What are the Pontifical Mission Societies?

• The Pontifical Mission Societies consist of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood (Mission Together), the Society of St Peter Apostle and the Pontifical Missionary Union.
   

What do these organisations do?

• The Pontifical Mission Societies have, as their primary purpose, the promotion of a universal missionary spirit — a spirit of prayer and sacrifice — among all baptised Catholics. The first three Societies, in carrying out that goal, invite baptised Catholics to express their missionary commitment by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial support for the work of the Church in the Mission dioceses. The Missionary Union works to deepen mission awareness among priests, men and women Religious, catechists, and educators so that they are fully prepared to take on the mission formation of the faithful.
   

What does the term ‘pontifical’ mean?

• The Societies received the title “pontifical” in 1922 (1956 for the PMU) to indicate their status as official instruments of the Holy Father and of the Universal Roman Catholic Church.
   

Where are the Pontifical Mission Societies located?

• There are national offices in more than 120 countries around the world.

• Central administrative offices are located in Rome, Italy, under the direction of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. His Eminence, Ivan Cardinal Dias is the Prefect of the Congregation.
  
  The national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies for England and Wales is in London (23 Eccleston Square). The national director is Fr John Dale. In addition, every diocese has a diocesan director who is appointed by the bishop of that diocese.
   

What makes the Pontifical Mission Societies unique compared to other mission organisations?

• According to the teaching of Vatican Council II, the Pontifical Mission Societies are institutions of the Universal Church and of each local church. Therefore, unlike any other mission organisation, the Pontifical Mission Societies are both Pontifical and Episcopal in nature. And, as such, the Pontifical Mission Societies are recognised as the principal instrument for educating the faithful to an awareness of the Church’s universal mission and for encouraging their support, in prayer and sacrifice, for the evangelising mission of the Church throughout the world.
   

How can I help the worldwide mission of the Church through the Pontifical Mission Societies?

• All baptised Catholics have the opportunity to participate in the worldwide mission of the Church by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices or financial contributions to the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood or the Society of St Peter Apostle. The PMU is a spiritual apostolate for Priests, religious men and women, catechists and lay people. Each year, the celebration of World Mission Sunday provides an opportunity, within the context of the Eucharist, for Catholics to express their prayerful and financial support of the Church’s worldwide missionary work.
   

What is World Mission Sunday?

• World Mission Sunday is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the penultimate Sunday in October. Offerings from Catholics in England and Wales, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings from Catholics around the world and distributed to mission dioceses — about 1,069 at this time.
   

Our parish has a special relationship with another parish in the developing world. I help to support this relationship through financial contributions and volunteer work. Do I still need to support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies?

• Forms of direct co-operation between churches, also called ‘twinning’ can be of great benefit to a parish in the developing world and provide parishioners of the ‘sister’ church in England and Wales with great spiritual fulfilment. This one-on-one relationship works to the degree that it broadens the vision of Catholics here to see the universal needs of the mission Church. It is important that ‘twinning’ does not become an obstacle to giving to the Pontifical Mission Societies as they help to guarantee that those who need it most are helped, especially the very poorest who do not have the means to seek ‘extra’ funding and support.
   

A priest from India just visited my parish. During his homily, he asked for help for his diocese. Does the money I offer during this special collection get sent to the Pontifical Mission Societies?

• Quite often priests and Religious men and women visit the UK to seek prayer and financial support for the work of their dioceses or Religious Communities in the Missions. The money collected in your parish in response to such an appeal is given directly to the missionary for use in his / her diocese or by his / her Religious Congregation. This help would be in addition to any help offered by the Pontifical Mission Societies themselves.
   

How are my donations distributed to the Missions?

• Offerings from Catholics in England and Wales are combined with offerings to the Pontifical Mission Societies from Catholics worldwide. Mission dioceses receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected. This grant of help is provided according to a diocese's size. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Pontifical Mission Societies for assistance for, among other needs, catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, communication and transportation needs, and the building of chapels and churches. These needs are then matched with the funds gathered in each year. The world's national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest of needs for help. These funds are then distributed to mission dioceses throughout the world, directly from the country in which that help was raised. All of the money collected is distributed in its entirety each year.
   

 I would like to serve as a lay missionary. What should I do?

• There are a number of local and national organisations that help ‘connect’ lay Catholics to mission opportunities abroad. You may contact religious congregations directly or the Lay Missionary & Volunteer Network (LMVN). The LMVN promotes opportunities for men and women of all backgrounds and skills to respond to the Gospel through international volunteer service to people in need.
   

 How do I find out more about the Pontifical Mission Societies?

• Please contact the PMS National Director, Father John Dale - details are given on the side menu of this page.