They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
St. Michael’s School students pray the World Mission Rosary
Friday, October 16, 2026
Yesterday, Catholics around the world celebrated World Mission Sunday, a day set aside to pray for and support the missions and the missionaries who help thousands of young and poor dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and remote parts of Latin America. They build chapels, train catechists, support religious sisters and priests, and care for children, the sick, and the elderly. This tradition was established 100 years ago, in 1926, by Pope Pius XI. The entire month of October is World Mission Month and this year’s theme, “One in Christ, United in Mission,” was selected by Pope Leo XIV, who spent many years as a missionary priest prior to his pontificate.
On November 17, St. Michael’s School will welcome Sister Eva Rodriguez, SJS, Director of the Missionary Childhood Association for the Diocese of San Diego, for her annual visit, to inform our community about the plight of so many people around the world. Her stories and the pictures she shares help our students better understand how countless children struggle for basic survival – food, shelter, clothing, health care, and education. Most of us cannot fathom such extreme poverty, and it is a reminder for us to be grateful for all of the blessings we enjoy. On February 3, 2027, our annual Walk-a-thon during Catholic Schools Week will be dedicated to raising funds to support the missions and missionaries around the world.
There is also much that we can do to act as missionaries in our own community. The Church teaches that mission belongs to all of us. Jesus’ last words to his disciples were a sending: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Through Baptism, every one of us received that commission, so in addition to praying for and contributing to the missions, we can adopt a missionary spirit by living out our faith, being joyful, and being kind. There are people we encounter on a daily basis – perhaps a neighbor or child on a sports team - who may feel called to pursue a life of faith because of our actions. (The 1960s hymn “They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love,” comes to mind.) The story of St. Therese of Lisieux, whose feast day was October 1, is a wonderful example of how she demonstrated her love for Christ through the small acts of love she offered to others every day. She was too frail and ill to travel as a missionary, yet she was named a patron saint of the missions because of her actions, alongside St. Francis Xavier.
As parents and grandparents, you are the primary educators of your children. Thank you for the many ways you already live this calling: by helping them with homework, volunteering in the classroom, and reminding them that they are children of God. As we near the end of the first trimester, you have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher in conferences to review their academic progress and make adjustments in study habits where needed to ensure success. It is also a perfect time to reflect on their faith journey as well. Together, as a school family, we will prepare them for a wonderful future.
Deo Gratias, Kathy
