The World Mission Sunday collection helps the Church spread the Gospel in missionary lands. These are places (1,130 of them to be exact) where the Church basically barely exists, or where she is so young, poor, or persecuted that she cannot support herself in terms of personnel and resources.

Many Catholics think of World Mission Sunday as a modern Church initiative. In one sense, this is true: this Oct. 18, we are celebrating it for the 100th time. But in reality, there are profound Biblical roots for this Catholic day of worldwide prayer and sacrifice!

Fr. Augustine Ikwu, a priest from Nigeria involved in priestly seminary formation, said, “In many dioceses of the world, the Church prays for more vocations. In Nigeria, we pray for the resources to welcome the vocations God has already sent.”