Sharing the Global Missions Story with Parishes Since the late 1930s, Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) speakers have visited parishes across the United States to share the story of global missions. Bishop William A. Griffin, auxiliary bishop for the Newark Archdiocese and then archdiocesan director of the Society for Propagation of the Faith, devised the plan to help solicit funds for global mission efforts. In this way, MCP took the burden off pastors who previously received requests from missionary organizations around the globe. Sister Marie Clarice Bates, SND, a missionary in India from 1960 to 1968, returned to Chardon, Ohio to take charge of the SND Mission Office and began the congregation’s participation in MCP in 1969. Today, MCP provides an annual opportunity for Catholic parishioners across the U.S. to welcome global mission speakers and learn about and help support global missions. MCP is typically administered by each Diocesan Missions Office under the auspices of the local bishop. This year the Sisters of Notre Dame were invited to speak at 37 parishes within 16 dioceses across the United States including Beaumont and San Angelo, Texas; Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Manchester, New Hampshire; San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles, California; Metuchen, New Jersey; Erie, Pennsylvania; Springfield, Illinois; WheelingCharleston, West Virginia; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Lexington, Kentucky. “I sent a letter in June to more than 150 dioceses throughout the United States and asked if one of our sisters could participate in their MCP Program,” Julie Grazia, Advancement Office Manager/MCP Coordinator, says. “If we are accepted, the diocese picks a parish or parishes for our sisters to speak at during Sunday Mass, about our Global Missions in East Africa or Papua New Guinea. Money collected at the Mass is sent to the diocese which then sends us 90 percent of the money collected.” Last year, the Sisters of Notre Dame raised more than $150,000 through participation in this program. Sister Jaculin Manders of Toledo began volunteering as an MCP speaker several years ago. “In the beginning, I spoke mainly about our SND missions in Papua New Guinea and India – Papua New Guinea because that mission was started by the former Toledo province, and India because of the letters we received from Akbar (the mission dog) when I was in elementary school. I wanted continued on page 14
MCP speaker Sister Tina Petrick, SND
Fall 2023
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