Bishop John J. McIntyre will be the main celebrant and homilist at the annual World Mission Sunday Mass. This Mass commemorates the vital work of mission churches throughout the world and the support extended to their efforts by the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Sunday, October 20, 2013
6:00 p.m. (Rosary for the Pontifical Mission Society)
6:30 p.m. (Mass)
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103

Prior to Mass, at 6:20 p.m., Bishop McIntyre will present an award to four winners of the 2012-2013 Missionary Childhood Association [MCA] Annual Christmas Artwork Contest. The winners are Melissa Mejia, Christopher Solis, Laila Bentley, and Sara Castagno. MCA is the Pontifical Mission Society for children.

One of the students, Melissa Mejia, is one of 24 national winners selected from thousands of entries in the National MCA Christmas Artwork Contest. The three other students will be recognized by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for their artwork. Additionally, Mrs. Rebekah Coval will be recognized as a Second Place Winner in the Young Adult category of the first-ever Pontifical Mission Societies Song Contest.

During the weekend of October 19th and October 20th, missionaries will also be speaking in over 57 parishes throughout the Archdiocese on behalf of World Mission Sunday. Missionary groups such as the Cabrini Mission Corp, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the SMA Lay Missioners, the Augustinians, the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, the Medical Missionary Sisters and others will relate the importance of their missionary work throughout the world.

Through the generosity of its faithful, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia provided $1,623,804.85 to the Pontifical Mission Societies in 2012.

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Editor's Note: For more information, please contact the Archdiocesan Pontifical Missions Societies Office at 215-587-3944 or visit www.phillymissions.org.

For a complete itinerary of World Mission Sunday Mass visit World Mission Sunday Mass Itinerary.

Contact
Jhoselyn Martinez
Communications Specialist
215-587-3747