EXTRAORDINARY MISSION MONTH CELEBRATION
A PAPER PRESENTED TO PRIESTS RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL OF THE CATHOLIC ARCH DIOCESE OF JOS
BY: REV. FR SOLOMON PATRICK ZAKU
P.M.S DIRECTOR MAIDUGURI DIOCESE AND NATIONAL COODINATOR OF THE PROPAGATION OF FAITH
INTRODUCTION
Pope Francis has declared October 2019 to be an Extraordinary Month of Mission, being 100 years since Pope Benedict XV’s teaching on mission.
It will be a special month of prayer and action, calling us all to renew our missionary commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all peoples.
The Holy Father made a public announcement to the entire Church expressing his intention to call an Extraordinary Missionary Month for October 2019 to celebrate in a unique manner, the 100th anniversary of the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud issued by his predecessor Pope Benedict XV. In his words “It is with these sentiments that, welcoming the proposal by the congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, I call an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019, with the purpose of reawakening awareness of the missio ad gentes and working with new impulse to further the missionary transformation of life and pastoral activity”. As Pope Benedict XV stressed many years ago on 20th November 1919, renewing the mission of the Gospel is still relevant today if we consider the current state of the World and the Church. The spiritual, pastoral and theological goal of this extraordinary missionary month according to Cardinal Filoni, “consists in recognizing, living and convincing ourselves that this mission is and must become more fully the paradigm of life and work for the Church and thus of every Christian. Converting our hearts and minds as missionary disciples the spirit urges us to go out into the World and announce Christ, crucified and Risen”.
What are the aims of the EMM?
To respond to the still urgent call to bear witness to Jesus Christ to all the nations.
To bring Catholics to a new awareness of their responsibility to evangelise to the ends of the earth.
To renew missionary commitment throughout the Church, which is sent by Christ to reveal the love of God to all nations.
To re-found and reshape the PMS as in accordance with the demands of the Gospel.
MAXIMUM ILLUD
Pope Francis declared Extra-ordinary mission month October 2019 in order to celebrate the centenary of the Encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XV- Maximum. Illud. Which is an apostolic letter on the Activity of missionaries in the world”. The letter presents a changed understanding of Mission. It calls for good preparation of missionaries, an understanding of the culture of the people, promotion of local clergy, a right of autonomy of mission churches and a clear cut separation between colonization and Christian Mission. This letter was written by the Pope immediately after the First World War. During the world war, many lives were lost; many young people were recruited as soldiers and many Christian countries were involved in the War. Countries, like France, Britain, and Belgium were involved. For Pope Benedict, the war was a scandal as may Christian’s countries were involved.
SUMMARY OF MAXIMUM ILLUD
The Encyclical letter is divided into four parts.
A. Introduction
B. To those in charge of mission
C. To the missionaries
D. To all Catholics.
A THE INTRODUCTION
The Pope started his letter by talking about the great commission that Jesus gave his disciples- proclaiming the good news to all the nations of the world. “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all Creation (Mark 16:15). This command the Pope called “ a momentous Charge” (Maximum Ilud).
He talked about how the apostles continued that task of proclaiming the gospel after the death of Jesus and how the Gospel was preached in different centuries. Despite the persecution that the church faced it grew down through the centuries.
Finally he talked about the purpose of the letter which was twofold: firstly to encourage the clergy and the laity in their efforts in the work of evangelization and secondly to point out new methods that can be adopted in proclaiming the good news.
B. TO THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE MISSION MISSIONS
He addressed those in charge of the missions. The Bishops, Vicar or Prefects Apostolic. He reminded them that the responsibly of proclaiming the good news first rest on them. They are to support and empower the priests to carry out the work of evangelization. Missionaries are to be supported by their superiors so that they will know they do not make sacrifice in vain.
The superiors are reminded that their primary goal is to expand and fully develop the mission. The superior should work for the eternal salvation of all. Effective means of proclaiming the good news should be employed and the church should not be seen as a personal property.
Those in charge of the missions were asked to train local clergy who will continue with the preaching the good news. The local clergy should be well trained so that they can able “to enter upon the spiritual leadership of their People”
He reminded the superiors that the Catholic Church is not an intruder in any country. It is therefore necessary to have the indigenes being involved. The work of the mission is judged by the number of the indigenes being involved. The call to train local clergy and given equal opportunity was strong in that letter.
