Office for Mission Education and Animation

 of the

Archdiocese of Chicago

The Office for Mission Education and Animation, formerly known as the Catholic Missions Office has as its focus what its name signifies: that we look to educate and inspire people to take seriously their baptismal responsibility to be on mission in whatever context they live and work. The Office is at the service of the worldwide Church while remaining firmly rooted in the Archdiocese of Chicago. It also serves as the local representative for the Pontifical Mission Societies:

                ·     The Society for the Propagation of the Faith

                       ·     The Holy Childhood Association

                     ·     The Society of Saint Peter Apostle

                       ·     The Pontifical Missionary Union.

The Office seeks to collaborate with clergy, parishes, schools, religious women and men and other agencies and departments of the Archdiocese. It seeks the cooperation of the faithful in promoting the mission of Christ through their prayer, sacrifices and financial support.

The Missionary Cooperation Plan is administered by the Office for Mission Education and Animation. Through this program missionary dioceses, religious congregations and lay mission groups are assigned to parishes to preach at weekend Mass in the name of their organization.  It is also a way to make parishioners aware of the missionary work of the church that is going on throughout the world.

World Mission Sunday, established in 1926, is an opportunity for the whole Catholic Church to celebrate their call to participate in God’s mission in the world. Every parish needs to look to celebrate it so as to strengthen the missionary call of all the faithful.

Conscious of the fact that it is the Holy Spirit that makes our efforts fruitful our daily prayer is “Lord, give success to the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).

Welcome to the website of the Office for Mission Education and Animation!  We are pleased that you are visiting our site.  We hope you find it inspiring and useful in your desire to follow Christ on mission.

Since 1926 the Missions Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago has functioned as the local representative for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.  Each Director and his/her staff have given direction and focus to the work of the Office according to their gifts and the needs of the times.  When I began as Director of the Missions Office in April, 2008 I sensed that we were at a new moment in the life of the Office, but I needed time to see how things worked.

Now, not quite two years later, the Office has a new name, the Office for Mission Education and Animation.  It also has been restructured as given a new focus based on guidelines for diocesan offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies.  The Handbook directs that:

The Diocesan Director should animate all sectors of the particular Church about their responsibilities as missionaries and the importance of their cooperation through prayer, sacrifice and material support of the mission ad gentes.

Taking my cue from this directive I have made changes in the work of the Office and will give priority to education and animation.  We have several projects in the works with other archdiocesan agencies and we are planning still others.

We will, of course, seek support for the missionary works of the Church in other countries through mail appeals and Mass stipends for priests throughout the developing world.  We will continue to accept donations for chalices and patens for newly ordained priests and new parishes throughout the world.  Your continued support is appreciated.

Let us continue our mission journey together,

Sr. Madge Karecki, SSJ-TOSF

Director