Missions of the Church

Here at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, French Valley Catholic Church we believe that the role and mission of the Catholic Church is the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." This mission was given to us by Jesus Christ Himself before He ascended to the Father in heaven. For this reason, the Catholic Church has sent missionaries into the whole world to proclaim the Gospel. Blessed Teresa was one of our most coveted missionaries and it is our focus to continue following the commandment of our Lord.

Many popes have spoken about the missions. In particular, Pope Paul VI reminds us "the responsibility for spreading the Gospel that saves belongs to everyone -- to all those who have received it! The missionary duty concerns the whole body of the Church; in different ways and to different degrees, it is true, but we must all of us be united in carrying out this duty. Now let the conscience of every believer ask himself: Have I carried out my missionary duty? Prayer for the Missions is the first way of fulfilling this duty" (Angelus Address, 23 October 1977).

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta has several ways for its regular parishioners to assist in the missionary work of the Church. The first, of course, is prayer, particularly in the weekly offertory prayers of the Mass. Another is the regular, periodic preaching of visiting missionaries from the world’s missions and their collections at Sunday liturgies.