Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
May God bless you! This Sunday, the Archdiocese of Louisville will collect donations for the annual Mission Collection, which supports the Catholic Home Missions and international missionary agencies, such as the Propagation of the Faith. These organizations fund the work of more than 1,100 mission dioceses here and around the world.
The Mission Collection fuels the Church’s missionary work and provides ongoing monetary help for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Church in the United States, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and remote regions of Latin America. This includes aid for the education and support of seminarians, religious novices and lay catechists; for the work of religious communities in education, health care and social services; for communication and transportation needs, for disaster and emergency relief, when necessary and for the Church’s ministry to children.
This collection provides an opportunity for all of us to renew our call to be missionary disciples who reach out to those in need, which is especially appropriate as we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of the Church and as we observe this Year of Mercy.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has descended upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Welcoming with joy the call to cooperate in the mission of salvation, every Christian knows that he or she can count on the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Please be generous when the Mission Sunday collection is taken up in your parish this weekend.
Sincerely yours in our Lord,
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville
