Catholic missions

Definition

These were religious communities established by the Catholic Church during the 16th to 19th centuries. Their purpose was to spread Christianity among local indigenous populations in newly discovered areas of the world.

Analogy

Think of Catholic missions like a pop-up shop in a new city. The goal is to introduce and sell a product (in this case, Christianity) to people who may not be familiar with it.

Related terms

Missionaries: These are individuals, often from religious organizations, who travel to different regions or countries with the aim of spreading their faith or performing ministries of service.

Colonialism: This refers to the practice by which a powerful country directly controls less powerful ones and uses their resources to increase its own power and wealth.

Indigenous Peoples: These are ethnic groups who are native to a particular geographical region. They have distinct cultural traditions that are closely tied with their ancestral lands.