Each year, before World Mission Sunday, the fourth Sunday of October, the Mission Office has the opportunity to share with you how we are doing. Last year we highlighted the growth in your participation in the Mission of the Church. Coming out COVID based restrictions and limited gathered events during much of 2020, we have seen a slow return to normal. The eye-popping increases of 2021 continued into the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, but at a smaller percentage.

The obvious success of the Mission Coop Program, held mostly during the summer months, is a sign of your love and generosity. It is inspiring when a mission priest or religious can stand before us at prayer in church and share his or her efforts in the name of Jesus Christ. Bishops and Religious Superiors entrust to them the task of praying with us and helping to raise funds. The personal connection we feel makes a difference in our desire to participate in their work. It can be very moving to come to know someone from another place in the world so different from our own. Then, in Jesus Christ, we find our oneness with one another and respond with joy in sacrifice.

World Mission Sunday, held the weekend of October 22, 2023, has also increased. The theme this year from His Holiness, Pope Francis, “Hearts of fire, Feet on the move,” defines our encounter. The first part of the World Mission Sunday experience is always prayer. We attend Mass, listen to the readings and pray that our hearts are formed to recognize Jesus in the ‘breaking of the bread.’ The Eucharist is central to that encounter. Then our ‘feet on the move’ help us hasten to join over 1,100 mission outreaches through our financial contributions. Giving to this fund is one of the more effective ways in the Church to make a difference in the efforts of evangelization and worship in parts of the world most adversely affected by poverty, illiteracy and a lack of opportunity.

The Missionary Childhood Association is the final of the three Pontifical Mission Societies under  the care of the Mission Office included in this report. For the diocese, this represents the Mite Box Collection held in our Catholic schools and religious education programs during the season of Lent. By comparison, you can see that the total has fallen over the last three years. So we encourage the programs to use the opportunity to teach children about the importance of supporting others with their time in volunteerism, prayer and monetary sacrifices. In the home, in the classroom and in the world, the lessons of service and reward when we think about others, especially the poor, are priceless.

Of final note, the increase over the years of Other Designated Donations for our parishes includes only the reported funds we work with in the Mission Office. But there are many other examples to be celebrated. There are sister parish relationships, individual water and educational projects, efforts approved by bishops and superiors in rural and farming areas, and even some on Reservations within the continental USA. In other words, you do amazing things out in the world for others most of us will never even meet. It is all done in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to go out to the nations. May He bless your efforts with much success and continue to inspire your participation in the Mission Office and our Pontifical Mission Societies.

Contributions of PARISHES

from Parishes and Schools 2022-2023 – PDF

Contributions of YOUTH

from Parishes and Schools 2022-2023 – PDF

The Propagation of the Faith – a Pontifical Mission Society

The Mission Office assists the faithful of the Diocese of La Crosse in carrying out Jesus’ directive to his apostles before his ascension into heaven … to go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Faith must be kept and guarded in our souls, but it must also be generously passed on to every person in the world. The Church must be missionary if she is to be the faithful spouse of Christ.

Pontifical Mission Societies

The Pontifical Mission Societies consist of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association, the Society of St. Peter Apostle and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious. The Pontifical Mission Societies have, as their primary purpose, the promotion of a universal missionary spirit – a spirit of prayer and sacrifice – among all baptized Catholics.

Fr. Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild

Is an association of people dedicated to furthering the cause of the Servant of God, Father Joseph Walijewski, and providing continued support for the legacy he left behind. Padre Jose’s spirituality is rooted in seeing Christ crucified in everyone he met; especially the orphans, the abandoned, the marginalized and the poor.

Those devoted to Father Joseph Walijewski are encouraged to join the Guild and regularly say the prayer for his canonization, which is available online and on a special prayer card. Members are asked to pray for Father Walijewski’s canonization, report favors received and assist in the advancement of the cause.

To learn more about the life and works of Father Joe Walijewski and the cause for his Beatification and Canonization, please visit Father Joe’s Guild.

Mite Box Lent

World Mission Sunday Resources

Mission Coop Program

Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II

From Sister Carla Harrison (Daughters of Our Lady of the Pieta) in Peru:

We have many plans, projects, and needs at this time,  but today we must listen to the heart which tells us what is most urgent.  At this time of the pandemic, our greatest need is to help save the most fragile who suffer and are suffering because they are in need of oxygen (because of Covid-19).

Heartfelt thanks to you!  Because of your generosity, we have been able to buy and supply oxygen for the elderly and vulnerable in our retirement home, who urgently need this support.   In recent months we have suffered greatly because the oxygen cylinders were not available due to the great demand and need here in Peru.  Those that were available were 3 to 4 times greater the cost, but when it comes down to saving a soul, there was no questioning.   Despite the cost, we were able to

purchase 2 cylinders of oxygen, but when the patient is on 15 liters, not even a large cylinder lasts long, so trying to find places throughout Lima that would fill the tank meant large lines, long waits, and lots of expenses.   We were also able to buy 2 oxygen concentradors, which help for not having to continuously fill the tanks and scramble to find where they are filling them…. unfortunately the consentrators only reach to 10 liters maximum (so still didn’t meet the needs to increase their oxygen saturation)

Thank you for your generosity!     

I have had you close in prayer and in gratitude, and still do, for allowing me to do God’s work with love.
May we continue to pray for and support one another during this hard time for us all.

In Christ,
Sr. Carla

Mission Outreach Spotlight – Catholic Life Published 2016

Donations for Sister Carla’s mission can be sent to:

Daughters of the Pieta
Mission Office –  Diocese of La Crosse
PO Box 4004
La Crosse, WI 54602-4004

What does the Mission Office do?

  • Coordinates the Mission Cooperation Program for visiting missionaries in Diocesan parishes.
  • Distributes Mass stipends to retired and missionary priests.
  • Supports the Father Joseph Walijewski Legacy Guild and the Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II Orphanage in Lurin, Peru.
  • Coordinates La Crosse Diocesan student Lenten Mite Box collections.
  • Promotes the annual fundraising benefit dinner for Casa Hogar Orphanage.
  • Coordinates and promotes the annual Monsignor Anthony P. Wagener Mission Awards.

Appeals made through the
National Office

  • World Mission Sunday – for the propagation of the Gospel in mission territories.
  • Christmas and Lenten Appeals – for those in most need in the developing world.
  • St. Peter Apostle – education and formation of men and women who have been called to serve the Lord as a priest or member of a religious order in a developing country.

For more information go to: www.onefamilyinmission.org

Catholic Life Articles

Here are a few Catholic Life articles. To read the full article, click on the blue colored title.

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“There will always be poor people in the land – Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy …”
Deuteronomy 15:11

Contact Information

Mission Office
Phone: 608-791-2676

Rev. Woody Pace, Director

Marga Apel, Administrative Assistant