April 2008: Pope Benedict XVI - Apostolic Journey to the United States
Pope Benedict XVI
Apostolic Journey to the United States
April 15-20, 2008
The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States were pleased to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the United States! The Archdiocesan Mission Office oversees the four societies, which are under the direction of the Pope. Msgr. Francis Blood, Director of the Mission Office in Saint Louis, was in New York for Pope Benedict's apostolic journey.
Msgr. John Kozar, National Director, welcomes Pope Bendict XVI
Below is a letter from Msgr. John Kozar, National Director for the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, to welcome Pope Benedict.
Dear Companion in Mission,
How significant that our Holy Father, first missionary of the Church, would visit us this year as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our “mission independence”! As a young and growing church back in the 19th century, we received help from these mission societies, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, in particular, for our basic pastoral, educational and evangelizing needs. We were, in fact, the beneficiary of two-thirds of the very first collection of the Propagation of the Faith in 1822, with the final third going to the missions of China. In 1908, we no longer needed such financial support. In fact, we started supporting the Church’s work of telling Jesus’ “Good News” to the world starting in 1833 with our first humble offering of $6.
invite you to learn more about the rich mission history of the Church in the United States, and the role of the Pontifical Mission Societies in its development. We have a special newsletter you can download free at our web site – www.iamamissionary.org - to help you do just that. There are many rich and beautiful stories from the past. Tell the young people, to whom you are evangelizers, these stories. Discover also the faith stories in the Missions today – from Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands and Latin America.
Use this anniversary as an opportunity to inspire our young people to share their faith. Encourage them to be a part of the Pentecost movement, the continuation of our Lord’s own mission, as missionaries themselves, through their prayers and sacrifices.
On behalf of the Church Universal, I thank you for the role you have accepted not only as educators, but also as missionaries. And I join you in prayerful welcome of our Holy Father.
Gratefully in our Lord,
Rev. Msgr. John E. Kozar
National Director
Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States
From the very beginning, the Church in the United States benefited from the work of these Societies. In fact, two-thirds of their first collection in 1822 was sent to the young Church here. (The remaining third went to China.) Between 1822 and 1908, when we were declared “mission independent” (no longer needing financial help), we received some $7 million in assistance – to build churches and schools, support catechetical programs, assist in the formation of seminarians and religious novices, and cover basic pastoral and evangelizing needs. Well before that time, however, we had made sacrifices of our own to these mission societies, starting with our first humble offering of $6 in 1833.
In 1922, the four mission societies received the official title “Pontifical,” and their central administration moved to Rome. Today, at the direction of the Pope, these Pontifical Mission Societies continue to remind Catholics of their missionary call and seek their prayers and financial help for the missions.
Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI
Reading Materials
Second Vatican Council, Decree Ad Gentes on the Mission Activity of the Church
Pope Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi)
(1975)
Pope John Paul II, On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missonary Mandate (Redemptoris Missio)
(1990)
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, To the Ends of the Earth: A Pastoral Statement on World Mission (1986)
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Teaching the Spirit of Mission Ad Gentes: Continuing Pentecost Today (2005)
MISSION Magazine, Published quarterly by the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies
(Society for the Propagation of the Faith)
It's Our World newsletter,
Published three times a year by the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies
(Holy Childhood Association)
For additional information, please contact:
Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States
366 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
212-563-8700
1-800-431-2222 www.worldmissions-catholicchurch.org
Archdiocese of St. Louis: Mission Office
20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63119 • missions@archstl.org
Special Events and Pictures
Dear Companion in Mission, 
The years 1822 through 1916 saw four mission societies established – three in France (