As we prepare to celebrate World Mission Sunday, this year, we have received an extraordinary gift: a personalvideo message from Pope Leo XIV,the first U.S.-born Pope and a missionary himself, which he recorded to invite the faithful to join him in supporting the Church’s missionary work. This message perfectly aligns with Bishop Lohse's mission to serve the whole Church and proclaim the values of the Gospel.
In this message, the Holy Father reminds us of what he witnessed during his years serving in Peru: that the faith, prayer, and generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities. He calls upon every parish to participate fully — through prayer, preaching, and generosity — and asks us to help him “help the missions.”
These are the very missions where:
82,498 seminarians are preparing for priestly ministry,
258,540 religious sisters care for the poor, educate children, and witness to Christ,
844,000 catechists are announcing the Gospel, often in remote and challenging areas.
The Pope's Video can be accessed by the link below: