What are the Pontifical Mission Societies?
The Pontifical Mission Societies consist of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood (Children Helping Children), the Society of St Peter Apostle and the Pontifical Missionary Union.
What do these organisations do?
The Pontifical Mission Societies have, as their primary purpose, the promotion of a universal missionary spirit — a spirit of prayer and sacrifice — among all baptised Catholics. The first three Societies, in carrying out that goal, invite baptised Catholics to express their missionary commitment by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial support for the work of the Church in the Mission dioceses. The Missionary Union works to deepen mission awareness among priests, men and women Religious, catechists, and educators so that they are fully prepared to take on the mission formation of the faithful.
What does the term ‘pontifical’ mean?
The Societies received the title “pontifical” in 1922 (1956 for the PMU) to indicate their status as official instruments of the Pope and of the Universal Roman Catholic Church.
Where are the Pontifical Mission Societies located?
There are national offices in more than 120 countries around the world.
Central administrative offices are located in Rome, Italy, under the direction of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
The national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies for the Malta and Gozo is in Valletta (7, Merchant Street). The national director is Mgr. Joseph Bugeja. In addition, both dioceses have a diocesan director who is appointed by the bishop of that diocese.
What makes the Pontifical Mission Societies unique compared to other mission organisations?
According to the teaching of Vatican Council II, the Pontifical Mission Societies are institutions of the Universal Church and of each local church. Therefore, unlike any other mission organisation, the Pontifical Mission Societies are both Pontifical and Episcopal in nature. And, as such, the Pontifical Mission Societies are recognised as the principal instrument for educating the faithful to an awareness of the Church’s universal mission and for encouraging their support, in prayer and sacrifice, for the evangelising mission of the Church throughout the world.
How can I help the worldwide mission of the Church through the Pontifical Mission Societies?
All baptised Catholics have the opportunity to participate in the worldwide mission of the Church by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices or financial contributions to the Association for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood or the Society of St Peter Apostle. The PMU is a spiritual apostolate for Priests, religious men and women, catechists and lay people. Each year, the celebration of World Mission Sunday provides an opportunity, within the context of the Eucharist, for Catholics to express their prayerful and financial support of the Church’s worldwide missionary work.
What is World Mission Sunday?
World Mission Sunday is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the penultimate Sunday in October. Offerings from Catholics in Malta and Gozo, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings from Catholics around the world and distributed to mission dioceses — about 1,069 at this time.
Our parish has a special relationship with another parish in the developing world. I help to support this relationship through financial contributions and volunteer work. Do I still need to support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies?
Forms of direct co-operation between churches, also called ‘twinning’ can be of great benefit to a parish in the developing world and provide parishioners of the ‘sister’ church in Malta and Gozo with great spiritual fulfilment. This one-on-one relationship works to the degree that it broadens the vision of Catholics here to see the universal needs of the mission Church. It is important that ‘twinning’ does not become an obstacle to giving to the Pontifical Mission Societies as they help to guarantee that those who need it most are helped, especially the very poorest who do not have the means to seek ‘extra’ funding and support.
A priest from India just visited my parish. During his homily, he asked for help for his diocese. Does the money I offer during this special collection get sent to the Pontifical Mission Societies?
Quite often priests and Religious men and women visit Malta or Gozo to seek prayer and financial support for the work of their dioceses or Religious Communities in the Missions. The money collected in your parish in response to such an appeal is given directly to the missionary for use in his / her diocese or by his / her Religious Congregation. This help would be in addition to any help offered by the Pontifical Mission Societies themselves.
How are my donations distributed to the Missions?
Offerings from Catholics in Malta and Gozo are combined with offerings to the Pontifical Mission Societies from Catholics worldwide. Mission dioceses receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected. This grant of help is provided according to a diocese's size. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Pontifical Mission Societies for assistance for, among other needs, catechetical programmes, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, communication and transportation needs, and the building of chapels and churches. These needs are then matched with the funds gathered in each year. The world's national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest of needs for help. These funds are then distributed to mission dioceses throughout the world, directly from the country in which that help was raised. All of the money collected is distributed in its entirety each year.
I would like to serve as a lay missionary. What should I do?
There are a number of local and national organisations that help ‘connect’ lay Catholics to mission opportunities abroad. You may contact religious congregations directly or any of the organizations listed below which promote opportunities for men and women of all backgrounds and skills to respond to the Gospel through international volunteer service to people in need.
Such Organisations are:-
Voluntiera Lajci Missjunarji (Voluntary Lay Missionaries):
This is an organization founded in 1985 with the aim to help lay people to give at least one year of service to the missions. It also organizes regular missiology courses as preparation, and assists in the financial expenses the experience may involve.
Animazzjoni Missjunarja Teresa Nuzzo (Teresa Nuzzo Mission Society):
This is a Group of volunteers who work for the Missions within the Congregation of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, who engage in spiritual education and fund raising events for Missionary experiences of approximately 4 weeks in third world countries.
Should you require further information about groups organising missionary experiences, please do not hesitate to contact us on mario@missio.org.mt .
How do I find out more about the Pontifical Mission Societies?
For more information about the PMS, please contact us on info@missio.org.mt and be assured of our immediate assistance.