The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) comprise the APF, SPA, Mission Together and the PMU. Together these societies form the Catholic Church's official support organisation for the spreading of the Gospel in the world, especially in countries where the Church is new, young or poor.

The principal activities of the PMS are to promote awareness of, and raise funds for, the worldwide missionary and pastoral work of the Church.

Whilst each society has its unique charism and focus, they share these values:

• the witness and sharing of the Gospel message of God's unconditional acceptance and love for all;

• fidelity to the spirit of the founders by responding with openness and consideration to the requests of the Christian faithful worldwide;

• offering every Christian the opportunity to reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus Christ, and learn from each other the true meaning of life in Christ;

• the spiritual, practical and material support for faith communities, enabling them to become self-sufficient, and flourish in their own right.

To accomplish this, the PMS:

• fosters the growth of missionary awareness, encouraging prayer and cooperation in the whole Church;

• works through parishes, schools and other Catholic institutions nationwide to promote the work of the PMS;

• encourages participation in the mission of the Church through prayer, generous sacrifice, voluntary work and the financial support of our sister churches overseas;

• guarantees an effective collection of funds in each diocese of England and Wales and throughout the world;

• distributes these funds directly to local bishops in every mission diocese in the world, according to the specific needs that they have identified;

• practises the highest standards of accountability and transparency towards donors, recipients and all those involved in working for the PMS.

The PMS is established in 159 countries and the offices work in close cooperation to provide equitable and fair financial support for each of the Church's 1,069 mission dioceses.

The Pontifical Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF)

The APF, founded by Venerable Pauline-Marie Jaricot, is the principal mission support organisation of the Catholic Church. The collection from the APF - Mill Hill ‘Red Boxes' and World Mission Sunday enable the Church in England and Wales to share in spreading the Gospel in each of the 1,069 mission dioceses in the world.

The Pontifical Society of St Peter the Apostle (SPA)

The SPA, founded by Jeanne Bigard, supports the training of clergy and religious sisters in mission dioceses around the world. Through prayer and finance SPA members and contributors help the younger churches provide their own priests and religious.

The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood – Mission Together

Holy Childhood, founded by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, through its Mission Together programme, encourages children to be concerned with mission through prayer, learning activities and sharing. It is the Church's official charity for children's missions overseas. Its unique motto is ‘children helping children'.

The Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU)

The PMU, founded by Blessed Paolo Manna, publishes the missionary review Mission Outlook to encourage the interest of priests, religious and laity in the missionary work of the Church and in developments in the younger churches.