Missionary Church, Witness of Mercy

Among the many points to ponder, we can take two reasons from Pope Francis’ message for this year’s World Mission Sunday.

First, this year’s Mission Sunday reminds us to support the Church in its varied ways of Mission which started in 1926 to propagate our Faith. “This Jubilee year marks the 90th anniversary of World Missionary Day, first approved by Pope Pius XI in 1926 and organized by the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.”

In parishes today, we may give a part of our financial resources for this cause. As Pope Francis says, “Women, lay and religious, and today even many families, carry out their missionary vocation in various forms: from announcing the Gospel to charitable service.”

Second, today’s celebration calls us to be merciful. “On this World Mission Sunday, all of us are invited to “go out” as missionary disciples, each generously offering their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience in order to bring the message of God’s tenderness and compassion to the entire human family.”

Again, we pose a challenge for each one of us to take part in the mission of the Church in our own little ways. We need to make ourselves available for others.

“Let us not close our hearts within our own particular concerns, but let us open them to all of humanity.”