Mission Support - Pastoral Projects     

The Diocesan Mission Commision supports missionary projects outside the Diocese that nurture and strenghten the faith experiences of our faithful. We recognize that encountering the "Face of Jesus" is often achieved through the eyes and ears of others. Ultimately the "Sender" or "Benefactor" will reap the same spiritual fruits as the "Missionary" or "Beneficiary" -  a grace filled experience! 

Mission projects need to be consistent with Catholic teaching and this is best acheved through an objective project plan. A project leader in London diocese must be able to tell the project story!  Support from the local Bishop carrying out the mission project is part of this! 

A reliable project contact in the mission location ensures realistic expectations and results. An official email adresss is necessary in order to facilitate communication and control. Pictures always say a thousand words! 

The Mission Office focuses on due dilligence and transparency and can help multiple parishes work together on a project! 

Prayers, Mission Awareness trips, and Mass Intentions

Prayer is an essential element of missionary support and service. Mission awareness trips create a passion for continued prayer and reflection.  Parishioners can support priests and parishes in struggling remote missions through mass stipends. The Diocesan Mission Office can help facilitate these efforts and organize a mission retreat.    

Parish Mission Projects

Parish projects help create "Intentional disciples". Volunteers and donors provide time, talent and resources in order to enable the project. Fundraising can be accomplished through the "free will" spirit of the donor or through personal tax donations. Funds flowing through the Parish or Mision Office books must follow Diocesan guidelines.  

The Mission Commission recognizes that each parish community or parishioner becomes missionary within their own faith journey. Not all projects however are feasible and due dilligence must be maintained over the life of the project.  For example: the Commission does not participate in gift-in kind projects, as tax receipting is complicated.  

There are many ways a parish can develop a pastoral project:
1) from a spiritual "calling" to actualize their faith and evangelize vicariously through missionaries already serving in missions 
2) from a desire to provide food, clothing, education or health care to those less fortunate
3) from a longing to serve marginalized children, women or the elderly
3) from a relationship with a particular country or geographical area in the world - Peru, Haiti, Nigeria, India or the Canadian North
4) from a sense of social justice in the church such that all the faithful have equal access to adequate places of worship for prayer, catechesis and the sacraments. 
 

Pastoral Mission projects within Canada

The Diocese of London supports mission projects managed by Catholic Missions in Canada.

The Diocese of London is specifically partnered through the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to support the Diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon (YT). 
 Some current projects are:

1) Sacred Heart Cathedral Rectory Renovation, Whitehorse, YT - To upgrade and renovate a three story facility next to the cathedral that can provide safe and comfortable accomodations for visiting clergy and missionaries.

2) St. Michael's - Ross River, YT - To replace warped plywood flooring in church .

3) St. Mary Magdalene church, Dease Lake, B.C. - To replace the old trailor currently used as rectory and church with a modest mission facility - dovetail/chinkstyle log church.  

Please contact the Diocesan Mission Director for additonal information!   
 

Pastoral Mission projects outside Canada

Parishes are not registered to send funds outside the country. A parish that undertakes a mission activity outside Canada needs to coordinate with the Diocesan Mission Office. The due dilligence requirements can seem "burdensome" but the rewards of connecting your parish with a needy missionary parish can actualize an evangelical spirit.