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Brief history of the APF
The
Association for the Propagation of the Faith was started
among factory workers by Pauline Jaricot, a young lay
woman in Lyons, France. It was formally established
there in 1822.
Members promised to pray daily for the Missions and to
support them by a weekly financial sacrifice. From the
outset it was clear that the help should be shared out
to all the missions of the world especially the poorest
and most in need. To this day the APF guarantees an
equal distribution of funds according to the needs of
each local church.
A magazine, The Annals of the Propagation of the Faith,
was also launched in 1822 (the forerunner of our Mission
Today), to inform members of events and progress in the
missions and encourage their continued spiritual and
financial support.
The APF was established in England by 1833, only four
years after Catholic Emancipation!
In May 1922, Pope Pius XI made it a Pontifical Society,
and thus it became the Church’s official organisation
for helping the missions.
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A
committed member
of the laity
'Where you cannot go with your word, you can go through
your prayers and sacrifices’
Pope John Paul II
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