Missionaries of Mercy Visit Rome and Parishes Throughout the U.S.

Missionaries of Mercy were appointed by Pope Francis during the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 as a conspicuous sign of “God the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of his pardon” and the “Church’s maternal solicitude for the People of God.” Appointed priests from around the world were given a special mandate to be “persuasive preachers of mercy,” to commit themselves in a particular way to hearing confessions with the “authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See,” and to serve as “personal witnesses of God’s closeness and of his way of loving.” Pope Francis has extended the mandate of the Missionaries of Mercy until further notice as a sign that the graces of the Jubilee of Mercy continue.

Cross Catholic Outreach is blessed to have six Missionaries of Mercy on its staff. They were invited back to Rome from April 22-25 to personally meet with Pope Francis and to receive his direction and guidance for their ministry as Missionaries of Mercy. The Holy Father assured them of his prayers for their important ministry and their witness of God’s love and mercy to all. He furthermore encouraged them to spread the Good News to parishes throughout the world.

These priests play a critical role in creating, maintaining and representing the culture of our organization. In our mission to transform poor communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ, we strive to be ambassadors of mercy throughout the world, meeting urgent physical needs while declaring God’s nearness and love. In part, we do this by linking U.S. Catholics with faithful dioceses, priests, sisters and laypeople serving in developing nations — uniting the global Church in effective outreach to our brothers and sisters in need.

The Missionaries of Mercy at Cross Catholic Outreach help U.S. parishes engage with this mission of mercy when they visit as Outreach Priests. Parishes can host one of these papal Missionaries of Mercy for the weekend at no cost — an experience that is always a blessing for everyone involved. In these days of so much frustration and malaise, an uplifting message from a Missionary of Mercy would, no doubt, be a welcome one indeed!

Please consider scheduling a Missionary of Mercy to visit your parish, and help encourage your parishioners to celebrate the gifts of hope, love and reconciliation. Parishioners will walk away with a greater understanding of our call to share God’s love through tangible works of mercy as well as our Lord’s compassionate work through his Church around the world.

Contact Cross Catholic Outreach at here or call 800-914-2420, ext. 220 to invite a Missionary of Mercy or any of our Outreach Priests to your parish.