The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, known in some countries as Missio. This group of Catholic Missionary Societies is under the canonical jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Rome, Italy) and the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). Since 1922, the Pontifical Mission Societies (Missio) has been the Catholic Church’s official support organization for overseas mission. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith seeks to foster an even deeper spirit of universal mission. We strive to inform Catholics of the life and the needs of the Catholic Church in the Missions and to encourage prayer and financial help for those mission churches.
Through the offerings from Catholics worldwide, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith provides ongoing support for the pastoral and evangelizing programs of the Catholic Church in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and remote regions of Latin America. This includes aid for religious communities in education, evangelization, seminarians and catechist formation, catechetical work and the construction of churches and chapels. Support is also provided for health care, social services, communication and transportation needs for disaster and emergency relief when necessary.
World Mission Sunday
World Mission Sunday is celebrated the third Sunday in October. In the Oakland Diocese, this special collection is combined with the Home Mission Appeal. Donation envelopes will be mailed to your local parish to extend your generosity for this year’s event. However, if you would like to make a contribution at another date, donations can be made payable to the Propagation of the Faith and mailed to the following address:
Office of the Propagation of the Faith c/o Diocese of Oakland
2121 Harrison Street, Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94612
NOTE: The Diocese of Oakland combines both The Catholic Home Missions Appeal and World Mission Sunday into one collection date. Both parish donations and independent mail donations will be divided equally.
Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States
For specific inquiries regarding Propagation of the Faith, please email Teresa Peña at: SPOF@oakdiocese.org