All priests called to be missionaries, Vatican says

(January 25, 2011) Priests cannot be content just to welcome and evangelize those who come to church, but they must go out into their neighbourhoods and across the globe to proclaim salvation, said a Vatican document. Titled "The missionary identity of the priest in the church," the document said priests are consecrated to preach the Gospel to the whole world. The document from the Congregation for Clergy was dated June 29, 2010, but released by the congregation on Jan. 24. The church is called to continually share the message of salvation, bring God's love to more people and grow through the addition of new members, it said. While all Catholics share in the missionary task, priests have special responsibilities because they are ordained to act in the person of Christ, reaching out to all in need of God's love.
The document also said some priests have a special vocation to be foreign missionaries, but serving in the diocese where one was born, does not mean there is no opportunity or obligation for missionary work. In addition to bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth, the future of the church also depends on our willingness to be missionaries in practice among our baptized faithful, it added..