Give to the missions

Oct. 18, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:

World Mission Sunday - a special day of prayer and financial sacrifice for all the Catholic Missions of the World - is Sunday, October 21st this year.

It is intended to help all baptized Catholics - to realize their baptismal duty - to share the Faith and to support missionary efforts throughout the world - especially in countries that are known as the young churches.

The Church is by her very nature a MISSIONARY CHURCH. Before returning to his Father in his Ascension, Christ sent the Church to continue the mission given to him by the Father when he said: "AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU."

He then gave his disciples the missionary mandate: "GO, THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU, AND KNOW THAT I AM WITH YOU ALL DAYS UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD."

World Mission Sunday is the one day of the year when all Catholics are also asked to sacrifice financially for the support of all the Catholic Missions. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is the primary Pontifical Society, established by the Church, for the support and the maintenance of the local churches and missionary efforts in many parts of the world. The funds gathered by the Society are distributed each year in an equitable manner - so that many of the younger churches can rely on a basic subsidy each year - and extra financial assistance when needed for the erection of a seminary or some local missionary project.

As your Bishop, I ask you for your special prayers and generous financial support for the Catholic Missions on World Mission Sunday.

Wishing each of you God's blessing, I am,

Your brother in Christ,
Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless Bishop of Sioux City