World Mission Sunday

During a recent homily, Pope Francis delivered a powerful message on the importance of service over power, drawing from Jesus' encounter with the disciples James and John in the Gospel of Mark.

Philippines retired bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD (Society of the Divine Word), Bishop Emeritus of Sorsogon and of Romblon, 80, passed away at around 6:30 a.m. on World Mission Sunday, Oct. 20, at the house of his brother in Cainta in Rizal, confirmed the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) confirmed in a Facebook post.

If one could cite a single concrete example of the direct relationship of Mission Sunday with the mission of every baptized Christian, it is the emphatic remonstration of John the Baptist with King Herod: “It is not lawful for you to take your brother’s wife” (Mk 6:18).

World Mission Day — also known as World Mission Sunday — was established by Pope Pius XI in 1926. It is usually observed on the third Sunday of October and will be celebrated this year on Sunday, Oct. 23. It’s the one Sunday in the year when the entire global Church comes together to support mission. Every Catholic community, in every country, sends a powerful message of faith, hope and love on this special day.

Every Catholic community, in every country, sends a powerful message of faith, hope and love on this special day.