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Missions
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Pontifical Mission SocietiesTogether with the work and witness of mission priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay pastoral leaders, the Pontifical Mission Societies support the proclamation of the Gospel around the world. These missionaries reveal the compassionate heart of Jesus through their work that often entails providing not only spiritual support but also food, education, and medical care to the most vulnerable communities in the pope’s missions.
The Pontifical Mission Societies help spread the message of Christ to the world, mainly in those countries where Christianity is too recent or too poor to sustain itself, and in any place where Jesus has been denied, forgotten, persecuted, or shunned.
The societies care for and support new churches until they can be self-sufficient. This was the case of the Church in the United States, which was considered a mission territory until 1908. Many of the churches in this country were built thanks to the support of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
There are four Pontifical Mission Societies: The Society of the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of the Holy Childhood and the Society of St. Peter the Apostle. To learn more, visit https://www.ppoomm.va/en.html.
The Office of Missions for the Diocese of Portland coordinates missionaries visiting parishes in Maine each summer. Through these visits, parishioners in Maine are educated about international missionary experiences and evangelization efforts, and are given the opportunity to support this work.
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Catholic Relief Services & CRS Rice BowlCatholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. CRS is motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cherish, preserve, and uphold the sacredness and dignity of all human life, foster charity and justice, and embody Catholic social and moral teaching as it acts to promote human development by responding to major emergencies, fighting disease and poverty, and nurturing peaceful and just societies. It also serves Catholics in the United States, helping them to live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world.
More than 50 years ago, Catholics in Allentown, Pennsylvania, came together to help families facing famine in Africa. That help came in the form of a small cardboard box, marking the beginning of “Operation Rice Bowl.” Now called CRS Rice Bowl, the initiative combines prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and is a tradition for millions of Catholics in the United States who continue to answer the Gospel call, supporting families experiencing hunger around the world. Seventy-five percent of donations go to support Catholic Relief Services' work in 120 countries, while 25 percent remains in the diocese to support hunger and poverty alleviation efforts at home.
The Office of Missions coordinates the CRS Rice Bowl effort in the diocese. parish. Each year starting on Ash Wednesday, parishioners can pick up a rice bowl at their church. To learn more or to donate directly, visit https://www.crsricebowl.org.
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Mass CardsA beautiful way to honor, thank, or remember a loved one, is to have a Mass celebrated for them by a priest in the diocese. Through the Mass offering, you and your loved one will be united in the love of Christ.
While we often think of Masses being celebrated for the deceased, they are also wonderful gifts for someone in need of healing or for those celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or another special occasion.
A donation, usually $10, is requested for a Mass card. The donor who requests the Mass receives a commemorative card which they can fill in and present to a loved one or keep as a memento. Mass cards may be obtained by contacting the main line at (207) 773-6471.
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Contact
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Sally BarrassoDirector of Missions
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