“The Pontifical Mission Societies serve the Church’s universality as a global network of support for the Pope in his missionary commitment by prayer, the soul of mission, and charitable offerings from Christians throughout the world.”
POPE FRANCIS
“The Pontifical Mission Societies serve the Church’s universality as a global network of support for the Pope in his missionary commitment by prayer, the soul of mission, and charitable offerings from Christians throughout the world.”
POPE FRANCIS
What are
The Pontifical
Mission Societies
The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) are a worldwide network at the service of the Pope that supports the missions and the Young Churches with prayer and charity. These include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
The four societies have been defined as “pontifical” since 1922, thus indicating their status as official instruments of the Pope and of the universal Catholic Church. In most countries, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies leads the four societies and oversees the World Missions Sunday Collection, which is taken up on the third Sunday of October each year in every Catholic parish around the globe.
Who founded
The Pontifical
Mission Societies?
Two women (Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot and Jeanne Bigard), a Bishop (Msgr. Charles de Forbin-Janson) and a priest (Fr. Paolo Manna) became the charismatic Founders of this great movement for missionary cooperation in the Church, originated in France in the early 19th century.
You can read more about our founders here.
What do
The Pontifical
Mission Societies do?
Throughout the world, The Pontifical Mission Societies support the proclamation of the Gospel, the building of churches, together with the work and witness of mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders. These missionaries reveal the compassionate heart of Jesus through their work that often entails providing not only spiritual support but also food, education, and medical care to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.
The Pope specifically requested from The Pontifical Mission Societies their help to spread the message of Christ to the world, mainly in those countries where Christianity is too recent, or too poor to sustain itself, and in any place where He has been denied, forgotten, persecuted, or shunned.
The societies care for and support new churches until they can be self-sufficient. This was the case of the Church in the United States which was considered a mission territory until 1908. Many of the churches in this country were built thanks to the support of The Pontifical Mission Societies.
Throughout the world, The Pontifical Mission Societies support the proclamation of the Gospel, the building of churches, and the work and witness of mission priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders. These missionaries reveal the compassionate heart of Jesus through their work, that often entails providing not only spiritual support but also food, education, and medical care to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.
The Pope specifically asks The Pontifical Mission Societies to help bring the message of Christ to the world, especially in countries where Christianity is too young, or too poor to sustain itself, and in those places where He has been denied, forgotten, persecuted, or shunned.
The societies care for and support the younger churches until they can be self-sufficient. This was the case, for instance, when it comes to the Church in the United States: considered mission territory until 1908, many of the churches in this country were built thanks to the support of The Pontifical Mission Societies.
Who leads
The Pontifical
Mission Societies
USA?
We are guided by a National Director and a highly respected, accomplished, and faithful Board of episcopal and lay Catholic leaders. The Board advises on strategy, vision and direction, provides oversight on the governance of the organization, and ensures our financial sustainability. Each member of the Board is an ambassador of The Pontifical Mission Societies in their dioceses and spheres of influence.
Who leads The Pontifical Mission Societies USA?
We are guided by a national director and a highly respected, accomplished, and faithful Board of episcopal and lay Catholic leaders. The board advises on strategy, vision and direction; provides oversight on the governance of the organizations; ensures our financial sustainability; and serves as ambassadors of The Pontifical Mission Societies in their dioceses and spheres of influence
Rev. Anthony D. Andreassi
Ad Interim National Director
In February 2024, Rev. Anthony D. Andreassi was appointed as ad interim National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. In his capacity of National Director, he oversees the U.S. efforts to raise awareness of and gather a Universal Solidarity Fund of support for the Holy Father’s missions throughout Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, as well as parts of Latin America and Europe.
He previously served as the provost of the Brooklyn Oratory and the principal of Regis High School in New York City. He holds a doctorate in history from Georgetown University with a concentration on American Catholicism. He is the author of Teach Me to Be Generous: A History of Regis High School in New York City (2014).
Rev. Anthony D. Andreassi
Ad Interim National Director
In February 2024, Rev. Anthony D. Andreassi was appointed as ad interim National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. In his capacity of National Director, he oversees the U.S. efforts to raise awareness of and gather a Universal Solidarity Fund of support for the Holy Father’s missions throughout Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, as well as parts of Latin America and Europe.
He previously served as the provost of the Brooklyn Oratory and the principal of Regis High School in New York City. He holds a doctorate in history from Georgetown University with a concentration on American Catholicism. He is the author of Teach Me to Be Generous: A History of Regis High School in New York City (2014).
Father Roger J. Landry
Incoming National Director
In September 2024, Father Roger J. Landry was appointed as the new National Director. He will assume his role in January 2025.
Father Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and present Catholic Chaplain of Columbia University, brings extensive experience and a dynamic vision to TPMS USA. His background in pastoral work, bioethics, youth ministry, and missionary activity aligns perfectly with TPMS’s mission to support the global Church’s missionary efforts.
During the summer of 2024, Father Landry did a 65-day Eucharistic pilgrimage across the United States as part of the Eucharistic Revival and the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
He is a Harvard College graduate and an alumnus of the Pontifical North American College in Rome and has been appointed by Pope Francis as a permanent Missionary of Mercy following the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015. He has served in various capacities, including Attaché to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, pastor, Chaplain at Columbia University, and executive editor of a diocesan newspaper.
Father Roger J. Landry
Incoming National Director
In September 2024, Father Roger J. Landry was appointed as the new National Director. He will assume his role in January 2025.
Father Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and present Catholic Chaplain of Columbia University, brings extensive experience and a dynamic vision to TPMS USA. His background in pastoral work, bioethics, youth ministry, and missionary activity aligns perfectly with TPMS’s mission to support the global Church’s missionary efforts.
During the summer of 2024, Father Landry did a 65-day Eucharistic pilgrimage across the United States as part of the Eucharistic Revival and the 10th National Eucharistic Congress.
He is a Harvard College graduate and an alumnus of the Pontifical North American College in Rome and has been appointed by Pope Francis as a permanent Missionary of Mercy following the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy of 2015. He has served in various capacities, including Attaché to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations, pastor, Chaplain at Columbia University, and executive editor of a diocesan newspaper.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS – BOARD MEMBERS
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley,
OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Boston
His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre
(Ex officio)
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
Deacon Frank L. Kurre
Managing Director, Protiviti, Inc.
New York, NY
Barry Jackson
Strategic Advisor, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda
Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis
The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre
Archbishop of Louisville
The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of Saint Louis
The Most Reverend James S. Wall
Bishop of Gallup
The Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
Archbishop of Miami
The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Orange
Stephen Auth
Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Global Equities, Federated Hermes Inc.
TEAM MEMBERS
Josephine Everly
Vice President for Advancement
[email protected]
Melanie McManus
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
Ines San Martin
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
Keith Oltmans
Vice President of Information Technology
[email protected]
Mark J. Poletunow
Vice President of Regions
[email protected]
Alixandra Holden
Director, Missionary Childhood Association
[email protected]
Cindy Reyes
Executive Assistant
[email protected]
