Venerable Pauline Jaricot

January 9, 2012 marked the 150th anniversary of the death of the founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Pauline Marie Jaricot.

Pauline’s Story Begins
Baptized Marie Pauline Jaricot on the day of her birth (July 22, 1799), she was the last child born to Antoine and Jeanne Jaricot in Lyons, France. The couple had seven children, including son, Phileas, who had arrived two years earlier, on February 2, 1797. Pauline’s older brother would be very influential in her life – nurturing her love for the Missions. Pauline wrote of her parents: “Happy are those who have received from their parents the first seeds of faith… Be praised Lord, for giving me a just man for a father and a virtuous and charitable woman as a mother.”

Lyons, Pauline’s hometown, was an industrial city that became famous for its silk factories. Her family were silk merchants, bourgeoisies of that French city. While the early years of her childhood were marked by the exclusive society life of Lyons, something would happen as a teenager that would open her heart to the whole world.

A Vision for the Missions
At the age of 15, Pauline suffered a bad fall. Not long after that, her beloved mother died. It took Pauline many months to recover, emotionally and physically. When she did, she resumed her social life, but with less delight than before. Her heart, she wrote at this time, was “made for the whole world if only I could love without measure,” she observed, “without end.”

She began to long to help the Missions – China and the United States – a desire nurtured by her brother Phileas, who was preparing for the priesthood and who told Pauline all about the work and witness of missionaries.

Pauline saw this as her vocation – to become a missionary of the love of God. She came to believe that “to truly help others is to bring them to God.”

One day while at prayer, 18-year-old Pauline had a vision of two lamps. One had no oil; the other was overflowing and from its abundance poured oil into the empty lamp. To Pauline, the drained lamp signified the faith in her native France, still reeling from the turbulence of the French Revolution. The full lamp was the great faith of Catholics in the Missions – especially in the New World. By aiding the faith of the young new country of the United States of America, Pauline knew that seeds planted would grow and bear much fruit.

So, she came up with a plan to support missionaries. She gathered workers from her family’s silk factory into “circles of 10.” Everyone in the group pledged to pray daily for the Missions and to offer each week a sou, the equivalent of a penny. Each member of the group then found 10 friends to do the same.

Even in the face of opposition from parish priests in Lyons, Pauline remained steadfast. Within a year, she had 500 workers enrolled; soon there would be 2,000.

As a child, Pauline had in fact dreamed of building such support for the Missions: “Oh! I’d love to have a well of gold to give some to all the unfortunate, so that there would not be any more poor people at all and that no one would cry anymore.”

Pauline’s successful efforts – where clearly not isolated or unique – were the main thrust behind the formation of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. She was “the match that lit the fire.” But there was a struggle – like with all new initiatives – to control what was quickly becoming a source of strength and hope for the missionary Church. At one point, Pauline was sidelined, and she struggled to ensure that what the Lord had inspired her to set in motion, would come fully to life. In 1963, 100 years after her death, Pope John XXIII signed the decree which proclaimed her virtues, declaring her “Venerable.” He wrote: “It was she who thought of the society, who conceived it, and made it an organized reality.” And Pauline’s vision of two lamps is also still valid, as the vibrant faith in mission countries inspires and deepens our own faith here at home.

The Pontifical Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles accept requests from Mission Dioceses, Religious Orders, and Lay Organizations working in the missions to preach at a parish for the purpose of making an appeal for financial support. Dioceses, Religious Orders, and Lay Organizations are encouraged to participate in the Mission Cooperative Plan (MCP) on an annual basis. This annual appeal helps unite the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with the Universal Church and to create mission awareness among the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The generous response, which is traditional amongst the people of Los Angeles, reflects the ongoing awareness and concern for the people of the world.

Taking the opportunity to share in this mutually beneficial cooperative generates a zeal for the missions of this Archdiocese. Mission Dioceses and the leaders of men’s and women’s religious communities as well as lay organizations are invited to submit applications to speak at parishes within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. These presentations inform the parishioners about the mission work and provide an opportunity for them to respond to and support this important work.

Apply, Guidelines and Requirements for 2023
Missionary Bishops and leaders of Mission Communities who would like to be considered for the Mission Cooperative Plan within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will need to submit a completed application along with the following requirements postmarked by December 1, 2022. Without exception.

