Missionaries

The Latest

Nahida Anton and her daughter Samar Anton were killed as they were walked to the Missionaries of Charity convent in the compound of Holy Family Parish in Gaza on Dec. 16, 2023.

Vatican: 20 Catholic missionaries killed in 2023

Jan 2, 2024

By Joe Bukuras

Twenty Catholic missionaries were murdered in 2023, according to a new Dec. 30 report issued by the Vatican’s Fides News... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 20, 2023.

Pope Francis lauds Catholic saint who fought to end slavery in Africa

Sep 20, 2023

By Courtney Mares

St. Daniele Comboni witnessed “the horror of slavery” as a missionary in the mid-19th century in what is now Sudan. Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 31, 2023.

Pope Francis praises Matteo Ricci for proclaiming the Gospel in China

May 31, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope dedicated his entire catechesis to sharing the life of Venerable Matteo Ricci, a 16th-century Jesuit missionary in China. Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience on May 17, 2023 (left) and a painting of St. Francis Xavier in the Church of the Gesù in Rome (right).

Pope Francis: Share the Gospel with zeal like St. Francis Xavier

May 17, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope dedicated his entire general audience to sharing the story of the daring 16th-century saint who risked his life... Read more

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American missionaries reported abducted in Haiti

Oct 17, 2021

By Matt Hadro

A group of 17 missionaries and family members were abducted in Haiti on Saturday, the New York Times first reported.... Read more

Nigerian seminarian Michael Nnadi. Courtesy photo.

Twenty Catholic missionaries killed worldwide in 2020

Dec 30, 2020

Twenty Catholic missionaries were killed across the world in 2020, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies said Wednesday.  Read more

Ralph May helping with construction in Trujillo, Peru. Courtesy photo

Idaho farmer-turned-missionary now serves the state’s poor

Sep 9, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Boise, Idaho is one of the fastest growing boomtowns in the U.S. The state as a whole is increasing in... Read more

Moto For Peace in Chile.

European motorcycle police begin mission trip to South America

Feb 10, 2020

A group of European motorcycle police is currently taking part in a mission trip to South America, offering support to... Read more

Fr. Raniel Berdos, CS. Courtesy photo.

From the Philippines, a missionary in Tokyo

Nov 27, 2019

On Sundays, Fr. Raniel Berdos can be found strolling the aisles of St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo.  Read more

A young boy waves a Thai flag before Mass with Pope Francis in Bangkok, Thailand.

Pope calls Catholics in Thailand to follow in footsteps of early missionaries

Nov 21, 2019

Thailand’s first Christian missionaries set out feeling the absence of the Thai people from their lives and wanted to share... Read more

Fr. Francisco Javier Olivares, missionary priest in Mongolia. Photo courtesy of Fr. Olivares.

What is it like to be a missionary in Mongolia?

Apr 30, 2019

When Francisco Javier Olivera was born, his mother offered him to the Virgin Mary, praying that he would become a... Read more

Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso.

Vatican official: There is a clear link between Amazon synod, missionary month

Nov 30, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

According to the president of the Pontifical Mission Societies, there is a clear link between next October’s focus on missionary... Read more

Ji Seong-ho holds his crutches at the 2018 State of the Union address. Public Domain.

How the Lord’s Prayer led this North Korean defector to freedom

Feb 9, 2018

By Courtney Mares

“Before his escape, when Seong-Ho was being tortured by North Korean officials, there was one thing that kept him from... Read more

Chilean students prepare for mission trips in preparation for Pope Francis' visit to the country.

More than 2,500 young missionaries prepare for Pope Francis in Chile

Jan 5, 2018

Less than two weeks before Pope Francis will arrive for a pastoral visit to Chile, more than 2,500 college students... Read more

The difficult life of a Catholic missionary in Burma

Nov 29, 2017

As Pope Francis continues his visit to Burma – also known as Myanmar – this week, he is encountering a... Read more

5th National Missionary Conference.

In Argentina, 600 missionaries renew commitment to spreading Gospel

Nov 25, 2017

More than 600 people participated in the 5th National Missionary Conference held this week in Neuquen, Argentina, and committed to... Read more

Pope Francis during his June 7, 2017, Wendesday general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis: Putting God first doesn't mean avoiding reality

Oct 22, 2017

By Elise Harris

On Sunday, Pope Francis spoke on the importance of both fulfilling our earthly duties and making God a priority, stressing... Read more

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, speaks with CNA in Rome on August 22, 2014.

Missionary work begins with everyone, cardinal says

Oct 21, 2017

In a press conference ahead of World Mission Day, Cardinal Fernando Filoni stressed the importance of missionary work, saying that... Read more

The future of the US Church is missionary encounter, nuncio says

Oct 12, 2017

The American cultural situation poses great challenges, but these can be overcome through a missionary renewal following Pope Francis’ proposed... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during his May 31, 2017, general audience.

Christians must be 'missionaries of hope,' Pope Francis says

Oct 4, 2017

By Elise Harris

True Christians are not sad or gloomy, but have the specific task of being bearers of hope, Pope Francis said... Read more