Mission Matters Fall 2012
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From the Director World Mission Sunday Every year on the second-to-the-last Sunday of October the whole Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. This practice began in 1926 when it was established by Pope Pius XI. World Mission Sunday was described by Blessed John Paul II as ”an important date in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the mission areas in the developing world” (Redemptoris Missio 81). When this day of prayer for the “missions” was originally instituted three reasons were given for having such a day on the MISSION MATTERS Pontifical Mission Societies—One Family in Mission and the Office for Mission Education and Animation of the Archdiocese of Chicago Fostering the New Evangelization Volume 3 Issue 6 - September 2012 Church Calendar: ‘The day would foster understanding of the greatness of the missionary task, encourage zeal among the clergy and the people; offer an opportunity to make the Society for the Propagation of the Faith ever more widely known and encourage offering for the missions…’ The bishops at the Second Vatican Council, with a new vision of the missionary nature of the whole Church, wrote in The Decree on Missionary Activity (AG), that: “all the faithful are duty-bound to cooperate in the expansion and spreading out of Christ’s Body, to bring it to fullness as soon as possible” (Eph 4:13)…Therefore, all members of the Church should have a lively awareness of their responsibility to the world; they should foster in themselves a truly Catholic spirit; they should spend themselves in the work of spreading the Gospel” (AG 36). This year we celebrate World Mission Sunday in the context of the Year of Faith and the Synod on the New Evangelization and the Transmission of the Faith. It is indeed faith that is the centerpiece of the missionary nature of the Church. The whole Church is missionary so we are all to be engaged in mission and we are all meant to support the mission of the Church through prayer and sacrifice. Today, people are not used to talking about sacrifice; yet sacrifice is the fruit of love. When we love we are ready to do whatever is necessary to support the one we love and in this case, the One who has loved us first and who has sent us on mission. Our mission is to share that love with all people. Through the witness of our lives and our generous service we can make Christ known. Let us celebrate World Mission Sunday with joy and a renewed commitment to be on mission wherever we are and support mission everywhere in the world. From Pope Benedict XVI The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others. And this gift- commitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptized, who are “a chosen race … a holy nation, God’s own people” (1 Pt 2:9), in order that they may proclaim his marvelous works.
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Articles on World Mission Sunday, Social Media and the Year of Faith, and How To Share Christ's Mission with Children
Transcript of Mission Matters Fall 2012
From the Director
World Mission Sunday Every year on the second-to-the-last Sunday of October the whole Church celebrates World Mission Sunday. This practice began in 1926 when it was established by Pope Pius XI. World Mission Sunday was described by
Blessed John Paul II as ”an important date in the life of the Church because it teaches how to give: as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration and for all the mission areas in the developing world” (Redemptoris Missio 81).
When this day of prayer for the “missions” was originally instituted three reasons were given for having such a day on the
MISSION MATTERS
P o n t i f i c a l M i s s i o n S o c i e t i e s — O n e F a m i l y i n M i s s i o n a n d t h e O f f i c e f o r M i s s i o n E d u c a t i o n a n d A n i m a t i o n
o f t h e A r c h d i o c e s e o f C h i c a g o F o s t e r i n g t h e N e w E v a n g e l i z a t i o n
Volume 3 Issue 6 - September 2012
Church Calendar: ‘The day would foster understanding of the greatness of the missionary task, encourage zeal among the clergy and the people; offer an opportunity to make the Society for the Propagation of the Faith ever more widely known and encourage offering for the missions…’
The bishops at the Second Vatican Council, with a new vision of the missionary nature of the whole Church, wrote in The Decree on Missionary Activity (AG), that: “all the faithful are duty-bound to cooperate in the expansion and spreading out of Christ’s Body, to bring it to fullness as soon as possible” (Eph 4:13)…Therefore, all members of the Church should have a lively awareness of their responsibility to the world; they should foster in themselves a truly Catholic spirit; they should spend themselves in the work of spreading the Gospel” (AG 36).
This year we celebrate World Mission Sunday in the context of the Year of Faith and the Synod on the New Evangelization and the Transmission of the Faith. It is indeed faith that is the centerpiece of the
missionary nature of the Church. The whole Church is missionary so we are all to be engaged in mission and we are all meant to support the mission of the Church through prayer and sacrifice.
