Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Mary, the virgin mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, is also the mother of the Church and of
our mission (see Jn 19:26). As the Church has brought the saving truth of the
Resurrection of our Lord to all the corners of the earth, she has constantly entrusted her
evangelizing efforts to Mary’s care and intercession. In our own diocese, Mary in her
appearance as Our Lady of Guadalupe serves as our patroness, and reveals a convincing
model of courage and generosity for us to follow.

The mission of the Church to teach and baptize, as commanded by the Risen Christ (Mt
28:19-20), continues also for us. In our own time and place, the growing rejection of
“organized religion” should prod us to renew our efforts to share our faith and joy in Jesus
our Savior. Faith is indeed a great treasure, but unlike worldly treasures, it is
impoverished by hoarding, and enriched the more it is given away.

We also participate in the universal mission of the Church. World Mission Sunday asks
us for our prayers and, if possible, a charitable contribution, to support the evangelizing
mission of the Church in places that are particularly poor or where she is particularly newly established. Your gift supports the building of parishes, schools, and hospitals, and the education of clergy, in these mission lands, so that the mission of the Church can be richly lived out, and the witness of Christ’s disciples be seen. As Pope Francis reminds us, “We entrust the Church’s mission to Mary our Mother. In union with her Son, from the moment of the Incarnation the Blessed Virgin set out on her pilgrim way. She was fully involved in the mission of Jesus, a mission that became her own at the foot of the Cross: the mission of cooperating, as Mother of the Church, in bringing new sons and daughters of God to birth in the Spirit and in faith” (9 June 2019: Address for World Mission Sunday).

God has generously blessed us with so much wealth, and so many resources of all kinds.
In solidarity with the entire missionary Church, do please remember to pray for the
success of the Church here in Iowa, and in mission territories. The Church freely gives
away her great treasure, the grace and peace that only Christ can give. Please consider
also making a gift to our brothers and sisters in Christ, who need so much.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City