Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Sunday, October 18, we join Catholics around the world in celebrating World Mission Sunday. This year marks a special milestone: the 100th anniversary of this celebration, established by Pope Pius XI in 1926. To mark this occasion, Pope Leo XIV has chosen a beautiful and timely theme: “One in Christ, United in Mission.” As I reflected on his message, two important points stood out to me, and I believe they speak directly to the life and mission of our parish here at Holy Spirit Church.

First, our unity begins with Christ. On the night before His Passion, Jesus prayed for His disciples, “That they may all be one” (John 17:21). Pope Leo reminds us that true unity is more than simply getting along or working together. It flows from our relationship with Jesus Christ. The closer we grow to Him, the closer we grow to one another. When Christ is at the center of our lives, we learn to appreciate our differences, overcome divisions, and recognize one another as brothers and sisters in one family of faith.

Second, our unity must lead us to mission. Being one in Christ does not mean we must all think, act, or serve in the same way. Our parish is blessed with a rich diversity of cultures, languages, generations, and ministries. Yet we share one common mission: to make Christ's love visible in our community and beyond. As Pope Leo beautifully reminds us, “If unity is the condition of mission, love is its essence.” Without love, our ministries risk becoming simply activities; with love, they become living expressions of the Gospel.

This message is especially meaningful as we carry forward our parish pastoral plans for 2030. We are blessed with dedicated ministry leaders, generous volunteers, and faithful parishioners who give their time and talents so generously. Yet our ministries must never become separate islands, each focused only on its own activities. We are one parish family, called to pray together, collaborate, support one another, and share responsibility for Christ's mission.

As we look toward 2030, I invite each of you to prayerfully consider a simple question: Where is Christ inviting me to share my time, talents, and faith in the life and mission of our parish? Perhaps it is joining a ministry, welcoming a newcomer, reaching out to someone in need, or supporting missionaries around the world through prayer and generosity.

May this centennial World Mission Sunday inspire us to move beyond simply maintaining our ministries toward becoming a truly missionary parish—a community that prays, works, serves, and reaches out together. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we continue building a parish family rooted in faith, united in love, and committed to sharing the joy of the Gospel.

Fr. Long Nguyen, SVD
Pastor

Visit tinyurl.com/100WMS26 to read Pope Leo XIV’s Message for World Mission Day 2026.

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