Close
Close
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.
Skip to Content

Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough Logo

Contact Us Main menu icon
View our Twitter Page View our Facebook Page View our YouTube Page
Donate
  • How Do I Find...
    • A Parish
    • A Priest
    • Adoration of the Eucharist Nearest Me
    • Annulment Information
    • Baptism Information
    • Catholic Health Care
    • Catholic Herald Diocesan Magazine
    • Catholic Schools
    • Clergy Abuse Reporting Guidelines
    • Confession Times Nearest to Me
    • Contact Information
    • Diocesan Pastoral Centre Location and Staff
    • Diocesan Sacramental Preparation Guidelines
    • Lay Organizations in the Diocese
    • Marriage Information
    • Mass Times
    • Policies
    • Parishes
    • Religious in the Diocese
    • View More...
  • Life and Faith
    • Ask a Priest
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Catholic Education
    • Chaplaincy
    • Ecumenism
    • End of Life
    • Events Calendar
    • Faith Formation in the Diocese and Parishes
    • Lay Associations
    • Mass
    • Permanent Diaconate Formation Program
    • Prayer Life of the Church
    • Respect Life
    • Sacraments
    • Spiritual Formation and Retreat Programs
    • The Church in the World
    • Truth and Reconciliation
    • Vocations
  • Get Involved
    • About Our Events
    • Called to be a Deacon
    • Care of Creation
    • Charities and Donations
    • Events Calendar
    • Ministry Program
    • Organizations in the Diocese
    • Parish Ministry
    • Pro Life
    • Responsible Ministry and Policies
    • Seniors
    • Volunteering
    • Youth and Young Adults
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Bishop
    • Catholic Herald Diocesan Magazine
    • Clergy
    • Connect
    • Diocesan Committees
    • Diocesan Pastoral Centre
    • Diocesan Youth Commission
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Financial Reports of the Diocese
    • Geography of the Diocese
    • History of the Diocese
    • News
    • Parishes
    • Pastoral Plan
    • Permanent Deacons
    • Policies
    • Religious in the Diocese
    • Responsible Ministry
    • View More...

View of the Church at Assisi in Italy

The Church in the World

More
Home/Life and Faith/The Church in the World
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email This page Email
  • The Church in the World
  • Ask a Priest
  • Becoming Catholic
  • Catholic Education
  • Chaplaincy
  • Ecumenism
  • End of Life
  • Events Calendar
  • Faith Formation in the Diocese and Parishes
  • Lay Associations
  • Mass
  • Permanent Diaconate Formation Program
  • Prayer Life of the Church
  • Respect Life
  • Sacraments
  • Spiritual Formation and Retreat Programs
  • Truth and Reconciliation
  • Vocations
Subscribe to this page

The Church in the World

 

WORLD DAY OF PEACE - January 1

The World Day of Peace is dedicated to the promotion of universal peace in the world.   It is held annually on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Pope Paul VI inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope John XXIII and his own encyclical Populorum Progressio established the World Day of Peace in 1967. The day was first observed on 1 January 1968.

World Day of Peace often has been an occasion on which the Holy Fathers make magisterial declarations of social doctrine. Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II made important declarations on the Day in each year of their pontificates regarding the United Nations, human rights, women's rights, labor unions, economic development, the right to life, international diplomacy, peace in the Holy Land (Israel), globalization, and terrorism.

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE - February 2

The World Day for Consecrated Life was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997 as a day of prayer for those women and men who have devoted their lives to God in consecrated life.

This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect light of Jesus Christ to all peoples.

The Church prays for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation.

WORLD DAY OF THE SICK - February 11

February 11 is World Day of the Sick, an observation started by Saint John Paul II as a way for the faithful to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses. The day coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes. People around the world take the time to pray for the sick and for those who work very hard to alleviate the sufferings of the sick on this day. Faith organizations mark this day especially to provide the sick with medicines, food, and spiritual guidance. 

MESSAGES FOR LENT - Pope Francis

During the Season of Lent, Pope Francis writes a message annually providing a reflection on ways the faithful can deepen their experience of the Lenten observance.  