Before we can review your request, all priests, deacons, religious congregations, and lay organizations will need to provide an original “Letter of Request” from the local bishop, superior, or board president granting you permission to apply to participate in the MCP for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

The following information needs to be included in the original “Letter of Request”: • A description of the work done by your (arch)diocese, mission, or organization • Why your (arch)diocese, mission, or organization should be considered for participation in the MCP • How MCP funds will be concretely used • Who will directly benefit from these funds • Specify that you are authorized to function legally as a 501-3-C or similar identity • Letter must be stamped with an original signature of your (arch)diocese, institute, or society Application and required information above must be received and postmarked by December 1, 2022, and mailed to:
Mission Office
ATTN: Mission Cooperative Plan
3424 Wilshire Blvd. 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, California 90010 USA

The receipt of this application does not indicate acceptance into the Mission Cooperative Plan. Applicants will be notified of our decision at the end of February 2023. If you are accepted in the MCP, an original “Letter of Good Standing” on letterhead from the Diocesan Bishop, Superior, or Board President must be mailed to our office for each individual assigned to speak.

2023-MissionCoOp-Spanish-App-Guidelines- FILLABLE
2023-MissionCoOp-English-App-Guidelines- FILLABLE

PARISH RESOURCES & MATERIALS FOR 2022 | DONATE ONLINE | MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ

World Mission Sunday, organized by the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice.

Every year the needs of the Catholic Church in the Missions grow – as new dioceses are formed, as new seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ’s call to follow Him as priests, as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. That is why the involvement and commitment of Catholics from around the world are so urgently needed. Offerings from Catholics in the United States, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith worldwide.

Mission dioceses – about 1,111 at this time – receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for assistance, among other needs, for catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, for communication and transportation needs, and for the building of chapels, churches, orphanages, and schools. These needs are matched with the funds gathered each year. The world’s national directors of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest needs. These funds are then distributed, in their entirety, to mission dioceses throughout the world.

About World Mission Sunday:
Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday in October. As described by Pope Saint John Paul II, World Mission Sunday is “an important day in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the missions of the world” (see Redemptoris Missio 81). Pope Saint John Paul II has also spoken of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith’s General Fund of support, calling this a “central fund of solidarity.” In a message delivered during a World Mission Sunday, the Pope said: “The offerings that will be collected [on World Mission Sunday] are destined for a common fund of solidarity distributed, in the Pope’s name, by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith among the missions and missionaries of the entire world.” Earlier this year, Pope Francis issued his message for World Mission Day titled “You shall be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8, in which he asks for us to “… reflect on the three key phrases that synthesize the three foundations of the life and mission of every disciple: “You shall be my witnesses”, “to the ends of the earth” and “you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit.””

•• Resources & Materials:

2022 World Mission Sunday – Materials & Resources for Parishes and Speakers

What happens to your World Mission Sunday Donation

“You shall be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 – Pope Francis Message for WMS 2022

“Para que sean mis testigos” Hechos 1:8 – Mensaje del Santo Padre Francisco para WMS 2022

Contact & Support: If you have any questions regarding World Mission Sunday in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, please call us at (213) 637-7223 or email us at MissionOffice@la-archdiocese.org.

Purpose of Mission Circle
In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Mission Circle is a practical way for Catholic men and women to stimulate, spiritualize, and systematize mission aid in a personal and concrete manner.

The purpose of the Mission Circles is threefold:
•    Personal spiritual development
•    Giving direct spiritual and material support to a missionary
•    Creating, here at home, an interest in all things missionary

Brief meetings are held each month at a place and hour agreed upon by the members. A Mission Circle is, wherever possible, parochial and formed with the pastor’s knowledge. Each member offers daily prayers and spiritual offering to aid the adopted missionary’s work.

Join a Mission Circle
Have you ever thought of helping a missionary? Have you ever wanted to write to a missionary and receive letters from him or her telling about missionary experiences, progress and problems? Have you ever wanted to involve yourself in a mission so that you can solve its problems and further its progress? There is a way. You and others can give both spiritual and material assistance to your adopted missionary either in foreign or home missions. If you would like to join a Mission Circle, please contact our office.

Form a Mission Circle
A Mission Circle, made up of six or more people, is a dynamic means of participating in the mission of the Church by offering both spiritual and material support to a missionary. By virtue of Baptism, all Christians are called to mission. As members of the Church each one of us is given the responsibility to make Jesus known to all and to work to alleviate human suffering. As members of the Church, we recognize that we bring the love, compassion, and mercy to others. We make Christ present in the world that longs for the presence of God. The Mission Circle is a positive way to be involved in mission and helps you to grow spiritually.

If you would like to start a Mission Circle in your parish, download and review the ByLaws as well as the information form. After reviewing the ByLaws, you will then need to submit the ‘New Mission Circle’ information form to our office.

Download and Submit Forms Below
Download English Mission Circle Bylaws
Download English Fillable Mission Circle Application
Download Spanish Mission Circle Bylaws
Download Spanish Fillable Mission Circle Application