One Hundred Years of Mission, and Still the Same Call
From October 11 to 18, 2026, World Mission Week invites Christian communities to pray, reflect, and act in solidarity with those who carry out the Church’s mission around the world. The week will culminate on October 18 with World Mission Sunday, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Established by Pope Pius XI in 1926, this annual observance reminds us that mission is not reserved for a few people serving in distant lands. It can take shape in everyday life, through encounter, service, prayer, and sharing.
“One in Christ, United in Mission”
For this centennial year, Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
His message emphasizes an essential dimension of mission: it is something we live out together. The Pope calls us to cultivate “hearts united in Christ,” reconciled communities, and a willingness to work together with generosity and trust.
This centennial is therefore an opportunity not only to look back on the journey so far, but also to renew our commitment. Leo XIV encourages the faithful to “rekindle within us the fire of missionary vocation” and to move forward together toward a “new missionary era.”
This call can also inspire a very simple question: What is my mission, where I am, today?
A Week to Pray, Reflect, and Participate
In Quebec, across Canada, and around the world, parishes and communities are offering a variety of activities throughout the week: celebrations, times of prayer and adoration, gatherings, and conversations around questions such as How can I be a witness to hope today? or Where can I hear Christ’s call?
Solidarity also takes a very practical form. Offerings collected on World Mission Sunday help support Christian communities and pastoral, educational, and social projects in regions with fewer resources.
Resources to Nurture Your Own Mission
Illustration source: Pontifical Mission Societies France
Several resources are available to deepen the reflection. The Pontifical Mission Societies offer a 2026 World Mission Week resource booklet (in French). The Mission Foi website also provides prayers, videos, and other resources.
You can also watch Pope Leo XIV’s message or read his message, available in French, English, and Spanish.
After 100 years, World Mission Sunday continues to remind us of the missionary vocation of the entire Church. Listening, welcoming, accompanying others, serving, sharing our talents, or supporting a mission: everyone can find their own way to live out this calling.
Ultimately, this week invites us to focus less on the question “Who are the missionaries?” and more on another: How can I, too, live out my mission each day?