World Mission Sunday Is October 23, Theme: ‘As the Father Has Sent Me, So I Send You’
WASHINGTON—Catholic parishes will observe World Mission Sunday 2011 on October 23 by inviting missionaries to speak to congregations about their work and by taking up a collection. This year’s theme is “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.
WASHINGTON—Catholic parishes will observe World Mission Sunday 2011 on October 23 by inviting missionaries to speak to congregations about their work and by taking up a collection. This year’s theme is “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
In his Message for World Mission Sunday 2011, Pope Benedict XVI explained its theme, saying, “The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others.”
“The very nature of the Church is missionary,” said Peter Murphy, executive director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “We are each called by virtue of our baptism to proclaim the Good News to our families, our neighbors and to the world. World Mission Sunday promotes an awareness of the Church’s missions and enkindles a love for evangelization.”
The work of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis includes coordinating the U.S. Church’s overseas mission efforts, working closely with the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, the mission-sending societies of men and women, organization of lay missioners and other organizations.
Headquartered in New York City, the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter the Apostle and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
For more information about World Missions and World Mission Sunday, visit: www.usccb.org/about/evangelization-and-catechesis/world-missions/.
---
Keywords: World Mission Sunday 2011, collection, Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, missionaries, Pope Benedict XVI, Peter Murphy, Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, USCCB, U.S. bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter the Apostle, Missionary Union of Priests and Religious, As the Father has sent me, so I send you.
