The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, supporting the Church’s mission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Founded in 1822, its purpose is to encourage prayer, sacrifice, and financial support for the missionary work of the Church, especially in regions where the Church is young, struggling, or persecuted.
All baptized Catholics have the opportunity to participate in the worldwide mission of the Church by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices or financial contributions to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Missionary Childhood Association or the Society for St. Peter Apostle. The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious is a spiritual apostolate for Priests, Religious men and women, catechists and lay people. Each year, the celebration of World Mission Sunday provides an opportunity, within the context of the Eucharist, for Catholics to express their prayerful and financial support of the Church’s worldwide missionary work and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in particular.
National offices for the Pontifical Mission Societies exist in more than 120 countries around the world including the United States. Central administrative offices are located in Rome, Italy, under the direction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States is located in New York City. The national director is Rev. Andrew Small, OMI. In addition, every diocese in the United States has a diocesan director who is appointed by the local ordinary (bishop) of that diocese.
In addition to the Propagation of the Faith, the Church also supports the international and domestic mission efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD). CRS provides humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and sustainable development to the poor and vulnerable overseas, while CCHD addresses the root causes of poverty here in the United States through education, empowerment, and community-based initiatives. These efforts, along with the work of the Propagation of the Faith, reflect our shared Catholic commitment to living out the Gospel and building a more just and compassionate world.
Resources and Links
Society for the Propagation of the Faith
The Pontifical Mission Societies’ official site provides background, mission updates, and giving options:
pontificalmissions.org/the-societies
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
CRS offers comprehensive information on its global humanitarian relief efforts and donation opportunities:
crs.org
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)
CCHD’s USCCB page details its mission, grants, and resources on breaking the cycle of poverty:
usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development