“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”
Matthew 25:35-36

Saint Gregory the Great regularly hosts missionaries to visit our parish and educate parishioners on the work they are doing at home and throughout the world. These faith-filled Catholics serve others in profound ways and share with us how we can help bring the liberating spirit of Christ to those in need, to advocate for justice, and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same.

Should you choose to support their mission, whether it’s through monetary donations, donations of your time, or through the gift of prayer, your generosity is very much appreciated. That appreciation comes from not only those who are presently being served, but it comes also from future generations who will benefit.

Continue reading for further information, or contact the parish office.


Contact:  Parish Office • 858-653-3540 • info@stgg.org


World Mission Sunday

October 21-22, 2023


On October 21-22, the Universal Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. It is an opportunity to remind us of our own call to be missionary disciples. Pope Francis reflected on this year’s theme: “Hearts on fire, feet on the move,” inspired by the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke (24:13-35). The Holy Father invites us to kindle the fire of Christ’s love in our hearts and to actively share this warmth with the world around us. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we go forth and bring the Good News to all corners of the world. On World Mission Sunday we assist the Holy Father to support the Church in the missions by praying for our missionaries and financially supporting their ministry.

Envelopes will be in the church pews or in the parish office.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (specify World Mission Sunday)

Mission Cooperation Appeal

August 5-6, 2023
Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament

Sr. Eva Rodriguez, SJS, will speak on behalf of her congregation, The Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. The sisters are in the United States in the Dioceses of Sacramento, Fresno, San Diego, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. They also minister in 71 Catholic schools in México, Guatemala, Chile, and a large mission in Peru. Founded on November 25, 1904, by Father Silviano Carrillo, the congregation of the Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament was born because of a sacrilege. On July 18, 1901, a thief broke into Father Carrillo’s church and stole the consecrated hosts. This desecration – more ignorant than malicious – greatly saddened the priest. “The thief did not know who is present in this sacrament,” he wrote. “Had he known, he would have never committed this crime.” As a result, the congregation became a community of women who dedicated their lives to daily adoration of the Holy Eucharist and the religious education of children and youth. In the Diocese of San Diego, they have served more than 110,000 students in 85 years. Their mission continues today in preparing young people to know and love Jesus in the Eucharist, to live the Gospel values, and to help build a better world.

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or the pews. You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (select “Mission Cooperative Program” or MCP on the donation page)

www.usasjs.org

World Mission Sunday

October 22-23, 2022


World Mission Sunday will be celebrated this year on the weekend of October 22-23. This year’s theme is: “You shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). As Cardinal McElroy has shared,
“Pope Francis in his World Mission Sunday message, emphasizes the call to every Christian to bear witness to Christ, to participate in a mission of universal evangelization, and to seek
strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit”. Pope Francis also points to the example of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, as a way to respond to that missionary call, through prayer and charity. Your prayers and sacrifices on World Mission Sunday will support priests, religious Sisters and Brothers, and lay pastoral leaders who are proclaiming the Gospel, building the Church, and serving the poorest communities in territories covering more than half the globe. Your practical help and devoted prayer enable missionaries to work and witness to Christ, as it enables each one of us to be the Lord’s witnesses, as reflected in this year’s theme: “You shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or in the parish office.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (specify World Mission Sunday)

Mission Cooperation Appeal

August 21-22, 2022

Dominic Bao Tran, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist missionary, will be speaking to us about the vital work being done by Redemptorist missionary priests and brothers serving in their overseas missions in Nigeria & Brazil. Father Dominic, a native of Vietnam, has been in the US for 40 years. He joined the CSsR in 1985 and was ordained a priest in 1990. His ministries during the last 31 years include Foreign Missions, parish pastors, and teaching Moral Theology. Fr. Dominic is currently serving in the St. Alphonsus Community in New Orleans.

