The Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS)

Promoting missionary awareness and the participation of the faithful in the universal mission of the Church.

The PMS Director

The Diocesan Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) is responsible for promoting missionary awareness, coordinating missionary activities, encouraging prayer and financial support for the universal mission of the Church, and ensuring that the faithful participate actively in evangelisation.

The director works under the authority of the diocesan bishop and in collaboration with the National Director of PMS.

Director

Rev. Fr. Edward Mulwa

Under the authority of

The Bishop of Kitui

In collaboration with

The National Director of PMS

The four Pontifical Mission Societies

The director coordinates and promotes the following societies:

Society for the Propagation of the Faith

Promotes missionary awareness, prayer and support for evangelisation, particularly in mission territories.

Society of St Peter the Apostle

Promotes prayer and support for the formation of candidates for the priesthood and consecrated life in mission territories.

Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood (PMC)

Forms children in missionary spirituality, prayer, generosity and concern for other children throughout the world.

Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU)

Promotes missionary formation among priests, deacons, religious, seminarians and other pastoral workers.

These societies share the common purpose of promoting missionary awareness and cooperation throughout the Church.

Main duties and responsibilities

Missionary animation and evangelisation

Promote the missionary spirit throughout the diocese.
Help the faithful understand that every baptised Christian shares in the Church’s missionary mandate.
Encourage parishes, religious communities, schools and Catholic institutions to participate in missionary activities.
Promote evangelisation in accordance with the Church’s teaching and the pastoral priorities of the bishop.

Organisation of World Mission Sunday

Prepare the diocese for the annual celebration of World Mission Sunday in October.
Provide parishes with official guidelines, educational materials and liturgical resources.
Mobilise priests, religious, catechists, lay leaders and the faithful.
Coordinate the collection and ensure that the designated contributions are submitted fully and on time through the established channels.

Financial administration and accountability

Coordinate designated missionary collections according to PMS regulations.
Maintain accurate records of collections, receipts, expenditure and remittances.
Ensure that funds intended for universal missionary solidarity are not diverted to unrelated local projects.
Prepare financial reports and submit them to the appropriate diocesan and national authorities.
Promote transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship.

Formation and training

Organise missionary seminars, workshops and recollection days.
Train parish PMS coordinators and PMC animators.
Promote missionary education in seminaries, schools and Catholic institutions.
Encourage missionary vocations and ongoing formation for clergy and pastoral workers.

Coordination with parishes and diocesan institutions

Establish and strengthen PMS structures in parishes and deaneries.
Work closely with parish priests, catechetical offices, vocation directors, Catholic schools and youth ministries.
Coordinate diocesan missionary programmes and activities.
Identify missionary needs in consultation with the bishop and facilitate applications for available grants.

Collaboration with the Bishop and the National PMS office

Implement the bishop’s pastoral directives concerning missionary activity.
Maintain regular communication with the National PMS Director.
Attend relevant national and regional meetings.
Submit annual pastoral and financial reports.
Represent diocesan missionary concerns at appropriate meetings and consultations.

In summary

The PMS Director is not merely a collection coordinator. The director is the Bishop’s key collaborator in fostering missionary spirituality, forming the faithful, coordinating the four societies and ensuring that the diocese participates responsibly in the universal mission of the Church.