World Missions

What's New:

The Vatican releases the names of pastoral workers and missionaries killed by violence in 2011.  May they rest in peace.

Jesus the Missionary

Jesus was a missionary. As the Word of God, he is the light of all nations. As the Word made flesh, he brought God's own life into our midst. Before returning to the Father, he sent the Church to continue the mission given him by the Father and empowered her with his Spirit: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you" (Jn 20:21).

The Missionary Church

The Church, therefore, is missionary by her very nature. She continues the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit by proclaiming to the ends of the earth the salvation Christ offers those who believe in him. We are faithful to the nature of the Church to the degree that we love and sincerely promote her missionary activity. As teachers and pastors we are responsible for keeping alive a vibrant Catholic missionary spirit in the United States.

Committee Mandate

The Church's mission is to proclaim the salvation of Christ to the ends of the earth. As teachers and pastors, bishops are responsible for promoting Catholic world missions in the United States.The Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis supports initiatives which focus on the Church's world mission by promoting mission education and working collaboratively with the Pontifical Mission Societies and other mission organizations. 

Vatican Documents on Mission

Ad Gentes
Evangelii Nuntiandi
Redemptoris Missio

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Documents on Mission

To the Ends of the Earth:  A Pastoral Statement on World Mission
Teaching the Spirit of Mission Ad Gentes: Continuing Pentecost Today
Best Practices to Teach the Spirit of Mission

Learn more about mission organizations in the United States.