top of page
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
United in mission through four global networks
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
United in mission through four global networks
PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST
The Pontifical Mission Societies are a worldwide network of prayer and charity at the service of the Holy Father, in his support of missionary activity and young churches in mission lands.
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 were born in the 19th century, two from the initiatives of women who were passionate about mission. The fourth Society, the Pontifical Missionary Union, was born in the early 1900s.
GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST
The Pontifical Mission Societies are a worldwide network of prayer and charity at the service of the Holy Father, in his support of missionary activity and young churches in mission lands.
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 were born in the 19th century, two from the initiatives of women who were passionate about mission. The fourth Society, the Pontifical Missionary Union, was born in the early 1900s.
GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST
The Pontifical Mission Societies form a global network of prayer and charity, working alongside the Holy Father to support missionary activity and nurture young churches around the world.
COMITTED TO THE FUTURE
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 were born in the 19th century, two from the initiatives of women who were passionate about mission. The fourth Society, the Pontifical Missionary Union, was born in the early 1900s.
GRATEFUL FOR THE PAST
The Pontifical Mission Societies form a global network of prayer and charity, working alongside the Holy Father to support missionary activity and nurture young churches around the world.
There are four Societies in total. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, The Society of the Holy Childhood, The Society of St Peter the Apostle and The Pontifical Missionary Union.
The first three were founded in the 19th century, two of them through the vision and commitment of women devoted to mission. The fourth, the Pontifical Missionary Union, was established in the early 20th century.
COMMITTED IN THE PRESENT
The PMS are at the service of the Church and offer every person the opportunity to live their faith by sharing it with others and experiencing its universality.
COMMITTED IN THE PRESENT
The PMS are at the service of the Church and offer every person the opportunity to live their faith by sharing it with others and experiencing its universality.
HEADING TOWARD A FUTURE OF HOPE
Prayer, faith and charity are the means by which the PMS offer to live a missionary and universal faith.
Wherever the Church is present, we are there, meaning we can reach out across five continents to support over 1,100 mission dioceses.
OUR FOUR PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
OUR FOUR PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded in 1822 by a young French laywoman, Pauline Marie Jaricot.
Born in Lyon, France, in 1799 into a wealthy family, Pauline could have chosen a life of comfort. Instead, she dedicated herself to serving the Church’s mission. She began by encouraging young women in her brother-in-law’s factory to give just one penny each week to help abandoned children in China. Her idea quickly spread, and in 1822 the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was officially established. From these humble beginnings, it grew into the universal fundraising organisation supporting Catholic missions across the globe.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Propagation of the Faith.
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded in 1822 by a young French laywoman, Pauline Marie Jaricot.
Born in Lyon, France, in 1799 into a wealthy family, Pauline could have chosen a life of comfort. Instead, she dedicated herself to serving the Church’s mission. She began by encouraging young women in her brother-in-law’s factory to give just one penny each week to help abandoned children in China. Her idea quickly spread, and in 1822 the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was officially established. From these humble beginnings, it grew into the universal fundraising organisation supporting Catholic missions across the globe.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Propagation of the Faith.
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded in 1822 by a young French laywoman, Pauline Marie Jaricot.
Born in Lyon, France, in 1799 into a wealthy family, Pauline could have chosen a life of comfort. Instead, she dedicated herself to serving the Church’s mission. She began by encouraging young women in her brother-in-law’s factory to give just one penny each week to help abandoned children in China. Her idea quickly spread, and in 1822 the Society for the Propagation of the Faith was officially established. From these humble beginnings, it grew into the universal fundraising organisation supporting Catholic missions across the globe.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Propagation of the Faith.
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith was founded in 1822 on the initiative of a young French laywomen, Pauline Marie Jaricot. Pauline was committed to increasing awareness of the formation of missionaries in remote areas of the world.
Pauline Jaricot was born into a wealthy family in Lyon, France in 1799. She could have lived a life of privilege but instead committed herself to raising funds and awareness for the world missions. Pauline appealed to girls who were working in her brother-in-law’s factory to make a contribution of one penny a week to help support abandoned children in China. Others soon joined to help support the missions and in 1822, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith began which grew to become the universal fundraising organisation for all Catholic missions.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Propagation of the Faith.
MISSIONARY CHILDREN
The Society of the Holy Childhood—known in Scotland as Missionary Children—was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson. Inspired by advice from Pauline Jaricot, he invited the children of France to pray a daily Hail Mary and give a small monthly coin to help save abandoned babies in China.
Their motto, “Children helping Children,” remains central today. Missionary Children now support projects in over 120 countries—helping to build schools, provide health and nutrition programmes, and supply teaching and learning resources. Thanks to their generosity, children in orphanages, refugee camps, homes for the disabled, and on the streets continue to receive vital care and hope.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Missionary Children.
ST PETER THE APOSTLE
The Society of St Peter the Apostle was founded in France in 1889 by Jeanne Bigard and her mother, Stéphanie. Following personal tragedy, the Bigards devoted their lives to supporting the missions. Their work began when a French missionary in Japan asked for help to build a church. Soon after, the Bishop of Nagasaki sought their assistance to educate and support his seminarians. From this call, the Society of St Peter the Apostle was born—dedicated to nurturing the growth of the Church through local clergy.
