World Mission Sunday
Materials for World Mission Sunday
October 18, 2026
One in Christ, United in Mission
On World Mission Sunday, your prayers, sacrifices and financial offerings to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith support the Church in the more than 1,100 mission dioceses around the world! Thank you!
"World Mission Day, which seeks to heighten awareness of the missions, as well as to collect funds for them, is an important date in the life of the Church, because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world." (Redemptoris Missio, 81) — Pope St. John Paul II
How to Give
- Donate online now
- Donate in your parish collection
- Donate through your parish online giving
Last Year Your Gift Helped:
- Form 41% of seminarians worldwide
- Build 751 churches
- Sustain 1,130 mission dioceses
- Train 843,785 missionary catechists
- Support 50% of all religious sisters worldwide
Where Does your World Mission Sunday Gift Help?
- 26 million children in primary school
- 844,000 catechists teaching the faith
- 80,555 seminarians receiving an education
- 258,540 Sisters caring for families
- 8,750 homes for orphans and the elderly
- 11,840 health clinics in rural areas
About World Mission Sunday
In 1926, Pope Pius XI established an annual collection for the missionary work of the Church worldwide called "World Mission Sunday." World Mission Sunday, organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice.
As described by Pope John Paul II, World Mission Sunday is "an important day in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world" (Redemptoris Missio 81). The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is entrusted with the promotion of World Mission Sunday, collection of the proceeds, and distribution of the proceeds. As a representative of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Mission Office in St. Louis sends the proceeds to the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. Offerings from Catholics in the United States, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith worldwide.
Over 1,100 mission dioceses receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected! Each year, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Pontifical Mission Societies for assistance with catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of religious communities, communication, transportation, the building of chapels, churches, orphanages, and schools, and the list goes on. Then, the national directors of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith of every country gather to vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest needs. These funds are then distributed in their entirety to mission dioceses throughout the world.
Every year, the needs of the Catholic Church in mission dioceses grow– new dioceses are formed, new seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ's call to follow Him as priests, areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and other long-suppressed areas are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. That is why the involvement and commitment of Catholics from around the world is so urgently needed.
Learn more about the Society for the Propagation of the Faith here.