"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
The Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) are a worldwide network at the service of the Pope to support 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 “pontifical” since 1922, which indicates 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 heads 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.
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, which began in France in the early 19th century.
You can read more about our founders here.
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.
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. Monsignor Kieran Harrington
His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York
His Eminence Seán Cardinal O'Malley, OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Boston
The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre (Ex officio)
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
Rev. Msgr. Kieran E. Harrington, (Ex Officio)
National Director
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, CFA Executive V.P.
Chief Investment Officer, Federated Hermes, New York, NY
National Office | 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA
Phone: 212-563-8700 | Fax: 212-563-8725 | contact@missio.org
Melanie McManus
Chief Financial Officer
mmcmanus@missio.org
Josephine Everly
Vice President for Advancement
jeverly@missio.org
Ines San Martin
Senior Advisor of Communications
isanmartin@missio.org
Paul Batterson
Director of Information Technology
pbatterson@missio.org
Find the Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies
in your (Arch)Diocese at this link.
National Office | 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA
Phone: 212-563-8700 | Fax: 212-563-8725 | contact@missio.org
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