Today, the Society continues this mission by funding the training of priests, sisters, brothers, and catechists within their own countries and cultures. By empowering local vocations, the Society helps ensure that the Church flourishes where it is still young and in need of support.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by St Peter the Apostle.
MISSIONARY UNION
The Pontifical Missionary Union is the most recent of the Pontifical Mission Societies, founded in Italy in 1917 by Fr Paolo Manna. His vision was to inspire those already serving in the Church to support the missions and even consider becoming missionaries themselves.
Fr Paolo first established the Missionary Union of Clergy, encouraging priests to pray for the missions and to raise awareness among their communities. He believed that if Church leaders were committed to the missionary cause, they would inspire the faithful to do the same.
Today, the Missionary Union has spread across the world, with members that include both clergy and laity, all united in prayer and support for the success of missionaries.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Pontifical Missionary Union.
MISSIONARY CHILDREN
The Society of the Holy Childhood—known in Scotland as Missionary Children—was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson. Inspired by advice from Pauline Jaricot, he invited the children of France to pray a daily Hail Mary and give a small monthly coin to help save abandoned babies in China.
Their motto, “Children helping Children,” remains central today. Missionary Children now support projects in over 120 countries—helping to build schools, provide health and nutrition programmes, and supply teaching and learning resources. Thanks to their generosity, children in orphanages, refugee camps, homes for the disabled, and on the streets continue to receive vital care and hope.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Missionary Children.
MISSIONARY CHILDREN
The Society of the Holy Childhood - known in Scotland as Missionary Children - was founded in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson who had always
had a keen interest in the missions. He received letters from missionaries in China requesting help to save abandoned babies. Bishop Charles met with Pauline Jaricot for advice on how to raise funds. Pauline gave him the idea to start a children’s charity and so, in 1843, he called upon the children of France to help save the children of China.
Bishop Charles asked the children of France to become Missionary Children by saying a Hail Mary every day and giving a small coin every month to help feed children of China. Their motto of 'Children helping Children,' which is still used to this day and their work has spread across 120 countries. Funds raised by school children are directed towards self-help programs involving the building of schools, the provision of health
and nutrition programs and supplying teaching and learning resources.
Children in communities, orphanages, homes for the disabled, refugees, and those living on the streets are assisted by the generosity of children who wish to carry on the work of Bishop Charles.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Missionary Children.
ST PETER THE APOSTLE
The Society of St Peter the Apostle was founded in France in 1889 by Jeanne Bigard and her mother, Stéphanie. Following personal tragedy, the Bigards devoted their lives to supporting the missions. Their work began when a French missionary in Japan asked for help to build a church. Soon after, the Bishop of Nagasaki sought their assistance to educate and support his seminarians. From this call, the Society of St Peter the Apostle was born—dedicated to nurturing the growth of the Church through local clergy.
Today, the Society continues this mission by funding the training of priests, sisters, brothers, and catechists within their own countries and cultures. By empowering local vocations, the Society helps ensure that the Church flourishes where it is still young and in need of support.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by St Peter the Apostle.
ST PETER THE APOSTLE
The Society of St Peter the Apostle was founded in France in 1889 by two laywomen - Jeanne Bigard and her mother Stephanie Mother and daughter overcame personal tragedies and dedicated themselves working for the missions. In 1888, the Bigards were approached by a French missionary working in Japan who asked for their assistance to build a Church. They sold some of their possessions and raised enough funds to complete the building of the Church. A year later, the Bishop of Nagasaki turned to them for assistance for support of his seminarians. The St Peter the Apostle Society was born, a society that supports and promotes the formation of local clergy in the missions.
The Bigards travelled throughout France promoting the work of the society raising funds to support seminaries in mission dioceses where the church was young.
The Society of St Peter the Apostle trains young men and women in their own countries and cultures to serve their people as religious sisters, brothers, or priests. It also assists in the formation and training of catechists.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by St Peter the Apostle.
MISSIONARY UNION
The Pontifical Missionary Union is the most recent of the Pontifical Mission Societies, founded in Italy in 1917 by Fr Paolo Manna. His vision was to inspire those already serving in the Church to support the missions and even consider becoming missionaries themselves.
Fr Paolo first established the Missionary Union of Clergy, encouraging priests to pray for the missions and to raise awareness among their communities. He believed that if Church leaders were committed to the missionary cause, they would inspire the faithful to do the same.
Today, the Missionary Union has spread across the world, with members that include both clergy and laity, all united in prayer and support for the success of missionaries.
Learn more about the Missio projects funded by Pontifical Missionary Union.
The Missionary Societies have grown into a worldwide network, reflecting the rich diversity of the Church. In every place, they embrace the different voices, challenges, and gifts that shape the life of faith around the world.
The Pontifical Mission Societies fund annual aid programmes that support mission territories worldwide, responding to the needs of sister churches most in need.
In this short video, Fr Tadeus Jan Novak, General Secretary of the PMS, shares how the Societies are helping the universal Church to grow and thrive.
Missionary Societies, which in time became a network spread throughout the world, mirror in their own structure the variety of accents, situations, problems, and gifts that characterise the life of the Church in the various parts of the world.
The Pontifical Mission Societies are able to support annual aid programmes which benefit all mission territories, responding to the needs of the sister churches most in need.In this short video, Fr Tadeus Jan Novak - General Secretary of the PMS, talks of the impact the societies have on growing the universal church.
bottom of page