Kindly welcome Father Dominic and please give your attention to this important appeal. Thank you in advance for your kindness and hospitality to Rev. Dominic Bao Tran, C.Ss.R

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or in the pews.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (select “Mission Cooperative Program” or MCP on the donation page)

World Mission Sunday

October 23-24, 2021

The theme of this year’s World Mission Day – “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20), is a summons to each of us to “own” and to bring to others what we bear in our hearts. This mission has always been the hallmark of the Church, for “she exists to evangelize” (SAINT PAUL VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). Our life of faith grows weak, loses its prophetic power and its ability to awaken amazement and gratitude when we become isolated and withdraw into little groups. By its very nature, the life of faith calls for a growing openness to embracing everyone, everywhere.

On World Mission Day, which we celebrate each year on the penultimate Sunday of October, we recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel. Let us remember especially all those who resolutely set out, leaving home and family behind, to bring the Gospel to all those places and people athirst for its saving message.

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or in the parish office.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (select World Mission Sunday)

Mission Cooperation Appeal

August 21-22, 2021
The support from the Missions Office of the Diocese of San Diego has enabled different social development programs to be implemented for the common good in the Diocese of Nyundo, Rwanda.

Father Frank Tinajero, SVD will be with us on the weekend of August 21-22 to speak about the many ministries of his religious community, Divine Word Missionaries. Serving in 81 countries, they build chapels, celebrate the sacraments, and spread the Word of God in remote mission areas. To meet some of the people they help, please subscribe to the Mission Update by clicking here and reading their stories. Over 6,000 missionaries travel to the far corners of the world, building hospitals, educating the poor, and providing drinkable water, food & shelter. These priests and Brothers help people neglected by society to build a better future.  They also foster vibrant Catholic communities of service and faith around the world. This Mission Appeal is part of the Missionary Cooperative Program of our Diocese. Please be generous with your prayers and contribute to the collection to encourage the vital work of Divine Word Missionaries.

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or in the pews.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org (select “Mission Cooperative Program” or MCP on the donation page)

World Mission Sunday

2020

As we journey to the end of a difficult and frightening year, our theme is a shout of courage and faith:

‘Here I am, send me!’

World Mission Sunday is celebrated in every Catholic community in the world. It’s a moment of grace to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living in situations of poverty, violence and oppression.

Pope Francis calls on Catholics to support overseas mission financially through World Mission Sunday. As the Holy Father’s official charity for world mission, this is such an important date. We will be inspiring a renewal of mission throughout the month of October, asking Catholics to answer the call to share God’s love.

Envelopes will be in the back of the church or in the parish office.  You may also donate online at www.helpthemissions.org

Mission Cooperation Appeal

August 24-25, 2019

The Most Reverend James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup, will be speaking at our masses on August 24 – 25, 2019 supplying us with information on ways that we might help further the mission works in his Diocese. The Diocese of Gallup covers over 55,000 square miles of Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico which encompasses seven Native American reservations and pueblos. It serves 58,000 Catholics and this makes it one of our Nation’s largest and poorest Diocese.

Donations envelopes will be provided in the pews during Mass.  Thank you for your donation.

World Mission Sunday

2018

The theme for World Mission Sunday 2018 is “Through Youth To The World: Voices for Mission.”  Pope Francis addresses his message for this year’s celebration to young people, saying, “In
speaking to you, I also address all Christians who live out in the Church the adventure of their life as children of God. What leads me to speak to everyone through this conversation with you is the certainty that the Christian faith remains ever young when it is open to the mission that Christ entrusts to us.”  Click here for more information.

WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS FOR YOUR MISSION SOLIDARITY!

Missionary Cooperation Appeal

June 16-17, 2018

Fr. Joseph J. Arackal V.C., a Vincentian Missionary Priest from India, will be at St. Gregory the Great Parish the weekend of June 16 & 17 to participate in the Annual Missionary Cooperation Appeal. He will preach at all Masses and will make an appeal on behalf of the Vincentian Missions.

