Until the early 20th century, the Catholic Church in the United States was “still young, growing and vulnerable,” and “the recipient of help from the church in other lands,” recalls Anthony Andreassi, C.O., in his homily for World Mission Sunday. “Now it is our turn to reach out to support others so that this important work of evangelization can continue as we continue to make our pilgrim way here on earth.”

Anthony is a resident priest of the Brooklyn Oratory and serves its two parishes, but he has spent most of his professional life in Jesuit company—his last four years, until the summer of 2022, as the principal of Regis High School in New York City. Now, he works for the Pontifical Mission Societies and The Society for the Propagation of the Faith in its mission to raise consciousness of the emerging church, especially in the countries of the global south.

Listen to Anthony’s homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, on this week’s episode of “Preach,” which also coincides with the appeal for World Mission Sunday observed in parishes worldwide. After delivering his homily, Anthony discusses with host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., how the Church’s evangelization reaches beyond missionary lands. It is also an invitation for all the faithful to walk together as pilgrims on a common course, echoing the ongoing invitation of the Synod on Synodality.

Read the full text of this week’s homily and Scripture readings.

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