“We cannot help but speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

On October 24, we join with the Universal Church to celebrate World Mission Sunday. As the global pandemic continues to cause suffering and loss both at home and around the world, we as sisters and brothers in faith pause to pray and be in solidarity with our neighbors a world away. Through this celebration we actively participate in the mission of Jesus Christ to “go into the whole world and pro-claim the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

The annual World Mission Sunday second collection provides critical financial support to missionaries and communities of faith in the most economically disadvantaged regions of the globe. Working with limited means, these local churches bear wit-ness to the Gospel amid scarcity, conflict and instability. The Church’s missionaries address all forms of material and spiritual needs to build up the church, affirm human dignity, alleviate poverty, encourage dialogue and inspire hope. The World Mission Sunday collection provides:

*Approximately 75 percent to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which helps sustain over 1,000 mission dioceses in Africa, Asia and remote areas of Latin America and the Pacific islands.

*About 9 percent for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association to alleviate poverty, foster Chris-tian unity and promote interreligious dialogue in the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe.

*About 15 percent to the basic operations of the Global Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Chica-go, which facilitates, resources, and supports efforts to reach out in love and solidarity globally.

In his message for World Mission Sunday Pope Frances says, “As Christians, we cannot keep the Lord to ourselves: the Church’s evangelizing mission finds outward fulfilment in the transformation of our world and in the care of creation.” Let our celebration reinvigorate us to continue to walk with one another in this ongoing pandemic and transform our world with Christ’s compassion. If you are able, place a donation to support mission dioceses in the collection basket, or you can make a donation online at WeAreMissionary.org/wms.