Mission Sunday: 20th October 2013
October is Mission Month. "This month must be regarded in all countries as the Month of Universal Mission. The penultimate Sunday, proclaimed as World Mission Day, is the high point of the month." (Congregation of Rites 1926)
Since its founding in 1926, World Mission Sunday has been entrusted to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, founded by Pauline Marie Jaricot.
"World Mission Day, which seeks to heighten awareness of the missions, as well as to collect funds for them, is 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 missions of the world." (RedemptorisMissio 81)
The celebration of Mission Month this year has a very special meaning as we come to the end of the Year of Faith. "Faith is a gift that is given to us to be shared. It is a talent received so that it may bear fruit. It is a light that must never be hidden. It is the most important gift that has been given to us in our lives and which we cannot keep to ourselves." (Pope Benedict XVI)
World Missions, Ireland - the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies brings the prayers, solidarity and financial help of the Church in Ireland to Christian communities in other parts of the world, especially those in greatest need.
Each Mission Sunday we celebrate that we are growing in faith with the younger Churches throughout the world as we offer them our prayers and material support. Our entire Mission Sunday collection is made available to the Universal Solidarity Fund to be distributed to as many as 1,100 young Churches, and to help train novices and seminarians. The Irish Office sent more than €2 million, collected in the thirty-two counties last year, to help build up the Church in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as helping in the training of novices and seminarians.
Read Pope Francis message for World Mission Sunday by clicking here.
Prayer
O God, you have willed that your Church be the sacrament of salvation for all nations, so that Christ's saving work may continue to the ends of the ages; stir up, we pray, the hearts of your faithful and grant that they may feel a more urgent call to work for the salvation of every creature, so that from all the peoples on earth one family and one people of your own may arise and increase. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