The Vincentian Congregation, was founded in Kerala, India, in 1904, modeled after the Congregation of the Mission founded by St. Vincent de Paul. Members of this flourishing Religious Congregation, all natives of India, are engaged in Mission Work in all parts of India and in several countries in Africa.  The Vincentian Missionaries need our help to carry out their many missionary, educational and charitable activities in their missions worldwide. They need our special financial support for the training of young men studying for the priesthood.

There will be special yellow envelopes in the pews for the mission collection to help the Missionary work of the Vincentian Fathers. We urge you to be generous in your mission offering. Please keep Father Joseph and all the Vincentian Missionaries and seminarians in your prayers.

World Mission Sunday 2017

October 21-22, 2017

World Mission Sunday, our annual worldwide Eucharistic celebration for the Missions and missionaries of the world, will be on October 22. This collection on the next-to-last Sunday in October is a unique, global effort for the entire Church to provide for the building up of over one thousand local churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work of these churches, and their witness to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God’s love and mercy, His hope and peace.

This year, we are reminded by Pope Francis that Mission is at the Heart of Christian Faith; the materials for World Mission Sunday from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith encourage an ongoing formative relationship for mission, offering portraits of today’s missionaries inspired by the words of our chief missionary, Pope Francis.

Mission Cooperation Appeal

September 16-17, 2017

DIOCESE OF KUMBAKONAM, INDIA

Father M. S. Selva Raj will speak to us about the Missionary activities and challenges of the Diocese of Kumbakonam, India.

Motivated by the same spirit of Jesus Christ, who went about healing the sick, the diocese carries out the hospital ministry through 2 Leprosy Hospitals, 8 Hospitals, 20 Dispensaries and 2 Homes for the handicapped. The most deserving, the aging, are cared for through 2 Homes for the aged. Taking man in his integrity, the diocese does not fail to look into the social needs of the people. The social works are carried out irrespective of caste and creed having the objective to help the people help themselves. Financial savings, motivation and awareness programs, are just some of their thrusts.

The different pastoral commissions also devote their interest and work towards the parish by conducting seminars, prayer sessions, faith formation, and catechism. They motivate thousands of children and facilitate their education and character formation, however health and hygiene is one of the basic needs of the society.

World Mission Sunday

October 22-23, 2016

TODAY IS WORLD MISSION SUNDAY!  In announcing his decision to declare a Holy Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said, “Dear brothers and sisters, I have often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy.”  Supporting the young churches throughout the world with your prayers and generous gifts is indeed a merciful witness of this mission.

The collection today will help missionaries offer the poor of these areas practical help as they share the mercy of God.  It will ensure the development of local dioceses, and support the work of priests, religious and lay leaders who serve those on the margins and in most need.  Extend your merciful witness to the whole world through your gift in today’s collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith!

For more information on the Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States, visit their website: http://www.propfaith.net/onefamilyinmission/WorldMissionSunday.aspx

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters

August 20-21, 2016

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters will visit Saint Gregory the Great Parish on the weekend of August 20-21, 2016 for Mission Cooperative Sunday.  The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters are an international missionary congregation serving in over 50 countries of the world, primarily in rural, poor areas & frontier situations; addressing the needs of the people through education, health care, & socio-pastoral ministry.  Special attention is given to women & children, victims of trafficking, those affected by HIV-AIDS, inter-religious dialogue, & sharing the “Good News” of God’s love.

Through your prayerful accompaniment & generous financial support, the mission of Christ to “go, teach, & proclaim the Gospel to all people” will continue through the work, ministry, & witness of our Sisters.

For more information on the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, their history & ministry in more than 50 countries of the world, visit their websites: www.ssps-usa.org & www.worldssps.org.

Missionary Cooperation Appeal

September 5-6, 2015

We are pleased to welcome Sister Mary Rose Nguyen from Lahore, Pakistan, to share her story in the missions during all the Masses.  Please be prepared to listen and support as the message of mission, evangelization, loving service, and hope is shared.  The proceeds from this Mission appeal will be used to directly support the missionary, the organization, and the people she serves.  Your generous donation unites you as missionary to our brothers and sisters around the world who need our help.

Special envelopes will be available in the pews for your use.