Missionary Cooperation Plan
According to the Archdiocesan Synod of 1971, every year between April and October, each parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and across the country. is strongly encouraged to host a speaker from a mission congregation, lay mission organization or mission diocese, in support of the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) of the U.S. Church.
The purpose of the MCP is two-fold. First, the many mission congregations, lay organizations and mission dioceses get a chance to personally appeal for prayer and financial support from U.S. Catholics. Secondly, we Catholics have the opportunity to learn more about current mission efforts. We emphasize solidarity and understanding of the situations that make life so difficult for so of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The U.S. Catholic Bishops describe solidarity in their statement, Called to Global Solidarity: International Challenges for U.S. Parishes, as: “action on behalf of the one human family, calling us to help overcome the divisions in our world. Solidarity binds the rich to the poor. It makes the free zealous for the rights of the oppressed. It drives the comfortable and secure to take risks for the victims of tyranny and war…”
It is the job of the Mission Office staff and our Advisory Board to choose who is invited to come to the Archdiocese. Every year, more than 200 applications are received for the approximately 50 spots available. It is a difficult decision process. Those chosen are notified and invited to a training seminar, where they learn about the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and how to give a mission appeal.
The Mission Office believes that it is important for Catholics in the Archdiocese to understand why missionaries come to our parishes each year. We ask you to welcome them on behalf of us and rejoice in the opportunity to learn and grow in your faith through the knowledge and experiences they share. The funds are used by the organizations represented by these holy men and women. Thank you for your support and solidarity!
Applying for the MCP
Thank you for your interest in applying to the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP). Please know we consider our speakers to be partners in our efforts to educate Catholics of the Archdiocese about the mission endeavors of our Universal Church.
The application deadline for 2025 is Nov. 30, 2024.
Things you must know
Submission of this application does NOT indicate acceptance in the MCP.
It is to your benefit in making an appeal if your representative speaks fluent English. This individual should also be able to drive and rent a car, if necessary, as public transportation is not available to most locations.
Applicants who are accepted are required to send their speaker to the MCP ZOOM Training Seminar if s/he is speaking in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for the first time.
NO transportation can be provided to or from the assigned parishes.
Letters of good standing
If you are accepted into MCP in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, a Letter of Good Standing from a Provincial Superior, Diocesan Bishop, or leadership of your lay organization, for every individual assigned to speak in the Archdiocese, MUST arrive in the Archdiocesan Mission Office directly after you receive your letter of acceptance. This letter should be on letterhead with a seal affixed (if applicable) and can be one letter containing all the names of the individuals who may come to speak. In addition, each speaker should carry a copy of this letter with them to each parish. If there is no record of this letter on file, and the speaker does not have one with him/her, the speaker will NOT be allowed to speak and no collection will be taken.
This requirement applies to all individuals (ordained and non-ordained) coming to speak for the MCP in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Resident, non-diocesan priests who currently have faculties in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati are exempt from this requirement.
For an example of a Letter of Suitability for a cleric, please click here: Suitability Cleric PDF
For an example: of a Letter of Suitability for a non-cleric, please click here: Suitability Non Cleric PDF
NON-ORDAINED REPRESENTATIVES:
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has been instructed via the Vatican that only ordained ministers may speak after the Gospel. Thus all non-ordained MCP speakers will need to arrange with the individual parish when they will speak and when the collection will be taken up. We realize this creates a difficult situation for many speakers, however, pastors are not able to make exceptions to this rule.
