October is Mission Month

On Sunday, October 18th, 2026 which is World Mission Day, we celebrate 100 years of World Mission Sunday. The theme selected by Pope Leo XIV is ‘One in Christ, united in mission.” In his message for World Mission Day, the Pope appealed to all “to encourage the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit…requiring hearts united in Christ, reconciled communities and, in everyone, a willingness to cooperate with generosity and trust.”

During the month of October, we are asked to pray in a special way for all missionaries. The term Missionary comes from the Latin word missio, which means "the act of sending". Pope Leo invites us to join all Missionaries in their mission of evangelization through prayer, our daily acts of love in Christ and through our contributions to the missions – where funds raised help support the building of rural health clinics, renovate chapels and places of worship and provide for the needs of missionaries and catechists.


We are invited in a special way by Pope Leo, “to commit to contributing to the great mission of evangelization – which is always a work of love – according to our vocation and the gifts we have received. Our support on World Mission Day, will be a great help in bringing the Gospel of God’s love o everyone, especially the poorest and those in most need. Every gift, no matter how small, becomes a meaningful act of missionary communion.”


The following prayer is provided by The Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith for World Mission Month 2026. Please pray for missionaries in Canada and around the world and give what you can to this vital collection on World Mission Day weekend (Sunday, October 18th) bringing God’s compassion, peace and justice to those in need. Special offertory envelopes are available in the lobby of the Church.


Prayer:

Holy Father, make us one in Christ, rooted in his love that unites us and renews. May all members of the Church be united in mission, docile to the Holy Spirit, courageous in bearing witness to the Gospel, proclaiming and daily embodying your faithful love for all creatures.

Bless all missionaries, support them in their efforts, and watch over them in Hope!

Mary, Queen of Missions, accompany our work of evangelization in every corner of the Earth; make us instruments of peace, and grant that the whole world may recognize in Christ the light that saves. Amen.


You can read the Pope’s entire message for World Mission Sunday by clicking on the following link:
Message from Pope Leo XIV - World Mission Sunday 2026