The mission of the Catholic Church has always been rooted in the response to a specific divine observation regarding the state of the world. On this eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 14, 2026, the liturgical readings present a cohesive narrative of God’s initiative to gather a scattered humanity. Central to this narrative is the Gospel of Matthew (9:36–10:8), which serves as the foundational "mission statement" for The Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA). Since its inception in 1889, this society has operated under the conviction that the "harvest" described by Christ requires dedicated, local laborers to bring it to fruition.
Historical Foundation: The Bigard Legacy
The institutional history of The Society of St. Peter the Apostle began in Caen, France, during a period of significant missionary expansion. Stéphanie Bigard and her daughter Jeanne Bigard were laywomen who recognized a critical vulnerability in the global missionary effort: the dependence on foreign clergy. In 1889, after receiving a poignant request from Bishop Jules-Alphonse Cousin, the Vicar Apostolic of Nagasaki, Japan, the Bigards committed themselves to a revolutionary cause.
Bishop Cousin expressed a grave concern that he would be forced to dismiss promising Japanese seminarians because he lacked the financial resources to sustain their education. He proposed a model of "adopting a seminarian," ensuring that local men could be formed to serve their own people. This historical moment shifted the trajectory of Catholic missions from a colonial model to one of indigenous sustainability. By 1922, Pope Pius XI recognized the vital importance of this work, elevating it to a Pontifical Society. Today, over 130 years later, the mission remains unchanged: to ensure that no vocation is lost due to a lack of material means.
The Heart of Compassion: A Scriptural Analysis
The Gospel passage for today begins with an observation of Christ’s interior state: "At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). In the formal language of the Church, this "pity" or "compassion" (misericordia) is not a mere emotional reaction but a profound recognition of human suffering and spiritual hunger.
Jesus does not view the crowds as a demographic to be managed or a nuisance to be avoided. Instead, He identifies their fundamental need for leadership and protection. The image of "sheep without a shepherd" draws directly from the Old Testament tradition, particularly the promises found in Ezekiel and Numbers, where God pledges to provide true shepherds for His people. This divine compassion is the catalyst for the entire missionary enterprise. It is the objective starting point for the work of The Society of St. Peter the Apostle, which seeks to provide these shepherds for communities in mission territories that remain "troubled and abandoned" by modern secular structures.
The Plentiful Harvest and the Call for Laborers
Following this moment of compassion, Christ issues a command that defines the work of the Church: "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38). This metaphorical language highlights two realities:
- The Abundance of Potential: The "harvest" represents the millions of souls prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Gospel. In many mission territories across Africa, Asia, and Oceania, the receptivity to the faith is at an all-time high.
- The Scarcity of Personnel: Despite the abundance of the harvest, there is a chronic shortage of ordained and religious laborers to gather it.
In response to this, the Church does not first turn to strategic planning, but to prayer. The command to "ask the master" establishes that vocations are a gift from God. However, the Church also recognizes that God’s answers to prayer often manifest through human cooperation. The Society of St. Peter the Apostle acts as the institutional response to this prayer. By supporting over 1,000 seminaries and 30,000 seminarians worldwide, the society participates in the "sending out" of laborers.
The Radical Economy: "Without Cost"
The commissioning of the Twelve Apostles in Matthew 10 concludes with a directive that challenges standard economic logic: "Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give" (Matthew 10:8). This principle of gratuitousness is the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In the context of the mission, this means that the grace of the sacraments and the truth of the Gospel are not commodities. They are gifts intended for universal distribution. However, the practical reality of training a priest or a religious sister involves significant costs: housing, food, theological textbooks, and medical care. The "radical economy" of the Church involves those who have received the faith "without cost" in established dioceses providing the material support necessary for those in "Young Churches" to receive the same gift.
When donors support SPA, they are not simply making a charitable contribution; they are participating in this apostolic cycle of giving. They ensure that a seminarian in a remote village in India or a novice in a rural province of Kenya can complete their formation without the burden of financial debt, allowing them to eventually give their lives to their communities "without cost."
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle: Operational Impact
The Pontifical Mission Societies operate with a global reach that is unparalleled in the non-profit sector. Specifically, The Society of St. Peter the Apostle focuses on several key areas of support to facilitate the "harvest":
- Ordinary Subsidies: Providing for the daily needs of seminarians and novices, including nutrition and basic healthcare.
- Extraordinary Subsidies: Funding the construction of new seminary buildings, the renovation of existing facilities, and the implementation of self-sustainability projects (such as farms or clean water systems) to reduce long-term dependency.
- Scholarships: Supporting the advanced education of future seminary formators and professors at Pontifical Universities, ensuring that the next generation of local clergy receives high-quality theological and spiritual training.
- Mass Intentions: Assisting seminary formators who serve in mission lands through the distribution of Mass offerings.
These efforts are directed through the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in each country, ensuring that funds are distributed equitably and transparently to where the need is greatest, as determined by local bishops and the Holy See.
Theological Integration: Exodus and Romans
The Gospel mission is further illuminated by the first two readings of the day. In Exodus 19:2-6a, God reminds the people of Israel that He "bore them up on eagle’s wings" and brought them to Himself. He calls them to be a "kingdom of priests, a holy nation." This collective priestly vocation of the people of God is fulfilled in the New Covenant through the ministerial priesthood, which SPA seeks to foster.
In Romans 5:6-11, St. Paul emphasizes that Christ died for us "while we were still sinners." This highlights the unmerited nature of the call. The laborers in the harvest are not perfect; they are men and women who have been reconciled to God and are now sent to mediate that same reconciliation to others. The work of The Society of St. Peter the Apostle is, therefore, a work of reconciliation: bridging the gap between the "harvest" and the "Master."
Practical Reflection for the Faithful
While the institutional focus of this Sunday is on the global harvest, the Gospel invites every individual to a period of reflection:
- Observing the Harvest: Where in your local community do you see "sheep without a shepherd"? Who are the individuals in your immediate circle who are "troubled and abandoned" and in need of the hope found in the Gospel?
- Responding as a Laborer: How can you use the gifts you have received "without cost": your time, your faith, your resources: to serve those in need this week?
- Supporting the Global Mission: Does your prayer and your stewardship reflect a concern for the "Young Churches" in mission territories that are still in the process of establishing their own local leadership?
Conclusion
The proclamation that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" is not a historical statement about the past, but a present reality. The work of The Society of St. Peter the Apostle ensures that this proclamation continues to echo in every corner of the globe, regardless of economic status or geographical isolation. By answering the call to pray for and support the laborers of the harvest, the faithful participate in the very compassion that moved the heart of Christ.
For more information on how to support the formation of local clergy and religious in mission territories, visit The Society of St. Peter the Apostle or explore further resources at www.fraugustinedejidada.org.
"The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Let us live with that joy and purpose today. Thank you for your commitment to the global harvest.
( Fr.) ADD