This week, 1-7 June 2026, is National Volunteers’ Week! During this year of celebration for both 90 years of the Red Box and 100 years of World Mission Sunday, we are holding all our volunteers – Local Secretaries, Promoters, Treasurers and Mission Together volunteers – in prayer and thanksgiving. We couldn’t do without you!
Together in mission
Our volunteers are active in every diocese across England and Wales, and their work covers everything from collecting Red Boxes and organising fundraising to giving appeals, visiting schools and so much more. From coffee mornings to cathedral Masses, every small and large act is a vital part of our mission to share God’s love with the world.
At St Winifred’s Church in Shepshed, in the Diocese of Nottingham, Marion volunteers as a Red Box Local Secretary. She created this fantastic display to promote the different ways to support the Red Box in her parish. Thank you, Marion, for sharing this message of love and solidarity!
Many of our volunteers give so much to the work of mission, but are very modest about their contribution. Veronica has been a Red Box Promoter in the Archdiocese of Southwark for 15 years. At a recent Mission Mass, she shared:
‘I can’t remember how I got into volunteering for Missio, but we just all quietly get on with supporting the Church in the background.’
Veronica, without people like you, mission wouldn’t be possible. Thank you!
A message from Fr Gerry
Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries are celebrating 90 years of the Red Box this year – 90 years of working together to share God’s love with everyone, everywhere!
When Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries began their partnership, no one could have imagined how charitable giving would evolve. The simple Red Box collecting coins to support the Church’s worldwide mission, became a powerful symbol of shared faith and love. On Volunteers’ Week, Fr Gerry Hastie – the Vicar General of the Mill Hill Missionaries – has this special message for all the people who give their time to make mission possible through the Red Box.
‘Doing our bit for the global Church’
Polly and Sam collected donations and handed out Mission Today at Clifton Cathedral for World Mission Sunday in 2025. Polly shared with us:
‘We were really happy to support Missio for World Mission Sunday. It’s a great opportunity to do our little bit to support the global Church.’
Polly and Sam, you are building community and enabling mission! Thank you to all our Missio and Mission Together volunteers in England and Wales.
John is a Local Secretary for Abertillery & Brynmawr Parish in the Archdiocese of Cardiff-Menevia. He recently met Fr Noah from the Mill Hill Missionaries at their Red Box appeal.
Fr Noah told us:
‘It was good to meet John. He is a very committed volunteer and in this small community, he has gathered many supporters for the Red Box. Thank you, John and all our volunteers.’
What you mean to us
‘We have a motto: today, tomorrow, together: and we all know that unless we work together, we’ll get nowhere.’
– Fr Anthony, Missio’s National Director in England and Wales
Volunteers are the backbone of all mission work. Missionaries around the world couldn’t do what they do without the gentle, quiet acts of Red Box volunteers.
Megan recently joined Missio as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Northern Dioceses. Megan shares:
‘I’ve always been in awe with the ways the Catholic community of England and Wales stand alongside our sisters and brothers across the world. It’s been inspiring over the past few weeks to learn of the many ways Red Box volunteers are missionaries themselves, answering the call to be missionary disciples in their own communities, reaching out to others and sharing God’s love. Each of these small ways build into something incredible.
‘People sharing their precious time and energy to carefully count people’s Red Box donations, and depositing these donations; distributing the Mission Today magazine; hosting prayer meetings over that all important cup of tea and biscuits; and inviting children and young people to have a missionary heart. It’s incredible. Thank you for walking with us.’
To find out more about volunteering for Missio, click here>>