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Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of the Faith
POPF is an official organization of Catholic Church, that purposefully supports foreign missions. It helps every diocese of the world on its road to independence. Uniquely coordinates missionary activities on all continents. It ensures systematic and quality assistance to the poorest people in 1100 mission dioceses. It contributes to catechetic, educational, charity and social projects. It supports schools, hospitals construction, rebuilding of homes for seniors, churches, parish houses, convents and pastoral centres.
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Funds to POPF projects come mostly from collections of Mission Sunday that takes place on the penultimate Sunday in October every year. Except this collection donors can contribute to this purpose at any time during the year.
Due to governmental measures against coronavirus in 2020 mass public events and going to the church were strictly limited. Even the mission collection could not take place in a standard way and was postponed. Finally it had to be done individually. Due to this fact The Society of the Propagation of the Faith has totally collected 3,010,000 Czech crowns. We are grateful to all who have committed in this uneasy situation.
WORLD MISSION SuNDAy OCTOBER 18, 2020
The World Mission Sunday has been celebrated annually throughout the Catholic Church since 1926, always the penultimate Sunday in October. In all churches around the world, more than a billion people in 160 countries are praying for a common work of evangelization this day and contributing financially to the World Solidarity Fund, from which the following year are supported projects to help the needy in all continents through the Pontifical Mission Society of Propagation of the Faith. The World Mission Sunday is the feast of a worldwide community in which Catholic believers exchange each other spiritual and material gifts. Therefore, even in the poorest country in Africa, there is a collection for missions so that everyone can contribute to the common fund. The World Mission Sunday is thus one of the strongest manifestations of solidarity around the whole world. „Total amount collected by PMS in parishes and dioceses all over the world creates Solidarity Fund for universal assistance program. Money of the faithful collected by PMS in dioceses must be quickly and regularly transferred to the national office. This money collected for missions „ad gentes“ on World Mission Day or by any other opportunity in any diocese, parish and institute of Cathlic word cannot be used differently.“ (Rules of PMS, art. 61, 62)
Year 2020 was influenced by coronavirus pandemic and global measures taken to stop its spreading on all levels of everyday life. Nearly all over the year it was impossible to organize events during which a lot of people gather together, which was a matter of holy masses and all the mission activities as well.
DONATIONS FOR POPF/DIOCESES
(thousands CZK) Total number: countries 7; dioceses 9; projects 37 Total financial support from CR: 627 thousands USD
This fact was also mentioned by Pope Francis in his message to Misison World Day. While the last year Mission Sunday represented the end of Extraordinary Misisonary Month October, this year´s one was an opportunity to realize how genuine our enthusiasm for missions still remains. A lot of parishes all over the world have joined together in prayers and paid towards the collection. Thus an extraordinary community of solidarity has come into being, which is of great importance especially this year. Pope Francis reminds us that all of us represent the crew of one ship and that the pandemic is a message for us to understand what God intents to tell us through this situation.
On the occasion of World Mission Day The Pontifical Mission Societies have prepared a lot of materials for promotion and celebration the Mission Sunday in parishes. These are traditionally inspirational topics and a poster. A card with a prayer has become a new document for celebration Mission Sunday.
MISSION BRIDGE OF PRAyER
is an activity of the Pontifical Mission Societies connected with the celebration of World Mission Day – Mission Sunday. it usually takes place in the evening on Saturday at 9 pm. In 2020 prayer activities took place mostly individually in private.
It was also possible to meet the live stream broadcast on the parish Ústí nad Orlicí youtube on Sunday October 17 and thus to experience a mission prayer community in a virtual form.
This bridge is formed by a common prayer or adoration for missions. Those interested can meet at home or in the church, light a candle and pray the Rosary or any prayer for mission, missionaries, poor and suffering people or for spreading the joy of the Gospel around the world. It can be also inspired by the PMS material „Suggestions for Celebrating Mission Sunday – Mission Bridge of Prayer“ which can be downloaded from the Mission website in the section: „Zapojte se.“
MISSION BRIDGE FOR CHILDREN
The Mission Bridge for Children is a time of children when they speak about the continents which have their particular colour on the mission rosary (red, blue,green, yellow and white). They add symbols to the continets, pray, sing and light candles and pray The Lord´s Prayer, the prayer of Holy Mary and Glory to the Father.
The following overview shows the countries where we sent our financial aid during the year 2020:
America
PARAGuAy
Diocese Pilcomayo
Number of projects: 4 Objects of support: l Ordinary Subsidy l Catechist‘s Subsidy l Support for the formation meeting of young people l Purchase of didactic materials
DONATIONS FOR POPF 2014–2020
(millions CZK)
POPF FINANCIAL AID 2020/COuNTRIES
(thousands USD)
total 627
Diocese San Ramon
Number of projects: 2 l Ordinary Subsidy l Reconstruction of the church
Africa
uGANDA
Dioceses Fort Portal and Lira
Number of projects: 5 Objects of support: l Ordinary subsidy l Catechist´s subsidy l Radio Wa 89.9 FM Limited
zAMBIA
Diocese Chipata
Number of projects: 4 Objects of support: l Ordinary Subsidy l Catechist‘s Subsidy l Radio Maria Zambia l Completion of the construction of a priest‘s residence
Asia
SRI LANkA
Dioceses Badulla and Chilaw
Number of projects: 13 Objects of support: l Ordinary Subsidy l Catechist‘s Subsidy l Centre for social communication;
Purchase of audioviosual equipment l Construction of class rooms and multi-purpose hall l Replacing the roof of the convent l Completion of the chapel l Apostolate of Communication; training and production l Construction, renovation and repair of two churches, repair and extension of a mission house and convent
INDIA
Diocese Purnea
Number of projects: 4 Objects of support: l Ordinary Subsidy l Catechist‘s Subsidy l Purchase a plot of land to start a new Mission l Construction of a chapel
BANGLADESH
Diocese Mymensingh
Number of projects: 5 Objects of support: l Ordinary Subsidy l Catechist‘s Subsidy l Construction of three chapels
