Filipino Church launches ‘Year of Mission’

(January 16, 2013) The Catholic Church in the Philippines on Saturday launched the ‘Year of Mission’ to mark the 80th anniversary of the Pontifical Missions Societies, PMS. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) inaugurated the ‘Year of Mission’ with a Mass at the Shrine of St Therese of the Child Jesus in Pasay City. During the year priests are encouraged to renew their Christian mission to show each Christian the way to be a witness in his or her life of Christ’s love. The highlight of the year-long celebration will be the national event of Grand Mission Festival, April 18-20 in Marikina City, which will be dedicated to spreading the Gospel in the world and promoting the commitment of Filipino Christians in society. CBCP President Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu urged that the year be full of grace, marked by renewed enthusiasm for dedicated service as Christ’s evangelising disciples.” There are four Pontifical Mission Societies, namely, Propagation of the Faith, St. Peter the Apostle, Holy Childhood and Missionary Union, and have as their primary purpose the promotion of universal missionary spirit, a spirit of prayer and sacrifice among all baptized Catholics in support for the worldwide mission of the Church. The Holy Childhood day was marked on Sunday, Jan. 15. The PMS’ operate under the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.