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS - Good Shepherd Sunday

World Day of Prayer is observed on Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of the Easter Season.  The purpose of this day is to publically fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2).  The Day calls the Church annually to pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes, and to promote a culture of vocations in our parishes, schools, and homes.

WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY - Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

On the liturgical memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, patron saint of writers and journalists, the Holy See releases the Holy Father's Message for tWorld Communications Day.  In Canada, World Communications Day is celebrated during the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

World Communications Day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebration that encourages the Church to reflect on the opportunities and challenges that the modern means of social communication (the press, motions pictures, radio, television and the internet) afford Her to communicate the Gospel message.

The celebration came in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, which realised it must engage fully with the modern world. This realisation is expressed in the opening statement of the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes on “The Church in the Modern World”, which says: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anguishes of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anguishes of the followers of Christ as well.”

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CREATION - September 1

Pope Francis recently declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.  Pope Francis says, "The annual World Day of prayer for the Care of Creation offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live."

ECUMENICAL SEASON OF CREATION - September 1 to October 4

Endorsed by Pope Francis in 2015 and supported by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the annual month-long ecumenical celebration entitled the Season of Creation will begin on 1 September (World Day of Prayer for Creation) and continue until 4 October 2019 (feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi). The celebration calls on the global Christian community to promote prayer and action to protect our common home. 

WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES - Date in September

The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914. It is an occasion to express concern for many different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for the challenges and increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers as well as the perils such as human trafficking.

WORLD TOURISM DAY - September 27

World Tourism Day (WTD) is held annually on 27 September.  Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.  A message is released annually from the Vatican for World Tourism Day.

WORLD MISSION DAY - Date in October

World Mission Sunday is a day set aside for the Catholic Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movement. It is celebrated on the penultimate (next-to-last) Sunday of October every year. It was created by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the day of prayer for missions.

WORLD FOOD DAY - October 16

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on October 16 in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church concerned with food security, access to food, food production, and the responsibility to ensure adequate nourishment for all peoples.

WORLD DAY OF THE POOR - Date in November

The World Day of the Poor is a Roman Catholic Church observance, celebrated on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time since 2017. It was established by Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter, Misericordia et Misera, issued on November 20, 2016, to celebrate the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.  

WORLD YOUTH DAY MESSAGES - Pope Francis

World Youth Day is an event for young people aged 18 to 35 years organized by the Roman Catholic Church. World Youth Day was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and the first World Youth Day was held a year later in 1986. Its concept has been influenced by the Light-Life Movement that has existed in Poland since the 1960s, where during summer camps young Catholic adults celebrated a "day of community". It is celebrated at the international level every two to three years at different locations around the world. 

Contact Us

Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough logo

© 2017 Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough

Tel: 705-745-5123

Clergy and Staff Login
Contact Us
Email Login
Feedback
Privacy
Sitemap

Design by eSolutionsGroup

  • How Do I Find...
    • A Parish
    • A Priest
    • Adoration of the Eucharist Nearest Me
    • Annulment Information
    • Baptism Information
    • Catholic Health Care
    • Catholic Herald Diocesan Magazine
    • Catholic Schools
    • Clergy Abuse Reporting Guidelines
    • View All...
  • Life and Faith
    • Ask a Priest
    • Becoming Catholic
    • Catholic Education
    • Chaplaincy
    • Ecumenism
    • End of Life
    • Events Calendar
    • Faith Formation in the Diocese and Parishes
    • Lay Associations
    • View All...
  • Get Involved
    • About Our Events
    • Called to be a Deacon
    • Care of Creation
    • Charities and Donations
    • Events Calendar
    • Ministry Program
    • Organizations in the Diocese
    • Parish Ministry
    • Pro Life
    • View All...
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Bishop
    • Catholic Herald Diocesan Magazine
    • Clergy
    • Connect
    • Diocesan Committees
    • Diocesan Pastoral Centre
    • Diocesan Youth Commission
    • Employment Opportunities
    • View All...
×