Today, people are not used to talking about sacrifice; yet sacrifice is the fruit of love. When we love we are ready to do whatever is necessary to support the one we love and in this case, the One who has loved us first and who has sent us on mission. Our mission is to share that love with all people. Through the witness of our lives and our generous service we can make Christ known. Let us celebrate World Mission Sunday with joy and a renewed commitment to be on mission wherever we are and support mission everywhere in the world.
From Pope Benedict XVI
The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others. And this gift-commitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptized, who are “a chosen race … a holy nation, God’s own people” (1 Pt 2:9), in order that they may proclaim his marvelous works.
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At every Sunday Mass we are reminded of the four marks of our Church – one, holy, catholic and apostolic as we say the Nicene Creed. On World Mission Sunday we have the unique opportunity to further reflect on those words and rekindle in our hearts our own missionary spirit.
One …We are all one in God’s family throughout the earth. Holy …We all join in celebration and prayer for one another. Catholic … Our faith is universal – for everyone, everywhere. Apostolic … As the Mass concludes we are sent forth, like the apostles, to carry on the mission of Jesus.
World Mission Sunday, celebrated throughout the world, reminds us that as one family we must reach out to our brothers and sisters through prayer, understanding, sacrifice and support. At Baptism we were called to carry on the mission of Jesus. It has become our role to spread His good news, to care for the poor and vulnerable, to stand up against injustice, and to make it known that we are missionary.
Being on mission every day is central to our faith and our faith is the greatest gift we can pass on to our children. World Mission Sunday is the perfect time to share with your children what it means to be missionary. It is the perfect time to help them see that “mission” is not only a place but it is every place that our words and deeds speak the good news of Jesus. Being missionary means sharing with our brothers and sisters in all walks of life and in all circumstances. What
better time to further instill a sense of mission in the hearts of our children? Introduce them to missionary saints, pray the world mission rosary with them, teach them about different cultures of their brothers and sisters throughout the world, and explain that World Mission Sunday is a special time to help support those in need.
This World Mission Sunday, as the Mass ends, listen for the words that send us on our mission be they: “Go Forth the Mass has ended.” or “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” or “Go in peace glorifying the Lord by your life”. No matter which phrase is chosen to send us on our way this Sunday may we, child and adult, take those words to heart and be the missionaries we are called to be. May Christ be with you on your missionary journey. Maureen Colin Associate Director, Office for Mission Animation and Education and MCA Coordinator
World Mission Sunday
MMASSASS IINTENTIONSNTENTIONS AREARE NNEEDEDEEDED!! In many developing countries the only source of income for many priests is
Mass Intentions. They not only use them for their needs, but often for the needs of people or projects in their parishes. Mass Intentions are $5.00.
Visit our website www.WeAreMiss ionary .org and click Donate or call us at (312) 534-3322 to show your support!
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Additional information can be found on our website www.wearemissionary.org - click on MCA!
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My Missionary Journey
Social Media and the Year of Faith The Year of Faith is an awesome opportunity to take a good look at our faith lives and reflect on how we live out that precious gift of faith. In Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict writes, “Today as in the past, he sends us through the highways of the world to proclaim his Gospel to all the peoples of the earth.”
In ancient times, the Apostles used the roads and highways built by the Ro-mans in order to spread the Gospel. Today we have the gift of the internet, the “information super-highway”, that we can travel (and surf) and evangelize on a digital continent. Be internet missionaries! This Year of Faith, get into the habit of being a witness on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Use these tools to spread the good news of Christ. Post a prayer of thanksgiving to God every now and then, share a link about something great happening in the Church or perhaps even take up your keyboard and start blogging about how your faith and relationship with Christ are essential parts of every aspect of your life, both on and off-line. Basically, allow Christ to reach others through you and your Facebook page. Ashley Collins
Social Media Coordinator
The missionary road that God places us on is not always easy. When we enjoy a familiar existence we feel s a f e , c om fo r t ab l e and i n control. Perhaps, there is even the expectation that God will always
place us in these comfortable situations; however, we must discern and consider that we are being groomed by God on our missionary road to be a greater witness in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Up until 15 years ago, my missionary road was comfortable and familiar. But on the other hand, I sensed the need to go beyond my comfort zone to spread God’s Word. Suddenly my missionary road changed with almost no familiar scenery. God gave me the wonderful opportunity to serve Christ’s Mission in a unique way and I became a traveling missionary preacher.
