World Mission Sunday – Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples

Pope Leo calls every parish to respond actively and prayerfully as we approach 19 October 2025, the day when the universal Church comes together to renew its missionary commitment on World Mission Sunday.

A Global Call to Mission

World Mission Sunday is a day when the Catholic Church all around the world prays in solidarity for missionaries and supports their work. From the smallest of outback chapels to the largest cathedrals, this observance unites Catholics worldwide in hands ✋ (offering practical assistance), head 🧠 (deepening understanding of the poor in the Gospel and awareness of the needs of the world), and heart ❤️ (growing in compassion and love for those who bring Christ to others).

The theme for 2025, “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples,” reminds us that we are ALL called to prayerfully and practically help. As can be seen from the video during this weekends homily, this year’s focus is to the Catholic Mission in Zambia. In Zambia, families like Sharon’s in the rural town of Mpika are living every day on the edge of survival. Drought and climate extremes often force them to choose between selling their harvest to buy basics or keeping enough seed for the next season. Yet through the Plant Hope initiative, Catholic Mission supports farmers with seeds, practical tools, and sustainable farming training; helping them grow enough not only to feed their families, but to generate modest income.

Elsewhere, mothers like Eveline in remote north-eastern Zambia face life-threatening risks during childbirth because clinics lack essential facilities, medical equipment, transport, and safe maternity shelters. Through work at the Chalabesa Rural Health Centre, Catholic Mission assists with upgrades, providing incubators, resuscitators, better access to transport, and improved birthing facilities. These efforts help ensure that mothers and newborns are not left to chance, but can experience safe, dignified births.

Mission at Home: Our Local Call

Closer to home, our missionary call begins right where we are: in our families, workplaces, and neighbourhoods. The Gospel first sends us into our own streets and communities, reminding us that mission is not only far afield, but also right on our front doorsteps. Here in Australia, this local mission takes many forms, and our parish is called to be a beacon of Christ’s light within our own community.

Mother Teresa reminds us that “charity begins at home.” In a very broad sense, the Church’s mission is to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate the Sacraments, build community, serve the poor and vulnerable, and transform society in the light of the Kingdom of God.

So how can you bring hope to others? At the most basic level, we can all pray. Prayer strengthens our hearts, deepens our compassion, and unites us with those in need across the world. We can also give of our time (volunteering in parish outreach, visiting the sick or lonely), our talent (sharing gifts in liturgy, music, teaching, or youth ministry), and our treasure (supporting parish initiatives or contributing financially to Catholic Mission).

Another vital way of living mission is by growing in awareness and taking action to address it. Refusing to remain ignorant of the injustices around us e.g. poverty and homelessness, racism and discrimination, domestic and family violence, war and violence against civilians, exploitation of workers and refugees.

World Mission Sunday reminds us that mission is not an optional extra for a select few, but the shared calling of every baptised Christian. We are all disciples, sent to bear hope, compassion, and life to the world. On this day, every parish, in every diocese, in every country, joins in prayer and financial giving to ensure that missionaries can continue their vital work of building churches, forming priests, supporting catechists, and serving communities both locally and abroad.

Let us embrace this moment with faith and resolve. Together with the global church, may our parish be a place where hope takes shape, where generosity touches lives, and where faith becomes mission.

Journey well fellow pilgrims of hope,

Fr Gerard.