Mission Sunday 2007

The Holy Father’s message for this year’s celebration is All the Church for all the World – all local Churches supporting and encouraging each other in pursuit of world mission. The APF is the only organisation which provides regular support for EVERY mission diocese in the world.

The poster chosen for this year reflects this message. The image of Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro) casts his loving gaze on all peoples and opens his arms to welcome all, especially the poor and vulnerable. On World Mission Sunday we can explicitly celebrate and share Jesus’ mission at a local level, and with all people of the world, as it is celebrated in every parish worldwide.

Every parish and every diocese in the world contributes towards this fund of Universal Solidarity which is then shared out ‘from each according to their resources, to each according to their need’. The monies from England and Wales go directly to the bishops in the mission territories – local Church directly helping local Church!

The APF – Association for the Propagation of the Faith – works through local bishops, churches and missionary congregations to ensure that resources are distributed fairly – on the basis of need rather than particular links or ‘twinning’.

Mission Sunday unites Catholics all over the world in prayer, mutual friendship and support, both spiritual and material.