“For we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard”  Acts 4:20

World Mission Sunday – the one day in the year when the entire global Church comes together in support of mission – will be celebrated on Sunday, 24 October.  In a world where so much seems to divide us, World Mission Sunday provides an opportunity for all of us to support every mission and faith community that is in need of our help.

Catholic Mission is the Australian agency of the Pontifical Mission Society contributing funding and providing project support to critical church-run initiatives in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America as well as remote dioceses within Australia.

This year, Catholic Mission’s annual World Mission Appeal is highlighting the work of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Thailand, supporting children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds through the Kindergarten Centre.  Originally the Kindergarten Centre started caring for the children of working mothers who had no other support system available to them during the day.  The Kindergarten now caters for over 100 local students from three to five years of age, providing them with education and nutritious meals.  The children come from the local area around the Good Shepherd Sisters Centre in the urban slum of Din Daeng in Bangkok and as early childhood education is not compulsory in Thailand, these children are given a head start on their education.

Pope Francis says:

‘Once we experience the power of God’s love, we cannot help but proclaim and share what we have seen and heard.  Jesus’ relationship with his disciples and his humanity shows us the extent to which God loves our humanity and makes his own our joys and sufferings, our hopes and our concerns’.

On this World Mission Sunday, let us join Pope Francis in supporting his missions.  As we pray and respond here at home, we share in all those celebrations taking place in every parish and school throughout the world.  Together, through our prayers and financial contributions, we support the good works of Catholic Mission as they continue to provide and support the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.

To donate and to learn more about the work of the Good Shepherd Sisters and how the Kindergarten Centre is helping to create a brighter future through education visit Catholic Mission.

Your generous support of this appeal can help give many more children in need the gift of education.

By Kate Baines