The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious is a Pontifical Mission Society founded in 1916 by PIME missionary, Father Paolo Manna, in Italy.

The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious is a spiritual apostolate. Unlike the other three Pontifical Mission Societies, this mission society family member does not collect or distribute funds. Its purpose is to educate and inspire priests, Religious men and women, pastoral leaders and those responsible for catechesis and religious education so that they may better animate others to share their faith and to be missionaries themselves, supporting also the missionary work of the Church worldwide.

In dioceses throughout the United States, Diocesan Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, as well as others engaged in the work of the Church, help “animate the animators” so they can tell others about the mission of Jesus Christ.

Here are just a few examples...

•Sister Frances Cunningham, OSF, Milwaukee, Wisconsin diocesan director, regularly visits parishes to speak about the archdiocese's mission in the Dominican Republic and about the worldwide mission of the Church and of the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies. "There is a great awareness and solidarity that develops after these visits," she says.
• St. Cloud, Minnesota diocesan director produces the newsletter Connections for priests, Religious and lay pastoral leaders, informing them of various diocesan efforts for the Church's mission work.
• Most Reverend Ignatius Wang, diocesan director, San Francisco, California and Father Wayne Paysse, diocesan director, New Orleans, Louisiana, visit their local seminaries at least once a year to serve as instructors and animators on the role of the future priests in contributing to the lifeblood of the worldwide missionary work of the Church.
• Father Wayne Paysse and Sister Judy Gomila sent two copies of the U.S. Bishops' 2006 document, "Teaching the Spirit of Mission Ad Gentes -- Continuing Pentecost Today" to all parishes in the Archdiocese of New Orleans in celebration of Pentecost Sunday.

If you are a lay person, you can deepen your commitment to the missionary work of the church by offering your prayers and personal sacrifices for the Missions and for missionaries. In addition, the Pontifical Mission Societies offers several publications on mission spirituality for lay people. In addition, you may speak to your pastor or diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies about activities, discussions or pilgrimages in your area designed to animate baptized Catholics to the missionary work of the Church.

If you are a priest, seminarian, Religious Brother / Sister or catechist, contact your diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies about mission education programs available in your area.

The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious is a spiritual apostolate, collecting no money, as noted above. However, if you would like to help support the Missions with a financial gift, you may make an offering to The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, The Society of St. Peter Apostle or the Holy Childhood Association.

The national office of the Missionary Union is located in New York City at 366 Fifth Avenue. Father John E. Kozar is the National Director. Each U.S. diocese has an diocesan director, who is appointed by the local bishop.

Call, write or e-mail your diocesan office or the national office
 

We Are All Called by Christ...

"The lay members of Christ's faithful people, like those who are ordained, are called to both mission and ministry in the Church. That is why they were baptized, became children of God, made members of the body of Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit. If the Church is missionary by its very nature, to be Christian is to be a missionary..."
 

Excerpt from...

Lay People in the Mission of the Church by Reverend Eugene LaVerdiere,S.S.S.