Special Observances

The Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be meeting in Rome from October 2nd - 27th. Learn more at www.synod.va

Prayer of the Faithful for the Synod (English and Spanish)

In October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday, to consider more deeply why every human life is valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death.

Respect Life Month Resources from the USCCB

In their 2002 statement When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence, the Catholic Bishops of the U.S. called for parishes to join in the national observance of October as "Domestic Violence Awareness Month." In this they suggested that parishes: 

"Dedicate at least one weekend that month to inform parishioners about domestic abuse. During that month, make available educational and training programs in order to sensitize men and women, girls and boys to the personal and social effects of violence in the family. Help them to see how psychological abuse may escalate over time. Teach them how to communicate without violence."

Petitions for the Prayer of the Faithful

Radiate Love is an initiative of the Catholic Bishops of California to strengthen marriage and family life. Monthly resources will be made available.

Radiate Love - October Parish Toolkit from the California Catholic Conference

World Mission Sunday is celebrated by the Church throughout the world on the second-to-last Sunday of October to remember and support the mission work being done around to e world.

Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Sunday 2024

Homily Helps and Prayer of the Faithful

In 1990, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus called for the month of November to be commemorated as Black Catholic History Month, highlighting the contributions of Black Catholics to events in history and contemporary society.

The World Day of the Poor was established by Pope Francis in 2016, to be observed on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. 

"This would be the worthiest way to prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy (cf. Mt 25:31-46). It would be a day to help communities and each of the baptized to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel and that, as long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (cf. Lk 16:19-21), there can be no justice or social peace. This Day will also represent a genuine form of new evangelization (cf. Mt 11:5) which can renew the face of the Church as She perserveres in her perennial activity of pastoral conversion and witness to mercy."  - Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter Misericordia et misera, 21.

While the large worldwide gatherings called "World Youth Day" are held every several years, in the local churches, World Youth Day is celebrated on the Sunday of Christ the King.

St. John Paul II welcomed young people to gather in Rome on Palm Sunday 1985. The liturgical texts for Palm Sunday have emphasized how the young people around Jerusalem (the "pueri hebraeorum", the "children of the Hebrews") were the first to recognize Jesus as King. Due to everything else going on during Holy Week in the Church, Pope Francis made the decision in 2020 to have the annual celebration of youth coincide with the Solemnity of Christ the King, because of its connection to the same themes expressed on Palm Sunday. 

The USCCB has developed a full guidebook for these celebrations, including suggested petitions for the Prayer of the Faithful

USCCB - Christ the King / World Youth Day Planning Guidebook