C. TO THE MISSIONARIES
This part was addressed to the missionaries. The Pope reminded them of their responsibility of proclaiming the good news to the whole world. Their task is a divine one. The Pope said missionaries should remember that their duty “is not the extension of human realm, but that of Christ…” They therefore have a spiritual goal.
The missionaries are not to be concerned with the terrestrial interest of their homeland but with the expansion of the kingdom of God. They should desist from attempt to make profit.
For missionaries to be successful in their mission, the Pope recommended that missionaries should be well trained. They should have adequate knowledge of theology and other secular courses so that they can minister effectively. The missionary is also to learn the language of the people he will be working with for proper communication.
The missionaries were charged to live holy lives so that their lives will be exemplary to others as it is the best way of proclaiming the good news.
Missionaries are called to become models to others like our lord Jesus Christ. In the words of St. Paul” they are to become all things to all men”. A true missionary should be devout, dedicated and in continuous union with God.
Finally the Pope praise women for their contribution to the work of evangelization. In particular he praise “the women who have vowed their virginity to God and have gone to pursue their vocations on the mission. They have devoted themselves to the education of children and to a great many other works of charity and devotion.
D. TO ALL CATHOLICS
The last part of the letter was addressed to all Catholics. The Pope reminded all Catholics that they have the obligation of proclaiming the good news. He sees preaching the good news to those who have not heard the good news as the obligation we have towards our neighbours. The Pope pointed out three ways that we can be missionaries or assist the mission.
The first way which is within every ones capacity is Prayer. He used biblical text to show how important prayer is to mission.
The second way is to foster vocation. The pope observed that the war also affected the number of young people entering the seminary. All were encourage to do all within their means to foster vocations to the priesthood.
Thirdly, the Pope started that missionaries needed economic help. The war has affected the church in many ways as Churches, schools, hostel and hospitals were destroyed. Many people are also living in difficulties. People were encourage to send their support through the society of the propagation of faith.
Finally the Pope called on all catholic to support all the four societies of the Pontifical Mission Societies. These four societies are of great assistance in the work of evangelization
THE FOUR DIMENSION OF EXTRAORDINARY MISSIONARY MONTH
The four dimensions are as follows:
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ living in his Church, in the Eucharist, in the word of God, in personal and in community prayer.
Witness of Missionary Saints and Martyrs (canonized or not)
Biblical, Catechetical, spiritual and theological formation, for missionary activity.
Missionary charity as commitment on the part of the whole Church share the “costs” of Gospel’s proclamation and of the formation in the faith and in mission, especially in the most needy Churches.
These four dimensions, which could mark the four weeks of the month, besides qualifying each week chronologically, should be considered first of all spiritual transversal dimensions that individual Christians and individual local Churches can live in all freedom and creativity during the EMMOCT2019, or indeed all through the years 2019.
BAPTISED AND SENT: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON MISSION IN THE WORLD
This is the theme that Pope Francis chose for the extraordinary missionary month of October 2019. It emphasizes that being sent on mission is a call that comes with baptism and it’s for all the baptized. Thus mission means being sent for salvation that brings about the conversion of both the one who is sent and the one who receives the message: “in Christ, our life is a mission! We are mission, because we are God’s love poured out, God’s holiness created in his own image. Mission, then, is our own growth in holiness and that of the whole world, beginning with creation (cf. Eph 1:3-6). The missionary dimension of our Baptism thus becomes a witness of holiness that bestows life and beauty on our world” (Pope Francis, Address to the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, June 1, 2018).
In baptism, we receive the divine life by virtue of which we are prophets, that is heralds of the mystery of Christ sent by him. Christ who sends us is also the essential content of the mission: the church does not communicate her own message, but rather communicates what she has received from Christ namely Christ himself.
God the father sent his son to the world and the son sent his church into the world because he love the world and wants to engage, attract, and purify it through his work of salvation. Prayer, Testimony, and charity can be concrete ways for every baptised person to express his being a prophet through his baptism.