Every year, I receive new invitations to visit a vast number of new and unfamiliar places to share with the people of God my experience as missionary. It certainly has not been easy, but it is indeed wonderful.
On this new stage of my journey there was an added twist, I had to rely on the generosity of many people who would allow me to visit several Parishes to preach on behalf of my community. The Archdiocese of Chicago has been an extraordinary partner in
Mission through the Missionary Cooperation Plan. They have offered the Divine Word Missionaries an opportunity to bring the Missions to the people of God in Parishes all around the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Because of their support, children are being fed, Mission Chapels are being built, schools are open and teaching the Word of God, medicines are distributed and primarily, the Gospel is been witnessed and preached to those who hunger for Christ around the world.
Fr. Bob Kelly, SVD
Divine Word Missionaries is a Catholic missionary society that works among the poor, the neglected and the disadvantaged in more than 70 countries around the world.
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Want a fresh perspective on Mission? Listen to Sr. Madge LIVE! on Relevant Radio 950AM the Third Thursday of each month 09:30am-10:00am (CST)
Or via your computer at WeAreMissionary.org/relevant-radio
Domingo Mundial De Las Misiones Seguramente hemos escuchado que octubre es el mes misionero, en el que se enfatiza el Domingo Mundial de las Misiones (DOMUND) y que celebraremos este 21 de octubre.
Pero, no podemos hablar acerca del Domingo Mundial de las Misiones (DOMUND) sin referirnos a los misioneros y misioneras y no podemos hablar de misioneros(as) sin antes hablar de Misión, porque no hay DOMUND sin misioneros(as) y no hay misioneros(as) sin Misión.
Entonces podemos preguntarnos; ¿Dónde nace la Misión? La Misión nace en el corazón mismo de Dios. Existe Misión porque Dios nos ama. Por consiguiente, el Padre envía a su Hijo con una misión específica; salvar a la humanidad y mostrarnos ese Dios que es Amor, Misericordia y Perdón.
Por su parte el Hijo (Jesucristo), durante su vida pública, busca cooperadores (Apóstoles y Discípulos). Les llama por su nombre, los prepara y luego los envía para que proclamen lo aprendido.
Una vez Jesús vuelto al Padre, envían al Espíritu Santo, que es la esencia y protagonista de la Misión hasta nuestros días.
¿Quiénes son los misioneros y misioneras? Todos los bautizados somos misioneros y misioneras.
El misionero(a) es Testigo, Profeta y Mártir. Es testigo del amor de Dios, porque comparte con los demás su fe, su vida y su vocación. Es profeta porque anuncia la Buena Noticia, y por otro lado, denuncia las injusticias que se cometen en los diferentes
lugares, contextos y culturas. Por último, el misionero(a) es mártir, porque el anuncio del Evangelio no es tarea fácil, porque hay lugares donde el misionero(a) es bien acogido, pero en otros, somos perseguidos y hasta asesinados. Por eso, San Daniel Comboni escribió: “La Cruz y el Martirio son el triunfo del Misionero”. El Domingo Mundial de las Misiones (DOMUND) nació por las iniciativas y motivaciones del Papa Pio XI en 1926. Desde entonces, toda la contribución que se hace el día del DOMUND es para que la Iglesia, a través de sus misioneros y misioneras que trabajan por el mundo, ejecute obras de caridad en favor de las personas más necesitadas, como son el campo de la salud, de la educación, comedores populares, orfanatos, cunas infantiles, etc. Por ejemplo, Las Obras Misionales Pontificias apoya a 1,150 diócesis en todo el mundo.
Que la celebración del Domingo Mundial de las Misiones nos ayude a tomar conciencia de nuestra llamada misionera para que podamos ser testigos misioneros en nuestra vida cotidiana.
En Cristo Misionero del Padre. Edwin Rondán
Coordinator for Hispanic Mission Education
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Pontifical Mission Societies—One Family in Mission and the Office for Mission Education and Animation of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Office for Mission Education and Animation: Fostering the New Evangelization Cardinal Meyer Center 3525 S. Lake Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60653-1402
Phone: 312-534-3322 Fax: 312-534-1599 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.WeAreMissionary.org
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