In 2022, Catholic Mission will celebrate key anniversaries as a global mission agency.
These celebrations include 200 years of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and the beatification of its founder, Pauline Jaricot.
With great anticipation, Catholic Mission is looking forward to celebrating these momentous occasions with donors and supporters throughout Australia.
“2022 is special year for us, as it marks significant anniversaries in our history,” says Catholic Mission National Director, Father Brian Lucas.
“We will also celebrate Pauline Jaricot’s beatification, a key milestone on the journey towards being recognised as a saint. Pauline Jaricot is the founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which in Australia is known as Catholic Mission, and we continue to be guided by her great love of prayer and charity in all our mission activities.”
The beatification ceremony for the Venerable Pauline Jaricot will be held in in Lyon, in May. As a young, faith-filled woman who desired to support missionaries around the world, Pauline Jaricot founded the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1822.
“As the first Pontifical Mission Society, it is a cornerstone for our work here at Catholic Mission which focuses on supporting communities in need around the world,” says Fr Brian.
The launch of a new monthly newsletter, Mission Today Digital, nurtures that missionary spirit by sharing a unique insight into what Catholic Mission, and its generous supporters, are doing to change the lives of those most in need.
“It’s your window into mission,” says Fr Brian.
“We invite you to walk with us on this missionary journey. Each month we’ll take you behind the scenes of Catholic Mission as we share the work we are doing around the world and meet some of the people who are making this happen.”
“Supporters can sign up to receive the January edition of Mission Today Digital on our website.”
The celebration of the beatification of Pauline Jaricot, and her founding of the Propagation of the Faith, also coincides with a unique series of significant anniversaries for the agencies of mission that have been at the service of global mission.
“The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, The Society of Missionary Childhood and the Society of St Peter Apostle received their pontifical and universal status as the Pope’s Missionary Societies one hundred years ago, in 1922,” says Fr Brian.
“This year we also recognise missionary cooperation throughout the world with the founding, 400 years ago in 1622, of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, once known as Propaganda Fide.”
Subscribe to the monthly newsletter and find out more about the life and legacy of Pauline Jaricot: www.catholicmission.org.au/paulinejaricot
Catholic Mission is the Australian agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies – the Catholic Church’s global organisation dedicated to continuing Jesus Christ’s mission in the world: that all may have life to the full. Catholic Mission contributes funding and project support to critical church-run initiatives in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America. These include spiritual formation, pastoral care, education, health, sanitation, and agricultural programs. Here in Australia, we form people to go out and be missionary in their professional and personal lives; to pray, advocate and act for those on the margins. Catholic Mission has offices in 27 Australian dioceses.