Dear Friends in Christ,
As the cool breezes of autumn usher us into a season of reflection and thanksgiving, we are also welcomed into the heart of the Church’s missionary call with the celebration of World Mission Sunday this October 20th. This special day invites us into a deep reflection on our shared call to be missionaries of the Gospel, regardless of where we are in the world.
I write to you as someone deeply moved by the stories of faith and courage that have animated the Church’s missionary journey for centuries. My own journey was profoundly shaped by the missionary spirit – a spirit that was ignited in the warmth of my family home through the pages of a mission magazine much like this one. These magazines, filled with stories from Uganda to Asia and the first missionaries in Canada, were not just tales of distant lands but were seeds planted in fertile soil. They grew into a lifelong commitment to serving God’s people everywhere, witnessing the transformative power of the Gospel in the most remote corners of our world.
Having served as a papal diplomat in Africa and Haiti before my appointment to the United States, I have been blessed to see the fruits of those seeds in the lives of countless individuals and communities. The Pontifical Mission Societies have been a crucial part of this journey, channeling the generosity of the faithful into concrete signs of hope and solidarity. From seminaries and schools to clinics and catechetical programs, the impact of your generosity is a living testimony to the Gospel’s power to change lives.
As we prepare for World Mission Sunday, I am reminded of the joy and responsibility we share in supporting the Church’s missionary work. The stories we read, the prayers we offer, and the contributions we make are all threads in the rich tapestry of our faith, woven together by our common mission to spread the love of Christ.
I encourage you, dear readers, to dive into the stories of this issue with open hearts. Let them inspire you as the stories in my childhood magazine inspired me. Let us renew our commitment to support our brothers and sisters in mission territories through prayer, sacrifice, and action. Together, we can continue to write the next chapters of the Church’s missionary story, fueled by faith, hope, and love.
As the Pope’s representative to the United States, I am honored to walk this journey with you. May our shared efforts on World Mission Sunday and beyond be a beacon of hope to the world, demonstrating the boundless love of God for each of His children.
With heartfelt thanks for your generosity and prayers,
Cardinal Christoph Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
