The NZ Catholic School Challenge 2026

Over 200 years ago, Blessed Pauline Marie Jaricot (1799-1862), a French woman imbued with a missionary outlook and impulse, inspired groups of people to pray and make a weekly offering of a penny “in order to cooperate in the spread of the Gospel“, to give people hope.   She believed that when many hearts give a little with love, God can do something extraordinary, as it becomes a powerful act of hope for children and families in communities around the world where the Church is young or persecuted.  Thus, a group action with 10 people was born, each of whom is committed to finding ten other people who pray and donate a penny for the Missions.  The idea inflamed many hearts and her idea spread like wildfire: by 20 October 1820 there were already more than 500 members in what will be called the Association of the Propagation of the Faith. 

In time, on May 3, 1922 Pius XI, declared the Society of the Propagation of the Faith «Pontifical», elevating it to an official instrument of the Pope and the Universal Church, making it The Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith (TPMS) of the Propagation of Faith.  Then in 1926, Pope Pius XI made World Mission Sunday a global event to be celebrated by every Catholic parish, school and institution.

On the special year of the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, MissioNZ, issues a challenge to all Catholic Schools in New Zealand;

To raise the:

for Mission Sunday 2026.

It could be a collective effort, like;

  • Activities: mufti-day collection, face painting, car washing…
  • Wider community engagements: auctioning of unwanted gifts, cake stalls, book sale…
  • or simply one Gold Coin for the Mission-Box. 

Unleash your imagination: the possibilities are endless!   

Prize for the best Effort in NZ:

Once the amount is collected, the school is invited to send in a short video (3 minutes) about how the students entered into the Missionary Spirit of Blessed Jericho.  The best video wins a Missionary Rosary (worth $10+ each) for every student in the school.  Even if the figure of the equivalent of ‘one Gold Coin for Student’ is not reached, a video of the prayer and missionary effort in the school is acceptable as an entry.  Closing Date for Entry: 10 December 2026