One in Christ, united in mission is the theme that Pope Leo XIV has chosen for World Mission Day that celebrates its centenary on Sunday 18 October 2026.
The theme recognises that mission is not the work of individuals alone, but of an entire Church moving together in faith.
It speaks to a unity that goes beyond agreement or belonging; an active, lived commitment to bringing God’s love into the world alongside one another.
As stated in his message for World Mission Day, Pope Leo said, “I wish to encourage the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit. This requires hearts united in Christ, reconciled communities and, in everyone, a willingness to cooperate with generosity and trust.”
“As we reflect on being one in Christ and united in mission, let us allow ourselves to be guided and inspired by divine grace, ‘to renew in ourselves the fire of our missionary vocation’ and advance together in the commitment to evangelisation, in this ‘new missionary age’ in the history of the Church.
“Your prayers and practical support, particularly on World Mission Day, will be a great help in bringing the Gospel of God’s love to everyone, especially the poorest and those most in need. Every gift, no matter how small, becomes a meaningful act of missionary communion.”
To read Pope Leo’s full message, visit: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/mission/documents/20260125-giornata-missionaria.html
As the World Mission Day milestone approaches, Catholic Mission is inviting parishes, families and communities across Australia to journey with them during World Mission Month.
In Malawi, Africa, Catholic Mission is supporting those who were affected by the floods and cyclones that tore through rural Malawi in 2022, destroying homes, washing away farmland, and forcing entire communities to relocate.
Families were resettled far from the land and livelihoods they once knew, and in the aftermath, access to education became increasingly difficult for many.
In remote communities across Malawi, distance, cost and limited resources are significant barriers to education.
Children like Yamikani, who lives with a physical disability, walk several kilometres each day to reach their current school. For families still rebuilding after the 2022 disasters, these barriers are compounded further.
Fr Matthew Semba, Director of Social Services for the Chikwawa Diocese, has been working alongside these communities for a number of years.
Together with the Church in Malawi, he is overseeing the construction of St Peter’s Nyamikuta Primary School in Kampira, bringing education closer to the children and families in the area.
Alongside classrooms, the school will provide nutritious meals, basic educational supplies, and shade trees to help protect the community against extreme weather.
“This project encourages them to seek something bigger, to look forward to something greater,” Fr Matthew said.
By investing in local education infrastructure, the Church is working to ensure that children like Yamikani, who hopes to one day become a driver and earn an income to support himself, have access to the foundations they need to build a future. To learn more about Catholic Mission’s work in Malawi and how you can get involved, visit catholicmission.org.au/Malawi