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This Sunday, October 18, the Church celebrates the 100th World Mission Sunday. Through our Baptism, we are called to collaborate with the Church’s missionary work and support it with our prayers and material aid.
Newly beatified Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is known for his TV presence, preaching, and charismatic personality. He said, “My greatest love has always been for the missions of the Church.” Under his national leadership of The Pontifical Mission Societies (1950–1966) in the US, World Mission Sunday became a defining moment in the life of the Church in the United States.
This year’s message from Pope Leo for World Mission Sunday is titled “One in Christ, United in Mission.” In it, Pope Leo writes: “Filled with admiration for men and women missionaries, I make a special appeal to the whole Church to join them in the mission of evangelization through the witness of our lives in Christ, through prayer, and through our contributions to the missions.”
Prayer of Pope Leo XIV for the 100th World Mission Sunday 2026
Holy Father, make us one in Christ, rooted in his love that unites and renews. May all members of the Church be united in mission, docile to the Holy Spirit, courageous in bearing witness to the Gospel, proclaiming and daily embodying your faithful love for all creatures.
Bless all missionary men and women, support them in their efforts, and watch over them in hope!
Mary, Queen of Missions, accompany our work of evangelization in every corner of the earth: make us instruments of peace, and grant that the whole world may recognize in Christ the light that saves. Amen.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to online resources.
Videos of Sunday’s Gospel
Use these videos as you discuss today’s Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes
• Sunday Setup—Weekly Video and Post (courtesy of the Diocese of Bridgeport)
Other Resources
• Pope Leo XIV and the Papacy
• Special Message from Pope Leo to Young People (NCYC | November 21, 2025)
For Catholic Schools
• Albert’s Expeditions Join Albert, a fierce yet friendly Peregrine Falcon, named after Saint Albert the Great (who even gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago!) on scientific expeditions all around the globe.
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus teaches us to praise God.
For this lesson, you will need scarves, shakers, or flags (one per child); scissors; crayons; and a Church Year calendar. We suggest having at least one aide to help with the cutting activity on pages 3–4. Consider inviting parents to volunteer. This is a wonderful opportunity to involve them in their child’s faith formation.
This Seeds lesson focuses on Jesus’ command to give to God what is God’s. Everything belongs to God, including our hearts, our love, our thanks, and our praise. Preschoolers may not understand the broader concept of giving ourselves to God, but they can understand that we can give God our praise, thanks, and love. Keep the focus on God’s love. Children praise God not because they have to, but because God loves them, cares for them, and gives them many blessings.
Find the solution to the tulip finding activity on page 2 here.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
Promise
Lesson Theme: We belong to God’s family.
For this lesson, you will need scissors, a dollar bill, a Bible, yellow card stock, star patterns, pencils, crayons, a story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar. We suggest having at least one aide to help with the cutting activity on pages 3–4. Consider inviting parents to volunteer. This is a wonderful opportunity to involve them in their child’s faith formation. It is a good idea to complete one prayer booklet in advance to show the finished product to the children.
This Promise lesson focuses on belonging, building on experiences of belonging to a family, parish, and country. We become members of God’s family through Baptism. Every child longs to belong. Help children see that they have a special place in God’s family.
Note: Promise children will learn more about the Sacrament of Baptism in the lesson in Unit 2 for January 10, 2027, the Baptism of the Lord.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflection and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Bible Bag: Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole
• Infant Baptism at St. Joseph
Good News
Lesson Theme: We belong to God first.
For this lesson, gather pencils, coloring tools, a Church Year calendar, and your classroom Bible.
The Pharisees in the Gospel ask Jesus a question about paying taxes because they know that he is honest. The Good News lesson activities focus on the expectation that Jesus’ followers will be honest and fair like he was. When we put God first as the first three of the Ten Commandments guide us to do, we will align our priorities and choose honesty and fairness. Choosing to follow the Eighth Commandment is an important message to impress upon children of this age. Many of their sins likely fall in the category of dishonesty.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Video
• The Eighth Commandment
Venture
Lesson Theme: We belong to God first.
For this lesson, gather scissors, pencils, and Bibles (one per student).
In this lesson, the young people will consider the consequence of choices. They will discover that faithful Catholics must also be good citizens. Emphasize that God, who has first loved us, must be served first. We then honor God by obedience to the civil authorities who serve us. As members of the People of God, we follow God’s law of love and the Ten Commandments. This is what we owe to our community and to God. Civil laws and leaders are to serve the common good.
Note: After you read aloud the GodTalk questions and answers on page 8, gather any additional questions from your students. If you do not feel confident responding to any of them on your own, submit them to your pastor or director of religious education for their assistance.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Video
• Pharisees and Sadducees
Visions
Lesson Theme: We obey civil law and God’s law.
For this lesson, gather scissors, pencils/pens, markers or colored pencils, and white board or newsprint.
In this lesson, the young people will identify their allegiances or preferences to certain organizations, products, or brands. They will consider whether loyalties to earthly things interfere with their relationship with God. The young people will learn about the common good and identify what contributes to it. They will participate in an activity in which they will reflect upon priorities and ways to invest, donate, and budget their money in responsible ways. Give them time to consider how they would choose to help others.
Teaching Guide
Family Companion & Weekly Parent Resources
Parent Teaching Pages
Parent/Grandparent Assistance for Home Study
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Assessments
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Pharisees and Sadducees
• Book of Jeremiah Summary
Image credit: pontificalmissions.org (screen capture)
