Mission Sunday is on 23^rd October this year. Each year it takes place on the second last Sunday of October, the traditional month of universal mission since 1926. The collection is organised annually by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and is celebrated in every Church throughout the world, including the poorest. The theme for World Mission Sunday in Ireland this year is Together in Faith.

The focus of this togetherness is on the newly independent Republic of South Sudan and our poster shows, catechist Pio Lokuru Kodee from Kapoeta, Torit Diocese in South Sudan. Pio has been an inspiration to his people and has also been a teacher to our missionaries. He has survived imprisonment and torture - with his people telling the army they couldn't kill him because "he was a man of God". The good news has brought life and hope to Pio and his community even as they have had to suffer for their faith over the years due to the political situation in Sudan.

The poster shows Pio with Kiltegan Fr John Marren outside a ruined church in the Diocese of Torit. The church building may be destroyed but the Church is very much alive in people like Pio Lokuru. Irish missionaries are working in many of the dioceses in South Sudan.