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The Diocesan Mission Commission serves missionaries and missions based on the guiding principle of "Mission Cooperation". Collaboration and Cooperation with Dioceses and Religious Orders around the world enables the missionary nature of the church to be formed in local parishes and communities.
Mission Cooperation is achieved through A) Pontifical Mission Societies B) Canadian Charities C) World Mission Sunday (WMS) D) Parish Partnerships
A) Pontifical Mission Societies
The DIocese of London supports all 4 Pontifical Mission Societies in Canada by appointing a Diocesan Director, attending the National conference and coordinating World Mission Sunday (the third Sunday in October).
The four societies that serve as the Holy Fathers own mission are:
1) The Society for the Propagation of the Faith
On May 3, 2022 this Society will celebrate the 200th anniversary of it's founding.
The Beatification of the foundress, Pauline Marie Jaricot, will take place in Lyon, France on May 22, 2022.
This Society ensures spiritual and material assistance between particular Churches, especially for mission territories.
The "Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples" celebrated it's 400th aniversary on January 6, 2022. Vatican Council confirmed it's task "to direct and coordinate missionary work and missionary cooperation throughou the world. "
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith supports the Congregation through World Mission Sunday.
2) The Holy Childhood Society
The "Holy Childhood" society began in France in 1843 with the motto "children helping children. The program focuses on spirituality, catechesis, service and sacrifice. The children become missionaries of Jesus Christ and the Diocese advocates mission formation in all of the 5 Catholic School Boards.
Teachers and parish catechists can order free material online from the Holy Childhood office in Toronto. Class projects are available at: World Mission TV
3) Society of St. Peter the Apostle
This Society was formed to support the mission education, development and spiritual growth of mission vocations. Seminarians or seminaries can be sponsored through this Society and Chalices may be purchased and donated to missionary priests.
4) Missionary Union
This is the newest Pontifical Mission Society and it ensures the success and the vitality of the other three Societies through prayer. In London DIocese we pray for our currrent and former missionaries. We also pray for those missionaries who are currntly serving in the Diocese of London.
B) Canadian Charities (Qualified Donnees)The Diocesan Mission Commission cooperates with other Canadian missionary organizations that serve disaster relief programs, social justice and humanitarian efforts. Some national organizations are: 1) "Development and Peace" 2) "Save a Family Plan" 3) "Catholic Missions in Canada" 4) "Chalice"
C) World Mission Sunday ( WMS)
Parishioners and parishes are encouraged to route their missionary donations directly to the registered Canadian Charity.
Once a year the whole church gathers at mass in prayer to support it's missionaries and to help sustain global efforts to serve in the way that Jesus Christ taught us. Even the "poorest" of parishes participate in World Mission Sunday.
The Diocese of London supports a special collection in all our parishes as mandated by the Holy Father.
Bishop Fabbro wrote for WMS : "At Baptism each of us is given the responsibility to be missionary - to share our faith and to be active participants in the Church's mission to all peoples .... The missionary work of the Church depends on each one of us. Please be as generous as your means will allow and continue to pray that all of us in this Diocese may be eager and effective witnesses of Jesus in a world so in need of his love and peace.
The next World Mision Sunday is : OCT 23, 2022 !
D) Parish Partnerships and ProjectsPrayer is an essential element of parish partnerships and projects. Awareness trips create a passion for continued prayer and reflection. Parishioners can also support priests and ministers working in poor remote missions through mass intentions.
Parish mission projects help create "Intentional disciples". Volunteers and donors provide time, talent and resources in order to enable the project. Funds flowing through the Parish or Mission Office books must follow Diocesan guidelines. Not all projects are feasible and due dilligence must be maintained over the life of the project. For example: the Commission does not participate in gift-in kind projects.
The Diocesan Mission Commision supports missionary projects outside the Diocese that nurture and strenghten the faith experiences of our faithful. We recognize that encountering the "Face of Jesus" is often achieved through the eyes and ears of others. Ultimately the "Sender" or "Benefactor" will reap the same spiritual fruits as the "Missionary" or "Beneficiary" - a grace filled experience!
Mission projects need to be consistent with Catholic teaching and this is best acheved through an objective project plan. A project leader in London diocese must be able to tell the project story! Support from the local Bishop carrying out the mission project is part of this!
The Mission Office focuses on due dilligence and transparency and can help multiple parishes work together on a project! A reliable project contact in the mission location ensures realistic expectations and results. An official email adresss is necessary in order to facilitate communication and control. Pictures always say a thousand words!
There are many ways a parish can develop a mission project:
1) from a spiritual "calling" to actualize their faith and evangelize vicariously through missionaries already serving in missions
2) from a desire to provide food, clothing, education or health care to those less fortunate
3) from a longing to serve marginalized children, women or the elderly
4) from a relationship with a particular country or geographical area in the world - Peru, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, India or the Canadian North
5) from a sense of social justice in the church such that all the faithful have equal access to adequate places of worship for prayer, catechesis and the sacraments.
Parish partnerships within Canada
The Diocese of London is specifically partnered through the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to support the Diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon (YT).
Please contact the Diocesan Mission Director for additonal information about current project and program needs.
Parish projects outside Canada
Parishes are not registered to send funds outside the country. A parish that undertakes a mission activity outside Canada needs to coordinate with the Diocesan Mission Office. The due dilligence requirements can seem "burdensome" but the rewards of connecting your parish with a needy missionary parish can actualize an evangelical spirit.
Financial support that is sent outside Canada is to be sent to the Bishop who administers the mission territory. The Bishop's office or the Diocesan office of the recipient mission must endorse the mission project. A letter of understanding (endorsement) can help clarify the mission work.
Instead of a Diocesan office, sometimes the Superior office of a religious order or missionary order partners with London Diocese. This is prevalent in situations where a missionary priest is serving in the Diocese of London or visiting in Canada.