Hello / Bonjour!

As World Mission Sunday marks its 100th anniversary this month, I want to draw attention to and gather support for the missions of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter, the same society of priests that staffs the parish where I now work, namely, St. Clement's in Ottawa. They brighten countless difficult lives in Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, and as of late, Ecuador.

This is a mission that is faithful to the mission of Jesus Christ Himself 2000 years later, both in the message it preaches and in its practice. Not only does it feed a multitude like Jesus did, but it teaches others how to feed themselves and others through agricultural education, and most importantly, feeds souls with the Bread of Life, and bread of true doctrine. As Jesus said, "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God".

I am setting up this campaign in honour of Blessed Fulton Sheen, who was recently declared "Blessed" by the Catholic Church after being accredited with the medically-documented miracle of a baby coming back to life after 61 minutes without breath. The baby is now a healthy young man with no brain damage. Look it up!

Bishop Sheen was the national director for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950-1966. He raised millions of dollars for the foreign missions. This campaign seeks to imitate this magnanimity in some small way.

This campaign is also in honour of Saint Thérèse, whose feast day is this month. Along with beginning World Mission Sunday, Pope Pius XI boldly but most appropriately named her co-patroness of the missions 100 years ago. Having died at 24, she never left the convent from the time she entered, but she offered up every miniscule part of her day, day after day as a prayer for the missions. Since her death, many miraculous conversions are attributed to her intercession. Like Saint Thérèse, you and I can help the missions from home, through prayer and small sacrifices.

On a very similar note, 200 years ago, Pauline Jaricot, now "Blessed" as well, gathered small groups of 10 women to dedicate just one penny "un sou" per week for the missions. These women in turn started their own groups of ten, and the growth was exponential. One hundred years later, in 1926, the aforementioned Pius XI took notice and took the movement under the Vatican's charge. This is the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, of which Sheen became a national director. Full circle.

In the words of one of my parish priests growing up, himself from a poor country: "So little can do so much".

God-willing, I too hope to go to the missions some day, but in the meantime, we can do much from Canada/the US. There are many opportunities to love God in return for all He has given us - at least as many opportunities are there are people on Earth. Let us love God by loving our neighbours, in Whose Image and likeness they and we are all created.

I'm looking for the support of 200 people who can give $5 CAD. If you're American, that's like 10 cents. Through your generosity and promotion (please share this), let's extend the Kingdom of truth and justice, the Kingdom of love and peace that Jesus Christ has established. (Fun fact, the feast of Christ the King is also marking its hundredth anniversary this month! You can make a donation in its/His honour!)

Please mention if you are from St. Clement Parish or from my hometown of Chatham, ON when you donate!

This campaign is also in honour of the countless Catholic missionaries who have followed Jesus' call to leave mother, brothers, fields, the prospects of a career, a spouse and family, all for His sake, to sacrifice as He did, giving one's life for one's Friend.

Let us remember that Saint Thérèse helped the missions so powerfully because of incessant prayer, that Blessed Pauline Jaricot also (and more importantly) gathered groups of 15 people to commit to daily prayer for the missions "The Living Rosary" (look it up), and that Bishop Sheen's team at the mission office stopped daily at 3pm for a Rosary or small reflection. In prayer let us draw the strength to be generous from the Source of all goodness, without Whom we can do nothing good. Let us remember why we give, and to Whom and for Whom we give, heart to Heart: "Whatever you do for the least of my brothers (the poor, the needy, children, etc.), you do unto Me".