Evangelii Gaudium, 15 affirms that mission must become the paradigm of the life and daily work of the church. It requires the authentic missionary conversion of the disciples of Jesus and of the structures of the ecclesial community (see Evangelii Gaudium, 25, 27) . Quoting St. John Paul II, Pope Francis tell us that “the Church’s closeness to Jesus is part of a common journey; ‘communion and mission are profoundly interconnected’” (Evangelii Gaudium, 23).
Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the gospel offer us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts.
As we celebrate the extra ordinary mission month we are reminded that as baptised Christians, we are sent on a mission. We have the obligation to proclaim the good news. This obligation is not only for the priests and religious. We have to proclaim the good news base on our state of life
In line with this, St Pope John Paul II said :
We are all missionaries
Some give to mission by going
Others give to mission by giving
Without both they can be no mission.
The priests and religious give to mission by goingThe lay people give to mission by giving : the give three “Ts”= TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURES.
Proposed Initiatives that can be taken both on the National, Diocesan and Parish levels, which are specific to EMMOCT2019.
The Church in Nigeria should pay more attention to the students (Youths) to make sure that their faith is sustained. Programmes like seminars, workshops, competitions, can be organised for them during the mission month or any other month in the year.
Teaching: to be done at all levels from HCA to adulthood and can be achieved by creating awareness, re – enacting our Catholic faith. What can make it more extraordinary is giving room for people to learn more about the faith, stressing the importance of mission and the need to groom individuals for mission.
Get the children involved in practical mission work, through home to home visitations and by rendering free services, e.g washing of plates, gathering of firewood for the elderly, home to home visitations, e.t.c. By these, we inculcate in them the true meaning of mission.
Evangelising like the missionaries of old by creating awareness, grassroots evangelization, home to home visitation, reaching out to pagans e.t.c.
The Church should be more conscious of social services for our people in the rural areas. Using social services such as hospitals, schools as well as visits to destitute homes to fortify our Catholic faith.
Priests and Religious can and should become more involved in missionary activities, especially in our academic institutions. Imagine a Pentecostal teaching Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in our Catholic Schools.
Formation of prayer on mission.
Catechists to be trained as animators of the Missionary month’s programme i.e. catechetical week teachings should focus on mission.
Production of pamphlets on mission, covering the whole month of October.
Opportunities to be given to core – missionaries to share experiences since experience they say is the best teacher. This will enable many get acquainted with missionary activities and widen their horizon as the EMMOCT2019 takes place.
A seminar on missionary activities for priests, religious and laity should be put in place
There should be creation of awareness on mission. Here the media could go a long way whereby jingles, songs and write ups could be shared via the social, print and electronic media to propagate mission.
The National PMS can spearhead and make available the “Maximus Illud” in both hard and soft (e.g. mobile apps) copies to the Priests, Religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
The National/DIOCESAN Mission Congress, HCA and YOMM National programmes coming up this year should all focus on EMMOCT2019.
Animation of different groups through social media e.g. . Facebook, WhatsApp, e
Encouraging the laity to go to confession frequently.
Encouraging people to read books on the life of saints.
Priests to talk about the life of Saints during homilies
CONCLUSION
As the Church is missionary by nature, also mission is ecclesial by nature, because it extends in the concrete of the human living the action of Christ which always passes through the concrete persons. The Church is Jesus who lives forever.
So, for us, baptized Christians, in our life, it is about acknowledging the face of Jesus on the Church, to give him our transfigured faces, bodies and hearts, to witness Jesus by letting his presence show through us, so his face can be revealed and accessible to all men and women.
God gave a procreative power to the Church. The Church does not exist only for her members; as a sacrament of salvation, she exists to participate in the mission of God for the redemption of the world. The impact of the gospel in the life of the first Christians manifested itself through their capacity of living together as one heart one body and sharing a completely new way of life.
As Christians, let us always remember that we are missionaries. As we celebrate this extra ordinary mission Month October2091, let us renew our missionary zeal and commitment. As priests, religious or lay people, let us all try and contribute our quota in the work of evangelization. The apostles, have done their own, the early Christians have done their own, the foreign missionaries have done their own. It is now left for you and I. in our diocese there are many missionaries that worked and people are remembering them till date. What will you be remember for?
