This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes.
Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Annual World Mission Sunday Mass. After the once-in-a-lifetime World Meeting of Families and Papal Visit, the celebration this year is even more special. The Mass commemorates the vital work of Mission churches throughout the world and the support extended to their efforts by the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
10:00 a.m. (World Mission Rosary for the Missionaries)
10:30 a.m. (Mass)
Our Lady Help of Christians Church
1500 Marian Road
Abington, PA 19001
Following Communion, Bishop Fitzgerald will present an award to seven winners of the 2014-2015 Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Annual Christmas Artwork Contest. The winners are Michael Ferraiolo, Saint Francis of Assisi School, Springfield; Julianna Kissinger, Saint Francis of Assisi School, Springfield; Mathew Strimel, Our Lady of Port Richmond School, Philadelphia; Andrew Huff, Saint Peter the Apostle School, Philadelphia; Julia Thomson, Saint Laurentius School, Philadelphia; and Andrea Verch and Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton, Regina Coeli Academy, Abington. MCA is the Pontifical Mission Society for children.
Michael Ferraiolo, Julianna Kissinger and Mathew Strimel are three of the 24 national winners selected from thousands of entries in the National MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. The national winners’ artwork will be displayed at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. during the Advent season. The other students will have their artwork displayed during the Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians.
During the weekend of October 17th and October 18th, missionaries will speak in several parishes throughout the five-county Archdiocese on behalf of World Mission Sunday.
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Editor’s Note: For more information, please contact the Archdiocesan Pontifical Mission Societies Office at 215-587-3944 or for a complete itinerary of the World Mission Sunday Mass visit World Mission Sunday Mass.
Contact:Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747 (office)