Bishop Richard J. Malone

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.