THANK YOU FOR READING
BY: REV. FR SOLOMON PATRICK ZAKU
P.M.S DIRECTOR MAIDUGURI DIOCESE AND NATIONAL COODINATOR OF THE PROPAGATION OF FAITH
INTRODUCTION
Pope Francis has declared October 2019 to be an Extraordinary Month of Mission, being 100 years since Pope Benedict XV’s teaching on mission.
It will be a special month of prayer and action, calling us all to renew our missionary commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all peoples.
The Holy Father made a public announcement to the entire Church expressing his intention to call an Extraordinary Missionary Month for October 2019 to celebrate in a unique manner, the 100th anniversary of the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud issued by his predecessor Pope Benedict XV. In his words “It is with these sentiments that, welcoming the proposal by the congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, I call an Extraordinary Missionary Month in October 2019, with the purpose of reawakening awareness of the missio ad gentes and working with new impulse to further the missionary transformation of life and pastoral activity”. As Pope Benedict XV stressed many years ago on 20th November 1919, renewing the mission of the Gospel is still relevant today if we consider the current state of the World and the Church. The spiritual, pastoral and theological goal of this extraordinary missionary month according to Cardinal Filoni, “consists in recognizing, living and convincing ourselves that this mission is and must become more fully the paradigm of life and work for the Church and thus of every Christian. Converting our hearts and minds as missionary disciples the spirit urges us to go out into the World and announce Christ, crucified and Risen”.
What are the aims of the EMM?
To respond to the still urgent call to bear witness to Jesus Christ to all the nations.
To bring Catholics to a new awareness of their responsibility to evangelise to the ends of the earth.
To renew missionary commitment throughout the Church, which is sent by Christ to reveal the love of God to all nations.
To re-found and reshape the PMS as in accordance with the demands of the Gospel.
MAXIMUM ILLUD
Pope Francis declared Extra-ordinary mission month October 2019 in order to celebrate the centenary of the Encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XV- Maximum. Illud. Which is an apostolic letter on the Activity of missionaries in the world”. The letter presents a changed understanding of Mission. It calls for good preparation of missionaries, an understanding of the culture of the people, promotion of local clergy, a right of autonomy of mission churches and a clear cut separation between colonization and Christian Mission. This letter was written by the Pope immediately after the First World War. During the world war, many lives were lost; many young people were recruited as soldiers and many Christian countries were involved in the War. Countries, like France, Britain, and Belgium were involved. For Pope Benedict, the war was a scandal as may Christian’s countries were involved.
SUMMARY OF MAXIMUM ILLUD
The Encyclical letter is divided into four parts.
A. Introduction
B. To those in charge of mission
C. To the missionaries
D. To all Catholics.
A THE INTRODUCTION
The Pope started his letter by talking about the great commission that Jesus gave his disciples- proclaiming the good news to all the nations of the world. “Go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all Creation (Mark 16:15). This command the Pope called “ a momentous Charge” (Maximum Ilud).
He talked about how the apostles continued that task of proclaiming the gospel after the death of Jesus and how the Gospel was preached in different centuries. Despite the persecution that the church faced it grew down through the centuries.
Finally he talked about the purpose of the letter which was twofold: firstly to encourage the clergy and the laity in their efforts in the work of evangelization and secondly to point out new methods that can be adopted in proclaiming the good news.
B. TO THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE MISSION MISSIONS
He addressed those in charge of the missions. The Bishops, Vicar or Prefects Apostolic. He reminded them that the responsibly of proclaiming the good news first rest on them. They are to support and empower the priests to carry out the work of evangelization. Missionaries are to be supported by their superiors so that they will know they do not make sacrifice in vain.
The superiors are reminded that their primary goal is to expand and fully develop the mission. The superior should work for the eternal salvation of all. Effective means of proclaiming the good news should be employed and the church should not be seen as a personal property.
Those in charge of the missions were asked to train local clergy who will continue with the preaching the good news. The local clergy should be well trained so that they can able “to enter upon the spiritual leadership of their People”
He reminded the superiors that the Catholic Church is not an intruder in any country. It is therefore necessary to have the indigenes being involved. The work of the mission is judged by the number of the indigenes being involved. The call to train local clergy and given equal opportunity was strong in that letter.
