It’s “launch week” for my brand new book The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living. To celebrate, we are paying tribute to seven very special examples of “The Grace of Yes in Action”, the seven winners for our “Name the Goldfish” contest. I will be making a personal donation to these organizations and invite you to keep them in your prayers as well. Please help me share the good news about each of these seven organizations by sharing them via social media too — we can do a world of good by sharing the amazing work they are doing to serve others.

Tune in each day this week to meet new “Friends of Fiat”!

The Pontifical Mission Societies:

Winner Alexis said of her favorite charity:

The Pontifical Mission Societies stand at the ready to bring their yes to the ends of the earth for the poor and those ‘nations’ who yearn to hear the Gospel of Christ.

Amen to that!

If you don’t know the work of The Pontifical Mission Societies, you are missing out on something very special! According to their website:

Given the title “Pontifical” in 1922, the Pontifical Mission Societies have special responsibility in the Universal Church. They are under the direct canonical jurisdiction of the Pope, who, together with the entire body of Bishops, remind the faithful of their Baptismal call to mission, as they gather basic support for more than 1,150 mission dioceses in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and Latin America.  The Pontifical Mission Societies include the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Missionary Childhood Association, the Society of St. Peter Apostle, and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.

To support the work of The Pontifical Mission Societies (from the One Family in Mission website):

• Pray daily for the Church’s missionary work – Our Father * Hail Mary * Glory Be *St. Francis Xavier, pray for us.* St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us.
• Offer your personal sacrifice – your pain, your loneliness, your anxiety, your sickness or sadness – in union with the sufferings of the crucified Christ for the redemption of the world.
• Give generously on World Mission Sunday – annually, the next-to-last Sunday of October.
• Encourage mission vocations through the Society of St. Peter Apostle through a donation of $700 to support the education of a mission priest for one year or $300 to support one year’s education for a male or female Religious novice.
• Remember the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Holy Childhood Association or Society of St. Peter Apostle when writing or changing your Will.
• Offer regular help through MISSION magazine or through mail or parish appeals to your Pontifical Mission Societies (Arch)Diocesan Director.
• Encourage your school or parish to participate in the Holy Childhood Association and use MCAs mission education materials.
• Be a part of the Propagation of the Faith’s Charitable Gift Annuity Program. Through this program, you will be helping the Church’s worldwide missionary efforts well into the future. Call us for more information (1.800.431.2222) or email pmsusa@propfaith.org.

To learn more about the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies, click here.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, patroness of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, champion for the poor, intercede on behalf of all served by The Pontifical Mission Societies. May we each emulate their service to those most in need by being “little Jesuses” and acting with great love and compassion. Strengthen all those who work in missions. Help us to see our own fertile mission fields and to serve with a lively and faith-filled “Yes”.

Click here to order The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living and tune in tomorrow to meet our next “Friends of Fiat”.