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
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"
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 Projects
Prayer 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.
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.