PMS director: Every Christian must proclaim the Gospel

Reviving the commitment to witness and proclaim the Gospel, according to the conciliar decree "Ad Gentes", is a true "manual for missions.". This was emphasized by Fr. Faustine L. Lobo, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in India, who adds that it is important to use "every Sunday in October" to "enlighten the faithful" on evangelization and the missionary role of every Christian.

World Missions Sunday 2014 is scheduled for Sunday, October 19. “The faithful must be prepared to the fullest; it is essential to instill the missionary zeal in all”, he adds. "The day should be an occasion to promote missions and every Christian should take it as their personal  responsibility to be a missionary."

The contribution that each can offer, he states, must be the result of the need to "feel a part of a missionary activity". We as  clergy, religious and lay faithful must have the satisfaction of being part of the "missionary efforts" around the world.

This year, the Church celebrates the 50th anniversary of the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council Decree "Ad Gentes", the document signed by Pope Paul VI which outlines the guidelines to missions and proclaiming the Gospel. "I feel that priests should do much more to teach people the basics of Ad Gentes,  so that everyone can fully understand their responsibilities in terms of mission."  said Fr. Lobo.

According to the Indian priest there is need for proper animation to create zeal for mission among the people, well planned strategy and the use of different methods that can help in this direction. The need of missions calls for a "better contribution". "The spirit of this call - said the PMS director in India - is to motivate each Catholic to give their support to missions, so that everyone can participate in the proclamation of Christ." (Source: AsiaNews)