“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?

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?

Father Anthony Andreassi Director, Society for the Propagation of the Faith TPMS

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).

BOARD OF DIRECTORS – BOARD MEMBERS

His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan Archbishop of New York

His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan
Archbishop of New York

His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, OFM Cap. Archbishop of Boston

His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley,
OFM Cap.
Archbishop of Boston

The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre (Ex officio) Apostolic Nuncio to the United States

His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre
(Ex officio)
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States

Diácono Frank L. Kurre, Director General, Protiviti, Nueva York, Nueva York

Deacon Frank L. Kurre
Managing Director, Protiviti, Inc.
New York, NY

The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis

The Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda
Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis

The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre Archbishop of Louisville

The Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre
Archbishop of Louisville

The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski Archbishop of Saint Louis

The Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski
Archbishop of Saint Louis

The Most Reverend James S. Wall Bishop of Gallup

The Most Reverend James S. Wall
Bishop of Gallup

The Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski (Ex Officio) Archbishop of Miami

The Most Reverend Thomas G. Wenski
Archbishop of Miami

The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann Bishop of Orange

The Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Orange

Stephen Auth, CFA Executive V.P. Chief Investment Officer, Federated Hermes, New York, NY

Stephen Auth, CFA Executive V.P.
Chief Investment Officer,
Federated Hermes, New York, NY

TEAM MEMBERS

Josephine Everly - Vice President for Advancement - TPMS

Josephine Everly
Vice President for Advancement
[email protected]

Melanie McManus - Chief Financial Officer - TPMS

Melanie McManus
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]

Inés San Martín - VIP Communications And Marketing - TPMS

Ines San Martin
Vice President of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]

Keith Oltmans Director of IT TPMS

Keith Oltmans
Vice President of Information Technology
[email protected]

Mark J. Poletunow
Vice President of Regions
[email protected]

Alixandra Holden - Director, Missionary Childhood Association - TPMS

Alixandra Holden
Director, Missionary Childhood Association
[email protected]

Cindy Reyes - Executive Assistant - TPMS

Cindy Reyes
Executive Assistant
[email protected]