Fr Anthony's blog: The story of the Red Box

For more than 90 years, the Red Box has held a special place in the hearts and homes of Catholic families across England and Wales. More than a simple collection box, it is a powerful symbol of missionary outreach to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ and the joy his Gospel brings.

Thanks to the vision and missionary zeal of Blessed Pauline Jaricot and the ingenuity of Fr Thomas Jackson MHM, generation after generation of Catholics have been able to support the mission entrusted to us by Jesus Christ to proclaim the coming of God’s Kingdom.

Who were these two individuals at the heart of this enduring tradition?

Blessed Pauline Jaricot: A vision for global mission

Pauline Jaricot was born into a wealthy family in Lyon, France in 1799, the youngest of seven children. At the age of 17, following the sudden death of her mother, Pauline turned to a life of prayer and spiritual devotion.

Driven by a passion to support missionaries overseas, she developed a simple yet powerful idea. She gathered local workers into groups of ten, encouraging them to pray for missionaries and to contribute a small coin each week. These small acts of faith quickly grew as she invited friends and family to join.

In 1822, Pauline founded the Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF), with a bold aim: to support missionary work worldwide, wherever the need was greatest. Her vision spread rapidly. Within a century, the APF had reached almost every country in Europe. Pope Pius XI later recognised it as the official mission organisation of the Catholic Church. Today the APF comes under the umbrella of Missio, along with Mission Together and the Society of St Peter the Apostle (SPA).

Fr Thomas Jackson MHM: From poverty to missionary zeal

Thomas Jackson was born in 1844 into a poor family in Preston, an industrial town in England where many children worked long hours in mills instead of attending school. Beginning work at just ten years old, Thomas nevertheless taught himself to read and write.

Thanks to the grace of God, Thomas developed a deep spiritual life, attending Mass whenever possible, reading Sacred Scripture and finding strength in prayer. This eventually led to a vocation to the priesthood and missionary life with the Mill Hill Missionaries.

Due to his humble beginnings, Thomas could initially only afford a few months of training. A friend decided to support him financially and in conjunction with his teachers, who recognised his ability, they ensured he could complete his formation. It was an act of kindness he never forgot.

After 20 years serving as a missionary in Afghanistan and Borneo, Fr Thomas returned to England to help train future missionaries. There, he encountered many young men from poor backgrounds who, like him, struggled to afford their studies. It was then that he had the idea of asking for donations using a simple, makeshift collection box, famously fashioned from a tea caddy. After Mass, he encouraged people to take a box home and fill it with small offerings. Even the smallest contribution, he believed, could help train future missionaries.

The birth of the Red Box

The idea of ‘missionary boxes’ was not entirely new. The Mill Hill Missionaries had been distributing similar boxes in Liverpool as early as 1868. However, Fr Thomas Jackson’s efforts in the north of England proved especially successful, earning him recognition as the ‘father’ of the Red Box.

These boxes became a practical and accessible way for families to take part in the Church’s global mission, through both prayer and financial support.

A partnership that endures

Fr Thomas Jackson’s initiative closely mirrored the vision of Blessed Pauline Jaricot: small, regular contributions combined with faithful prayer to support missionaries around the world.

In 1936, a significant step was taken. The Mill Hill Missionaries and Missio’s APF joined forces, combining their fundraising efforts through parish appeals. At that time, many different styles of missionary boxes were in use, so they agreed on a single, unified design: the Red Box we recognise today.

Happily, the Red Box partnership between Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries continues to this day and the Red Box remains a quiet yet strong presence in many homes reminding us all that even the smallest acts of generosity, accompanied by prayer, are used by God to transform the world.

Father Tony