C. TO THE MISSIONARIES
This part was addressed to the missionaries. The Pope reminded them of their responsibility of proclaiming the good news to the whole world. Their task is a divine one. The Pope said missionaries should remember that their duty “is not the extension of human realm, but that of Christ…” They therefore have a spiritual goal.
The missionaries are not to be concerned with the terrestrial interest of their homeland but with the expansion of the kingdom of God. They should desist from attempt to make profit.
For missionaries to be successful in their mission, the Pope recommended that missionaries should be well trained. They should have adequate knowledge of theology and other secular courses so that they can minister effectively. The missionary is also to learn the language of the people he will be working with for proper communication.
The missionaries were charged to live holy lives so that their lives will be exemplary to others as it is the best way of proclaiming the good news.
Missionaries are called to become models to others like our lord Jesus Christ. In the words of St. Paul” they are to become all things to all men”. A true missionary should be devout, dedicated and in continuous union with God.
Finally the Pope praise women for their contribution to the work of evangelization. In particular he praise “the women who have vowed their virginity to God and have gone to pursue their vocations on the mission. They have devoted themselves to the education of children and to a great many other works of charity and devotion.
D. TO ALL CATHOLICS
The last part of the letter was addressed to all Catholics. The Pope reminded all Catholics that they have the obligation of proclaiming the good news. He sees preaching the good news to those who have not heard the good news as the obligation we have towards our neighbours. The Pope pointed out three ways that we can be missionaries or assist the mission.
The first way which is within every ones capacity is Prayer. He used biblical text to show how important prayer is to mission.
The second way is to foster vocation. The pope observed that the war also affected the number of young people entering the seminary. All were encourage to do all within their means to foster vocations to the priesthood.
Thirdly, the Pope started that missionaries needed economic help. The war has affected the church in many ways as Churches, schools, hostel and hospitals were destroyed. Many people are also living in difficulties. People were encourage to send their support through the society of the propagation of faith.
Finally the Pope called on all catholic to support all the four societies of the Pontifical Mission Societies. These four societies are of great assistance in the work of evangelization
THE FOUR DIMENSION OF EXTRAORDINARY MISSIONARY MONTH
The four dimensions are as follows:
A personal encounter with Jesus Christ living in his Church, in the Eucharist, in the word of God, in personal and in community prayer.
Witness of Missionary Saints and Martyrs (canonized or not)
Biblical, Catechetical, spiritual and theological formation, for missionary activity.
Missionary charity as commitment on the part of the whole Church share the “costs” of Gospel’s proclamation and of the formation in the faith and in mission, especially in the most needy Churches.
These four dimensions, which could mark the four weeks of the month, besides qualifying each week chronologically, should be considered first of all spiritual transversal dimensions that individual Christians and individual local Churches can live in all freedom and creativity during the EMMOCT2019, or indeed all through the years 2019.
BAPTISED AND SENT: THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON MISSION IN THE WORLD
This is the theme that Pope Francis chose for the extraordinary missionary month of October 2019. It emphasizes that being sent on mission is a call that comes with baptism and it’s for all the baptized. Thus mission means being sent for salvation that brings about the conversion of both the one who is sent and the one who receives the message: “in Christ, our life is a mission! We are mission, because we are God’s love poured out, God’s holiness created in his own image. Mission, then, is our own growth in holiness and that of the whole world, beginning with creation (cf. Eph 1:3-6). The missionary dimension of our Baptism thus becomes a witness of holiness that bestows life and beauty on our world” (Pope Francis, Address to the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, June 1, 2018).
In baptism, we receive the divine life by virtue of which we are prophets, that is heralds of the mystery of Christ sent by him. Christ who sends us is also the essential content of the mission: the church does not communicate her own message, but rather communicates what she has received from Christ namely Christ himself.
God the father sent his son to the world and the son sent his church into the world because he love the world and wants to engage, attract, and purify it through his work of salvation. Prayer, Testimony, and charity can be concrete ways for every baptised person to express his being a prophet through his baptism.
Evangelii Gaudium, 15 affirms that mission must become the paradigm of the life and daily work of the church. It requires the authentic missionary conversion of the disciples of Jesus and of the structures of the ecclesial community (see Evangelii Gaudium, 25, 27) . Quoting St. John Paul II, Pope Francis tell us that “the Church’s closeness to Jesus is part of a common journey; ‘communion and mission are profoundly interconnected’” (Evangelii Gaudium, 23).
