On World Mission Sunday, October 22, our celebration leads us to hear
of our Christian faith - leads us to mission, as Pope Francis explains
in his message for this year's celebration.
The collection on the next-to-last Sunday in October is unique. It
is truly a global effort for the entire Church. It is a central moment
each year to provide for the building up of over one thousand local
churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin
America and Europe.
I invite all of us in the Diocese of Buffalo, to see World Mission
Sunday as a special moment of encounter with the Pope's missions
throughout the world. Meeting the priests, religious and lay leaders
who, day in and day out, witness to the Gospel and serve the poor, will,
as Pope Francis says, "enable the missionary heart of Christian
communities to join in prayer, testimony of life and communion of goods,
in responding to the vast and pressing needs of evangelization."
I echo the words of our Holy Father, asking you to open your hearts
as you connect on World Mission Sunday with every corner of the globe.
Grateful always for your generosity of spirit and heart, and
confident of your missionary commitment to share the joy of the Gospel
and help the poor.