On the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, S.J., Patron Saint Catholic missions, our team celebrated mass and gave thanks for the incredible community of support that allows us to continue our global mission. For American Jesuits International, the story of St. Francis Xavier is both an inspiration and a reminder that our work is deeply rooted in the Jesuit tradition. While our approach to international development has come a long way since the time of St. Francis Xavier, the international mission of the Jesuits is still at the heart of our work. We too are called to be “a fire that kindles other fires,” spreading the good works of the Jesuits and the Good Word the communities on the margins all around the world.
Fr. Taroh Amédé, S.J. offered the following homily during our celebration and we want to share his message with you all as well. Additionally, we included prayer intentions from our Greatest Needs donors in our mass. We are so blessed to join in prayer and solidarity on this special feast day.
Good afternoon, brothers and sisters,
Today the Church—and the Society of Jesus in particular—celebrates the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries in the history of both the Society and the universal Church. Xavier was a man whose entire life was consumed by the fire of the Gospel. The readings given for today beautifully illuminate the heart of his missionary spirit.
In our first reading, Saint Paul expresses the radicality and urgency of his vocation: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). For Paul, preaching was not a burden but a necessity—an inner fire placed within him by God. Saint Francis Xavier lived with this same urgency. Once he encountered Christ deeply, he surrendered his whole life so that others, especially the poor and forgotten, might encounter Christ as well.
Psalm 117 echoes this missionary spirit: “Praise the Lord, all you nations! Glorify him, all you peoples!” (Ps 117:1). The universal call to praise flows from the universality of God’s love. This is why the missionary heart cannot remain still. God desires that every people and every culture know His mercy. Francis Xavier understood that the Gospel is far too beautiful to keep for ourselves.
Finally, in today’s Gospel, Jesus gives His great commissioning: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). This command is addressed not only to priests, missionaries, or religious—it is for every baptized person. Saint Francis Xavier lived this command with remarkable zeal. He trusted Jesus’ promise that “these signs will accompany those who believe” (Mk 16:17). And indeed, signs accompanied him: miracles of healing, transformed communities, and countless hearts opened to God. Yet the greatest sign of all was his love—a love that crossed oceans, cultures, and barriers to embrace all of God’s children.
Brothers and sisters, the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier invites us to examine our own missionary calling. God may ask us to cross the seas; He may ask us to cross the street, cross the room, or cross the barriers within our own hearts. He invites us to reach out to the struggling, to share our faith with courage, and to love with the same generous heart that animated Francis Xavier.
Nearly five centuries separate us from Xavier, yet the same Spirit that guided him continues to inspire Jesuit works around the world today. Saint Francis Xavier traveled across Asia—India, Japan, and beyond—bringing hope, education, and the light of the Gospel to communities far from his homeland. He was defined by his passion for evangelization and his profound respect for the people he served. He learned their languages, embraced their customs, and trained local leaders. He empowered communities rather than imposing foreign solutions. He ministered spiritually, socially, and materially, tending to the needs of the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten.
Today, American Jesuits International (AJI) continues this same spirit of mission. AJI supports Jesuit education and development initiatives across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We are honored to serve as a bridge between generous individuals and communities in the U.S. and the important work of the Jesuits abroad. It is through support from people like you all that we are able to walk with marginalized communities—respecting local cultures, elevating local leadership, and promoting justice and human dignity.
When we place the life of Xavier next to the mission of AJI, the parallels become clear. Like Xavier, AJI reaches across borders to accompany communities far from home. Just as Xavier cared for both spiritual and human needs, AJI supports education, economic opportunity, and social development alongside moral and spiritual formation. Xavier empowered local leaders, and AJI continues this model today by partnering with local Jesuit organizations so that programs are rooted in culture and community. Xavier’s devotion to the poor and marginalized is reflected today in AJI’s ongoing commitment to justice, inclusion, and human dignity.
In essence, the life of Saint Francis Xavier and the mission of American Jesuits International share the same foundation: a commitment to holistic human flourishing, solidarity across cultures, and unwavering care for the most vulnerable all rooted in the Good News of the Gospel.
As we honor Xavier’s legacy today, we recognize that every project, every partnership, and every act of service carried out through AJI is a contemporary expression of his missionary vision—a vision of a world where compassion crosses borders, where justice is lived, and where the most vulnerable are empowered to live with dignity.
Your support of AJI is support of the mission of the Church, the Society of Jesus, and the spirit of Saint Francis Xavier. As Christ reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” So, what are we waiting for? Let us act boldly for the least, the suffering, and the needy among us.
May the spirit of Saint Francis Xavier inspire us to be missionaries of hope, justice, and love in our own communities.
Amen.
