From the Pastor
Fr. Mike Comer shares his thoughts on Scripture, spirituality and the challenges of living the Gospel.
World mission sunday starts at home
Oct. 18, 2026
The final words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew are what we call the Great Commission, “Go, 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 carry out all that I have commanded. And know that I am with you until the end of the age.”
Christianity, and therefore Catholicism, is a missionary religion. Our ultimate focus is outward. This day, celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday of October, reminds us of that reality. We have lost that focus, unfortunately, and need to reclaim it.
When Catholics came to America, it was a very hostile environment. The Protestants were fiercely anti-Catholic and anti-Papist. There was a strong attempt to convert Catholics to Protestantism, especially young Catholics. Businesses had signs on their doors that said, “Catholics need not apply!” There were not a lot of Catholic churches, so many Catholics began going to non-Catholic churches by default.
The priests of that time, instead of focusing on missionary work, told Catholics not to have any dealings with Protestants. There were women’s sororities and men’s fraternities, so that they did not mingle with Protestants. As couples of mixed religions intermarried, many Catholics fell away from the faith.
Catholics were just trying to preserve their own faith, and that of their children, so they did not mingle with others. The Catholic Church did not go out to share their faith but kept it private. This was the situation when the Second Vatican Council began, and the bishops, priests, and religious had to rediscover the Church’s missionary roots. We are still in the beginning of that process.
For the past 50 or 60 years, we have been gradually learning how to be missionary Catholics. We have a long way to go.
Christianity, and therefore Catholicism, is a missionary religion. Our ultimate focus is outward. This day, celebrated on the next-to-last Sunday of October, reminds us of that reality. We have lost that focus, unfortunately, and need to reclaim it.
When Catholics came to America, it was a very hostile environment. The Protestants were fiercely anti-Catholic and anti-Papist. There was a strong attempt to convert Catholics to Protestantism, especially young Catholics. Businesses had signs on their doors that said, “Catholics need not apply!” There were not a lot of Catholic churches, so many Catholics began going to non-Catholic churches by default.
The priests of that time, instead of focusing on missionary work, told Catholics not to have any dealings with Protestants. There were women’s sororities and men’s fraternities, so that they did not mingle with Protestants. As couples of mixed religions intermarried, many Catholics fell away from the faith.
Catholics were just trying to preserve their own faith, and that of their children, so they did not mingle with others. The Catholic Church did not go out to share their faith but kept it private. This was the situation when the Second Vatican Council began, and the bishops, priests, and religious had to rediscover the Church’s missionary roots. We are still in the beginning of that process.
For the past 50 or 60 years, we have been gradually learning how to be missionary Catholics. We have a long way to go.
To be missionary, we need to learn a lot more about our faith. You cannot share with others what you do not have yourself. If you do not know the Catholic faith, you cannot share it. Most Catholics do not even feel qualified to teach their own children. Many Catholic children are not attending Catholic schools, or a parish religion program. So they simply fall away from all religion or go to non-denominational churches. But they cease to be Catholic.
This must change! This weekend, Protestant religions celebrate Laity Sunday. They have realized that it is the laity that must become the front-line troops of the Church, and so they train them in discipleship, teaching them how to read, study and share the Bible. Catholics must do this as well. I do not think anyone is surprised that that is what I try to do.
I want every member of Mother of God Church to be a fully equipped Catholic, knowing and understanding their Catholic faith, and ready and willing to share their faith with those they meet, including their children.
—Fr. Mike Comer
This must change! This weekend, Protestant religions celebrate Laity Sunday. They have realized that it is the laity that must become the front-line troops of the Church, and so they train them in discipleship, teaching them how to read, study and share the Bible. Catholics must do this as well. I do not think anyone is surprised that that is what I try to do.
I want every member of Mother of God Church to be a fully equipped Catholic, knowing and understanding their Catholic faith, and ready and willing to share their faith with those they meet, including their children.
—Fr. Mike Comer
