The Societies for the Propagation of the Faith (SPOF)

The CATHOLIC MISSION OFFICE in the Diocese of Sioux City in cooperation with the national office, THE PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES USA, seeks prayer, sacrifice and financial support for the Church’s missionary work, and provides ongoing help for the pastoral and evangelizing programs in Africa, Asia, the islands of the Pacific, and remote regions of Latin America. This includes aid for the education and support of seminarians, religious novices and lay catechists; for the work of religious communities in education, health care and social services; for communication and transportation needs in various dioceses, and for emergency and disaster relief, when necessary.

The Pontifical Mission Societies USA are the societies [organizations], under the direction of the Holy Father, that work for the promotion of mission spirit and mission work in every Roman Catholic diocese throughout the world.

• oversees the promotion of World Mission Sunday and its collection each October.
• oversees Mission Cooperative assigning missionaries from around the world to visit parishes to share the news of the missions and to seek prayers and support.
• oversees the Mass Offerings, aka Mass Stipends or Mass Intentions, sent to priests in mission territories and to retired priests of the Diocese of Sioux City. Parishes and individuals wishing to send offerings to this office are more than welcome to do so at the address below. Priests may request offerings from this office by contacting us at the address below.
• oversees The Missionary Childhood Association to promote missionary awareness to children in grades PK-8 in our parishes and schools.

World Mission Sunday takes place every October on the second last Sunday, and is recognized in dioceses, parishes, and chapels all over the world as a way to pray for and support the mission efforts of the Roman Catholic Church in some of the most in-need areas of the globe. This annual international collection supports The Society for the Propagation of the Faith [SPF]. 100% of this collection received at the parish level is then forwarded to SPF to be sent to the Vatican to be used by the Holy Father from his Dicastery for Evangelization to support 1,124 mission territories where the Church is young, growing, poor, persecuted, and in need of support. This collection funds the formation of seminarians, catechists, and religious sisters, builds churches and schools, and sustains healthcare and social outreach programs.

In fact, this is the one and only collection that is required by the Code of Canon Law. Canon 791 states that missionary cooperation in individual dioceses is to be fostered including promoting missionary vocations, to promote effectively endeavors for the missions, especially the Pontifical Missionary Works; that an annual day for the missions is to be celebrated; and a suitable offering for the missions is to be contributed each year and sent to the Holy See.

Can. 791 To foster missionary cooperation in individual dioceses:

3° an annual day for the missions is to be celebrated;
4° a suitable offering for the missions is to be contributed each year and sent to the Holy See.