Sometimes we lose our enthusiasm for mission because we forget that the gospel responds to our deepest needs, since we were created for what the gospel offer us: friendship with Jesus and love of our brothers and sisters. If we succeed in expressing adequately and with beauty the essential content of the Gospel, surely this message will speak to the deepest yearnings of people’s hearts.
As we celebrate the extra ordinary mission month we are reminded that as baptised Christians, we are sent on a mission. We have the obligation to proclaim the good news. This obligation is not only for the priests and religious. We have to proclaim the good news base on our state of life
In line with this, St Pope John Paul II said :
We are all missionaries
Some give to mission by going
Others give to mission by giving
Without both they can be no mission.
The priests and religious give to mission by goingThe lay people give to mission by giving : the give three “Ts”= TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURES.
Proposed Initiatives that can be taken both on the National, Diocesan and Parish levels, which are specific to EMMOCT2019.
The Church in Nigeria should pay more attention to the students (Youths) to make sure that their faith is sustained. Programmes like seminars, workshops, competitions, can be organised for them during the mission month or any other month in the year.
Teaching: to be done at all levels from HCA to adulthood and can be achieved by creating awareness, re – enacting our Catholic faith. What can make it more extraordinary is giving room for people to learn more about the faith, stressing the importance of mission and the need to groom individuals for mission.
Get the children involved in practical mission work, through home to home visitations and by rendering free services, e.g washing of plates, gathering of firewood for the elderly, home to home visitations, e.t.c. By these, we inculcate in them the true meaning of mission.
Evangelising like the missionaries of old by creating awareness, grassroots evangelization, home to home visitation, reaching out to pagans e.t.c.
The Church should be more conscious of social services for our people in the rural areas. Using social services such as hospitals, schools as well as visits to destitute homes to fortify our Catholic faith.
Priests and Religious can and should become more involved in missionary activities, especially in our academic institutions. Imagine a Pentecostal teaching Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in our Catholic Schools.
Formation of prayer on mission.
Catechists to be trained as animators of the Missionary month’s programme i.e. catechetical week teachings should focus on mission.
Production of pamphlets on mission, covering the whole month of October.
Opportunities to be given to core – missionaries to share experiences since experience they say is the best teacher. This will enable many get acquainted with missionary activities and widen their horizon as the EMMOCT2019 takes place.
A seminar on missionary activities for priests, religious and laity should be put in place
There should be creation of awareness on mission. Here the media could go a long way whereby jingles, songs and write ups could be shared via the social, print and electronic media to propagate mission.
The National PMS can spearhead and make available the “Maximus Illud” in both hard and soft (e.g. mobile apps) copies to the Priests, Religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
The National/DIOCESAN Mission Congress, HCA and YOMM National programmes coming up this year should all focus on EMMOCT2019.
Animation of different groups through social media e.g. . Facebook, WhatsApp, e
Encouraging the laity to go to confession frequently.
Encouraging people to read books on the life of saints.
Priests to talk about the life of Saints during homilies
CONCLUSION
As the Church is missionary by nature, also mission is ecclesial by nature, because it extends in the concrete of the human living the action of Christ which always passes through the concrete persons. The Church is Jesus who lives forever.
So, for us, baptized Christians, in our life, it is about acknowledging the face of Jesus on the Church, to give him our transfigured faces, bodies and hearts, to witness Jesus by letting his presence show through us, so his face can be revealed and accessible to all men and women.
God gave a procreative power to the Church. The Church does not exist only for her members; as a sacrament of salvation, she exists to participate in the mission of God for the redemption of the world. The impact of the gospel in the life of the first Christians manifested itself through their capacity of living together as one heart one body and sharing a completely new way of life.
As Christians, let us always remember that we are missionaries. As we celebrate this extra ordinary mission Month October2091, let us renew our missionary zeal and commitment. As priests, religious or lay people, let us all try and contribute our quota in the work of evangelization. The apostles, have done their own, the early Christians have done their own, the foreign missionaries have done their own. It is now left for you and I. in our diocese there are many missionaries that worked and people are remembering them till date. What will you be remember for?
THANK YOU FOR READING
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