanmar.  The parish is also known as a refuge for leprosy victims and consists of 40 small brick houses and two-stories buildings for a group of Sisters who serve as nurses, caring for the patients. There are few opportunities for employment aside from farming.  The need is vast.  Currently the church is in a dilapidated state with cracks in the ceiling and unsound structure. Your donation this World Mission Month will help Father Tarcisio and the Sisters in this Myanmar parish, and similar efforts throughout the Pope’s missions.  Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for the service of some 12,000 clinics caring for the sick and dying.

Meet Sister Stan Terese Mumuni 
of the Nazareth Home for God’s Children in Sang in northern Ghana. She and her Religious Community, the Sisters of the Eucharist, help take care of children, like a little girl named Sarah who was accused of witchcraft because she had developed a speech impediment.  Sister Stan needs financial support to commission the construction of a vocational training center and clinic. Your donation this World Mission Month will help Sister Stan in Ghana and other Sisters throughout the Pope’s missions who offer children in need concrete help as they give witness to the Lord’s abiding love for each of us. Each year, the Pope’s Missions provide for the work of Sisters in some 8,750 homes for orphaned children, as well as for the elderly. 

Msgr Kieran E. Harrington, National Director Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States of America