CHURCH IN FOCUS:
Pope’s Mission Sunday Message
23 October 2011

In our Programme today we bring you the Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the 85th Mission Sunday celebrated on October 23, 2011. Annually, World Mission Sunday is celebrated on the last but one Sunday in October. This Sunday is an important day 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. Every year we have this special Sunday set aside to think about our Mission to the world. It is an annual reminder of who we are and what we have to do. The mission comes directly from Jesus to his disciples to go out to the whole world and proclaim the gospel to all creation. Pope Benedict said in his message on missionary efforts that the Gospel is not an “exclusive” message to an elite few but rather a gift to be shared and “a piece of good news to be passed on.” The Holy Father says that the universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others. And this gift-commitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptised, who are, as St Peter tells us, “a chosen race … a holy nation, God’s own people” in order that they may proclaim his marvellous works. The theme of the 85^th Mission Sunday is taken from the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verse 21 and announced on the Feast of the Epiphany is: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
World Mission Sunday, is annually organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activity through prayer and sacrifice. Pope John Paul II has also spoken of the Propagation of the Faith's General Fund of support, calling this a "central fund of solidarity." In one of his messages for the World Mission Sunday, Blessed John Paul II had explained that the offerings that will be collected on this Sunday are destined for a common fund of solidarity, distributed in the Pope's name, by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith among the missions and missionaries of the entire world. These funds are then distributed, in their entirety, to mission dioceses throughout the world. Every year the needs of the Catholic Church in the Missions grow as new dioceses are formed, as new seminaries are opened because of the growing number of young men hearing Christ's call to follow Him as priests, as areas devastated by war or natural disaster are rebuilt, and as other areas, long suppressed, are opening up to hear the message of Christ and His Church. That is why the involvement and commitment of Catholics from around the world is so urgently needed. Offerings from Catholics in the United States, on World Mission Sunday and throughout the year, are combined with offerings to the Propagation of the Faith worldwide.
Mission dioceses - about 1,100 at this time - receive regular annual assistance from the funds collected. In addition, these mission dioceses submit requests to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for assistance, among other needs, for catechetical programs, seminaries, the work of Religious Communities, for communication and transportation needs, and for the building of chapels, churches, orphanages and schools. These needs are matched with the funds gathered in each year. The world's national directors of the Propagation of the Faith vote on these requests, matching the funds available with the greatest needs. These funds are then distributed, in their entirety, to mission dioceses throughout the world.
Pope Benedict XVI in his message says that on the occasion of the Jubilee of the year 2000 Blessed John Paul II, at the beginning of a new millennium of the Christian era, forcefully confirmed the necessity of renewing the commitment to bring the Gospel proclamation to all with “the enthusiasm of the very first Christians”. It is the most precious service that the Church can render to humanity and to every individual seeking profound reason for living his or her existence to the full. Therefore that same invitation re-echoes every year in the celebration of World Mission Day. In fact the ceaseless proclamation of the Gospel also revitalises the Church, her fervour, her apostolic spirit; it renews her pastoral methods so that they may be ever more suited to new situations also those that require a new evangelization and animated by missionary thrust: “Missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others. It is in commitment to the Church's universal mission that the new evangelization of Christian peoples will find inspiration and support.”
Pope Benedict XVI opened his remarks by emphasizing that the “announcement of the Gospel is destined for everyone.” The Pontiff in his message says that we all have the mandate from Jesus to go and proclaim. This objective is constantly renewed by the celebration of the liturgy, particularly by the celebration of the Eucharist, which always ends by reiterating the risen Jesus’ command to the Apostles: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.” The Liturgy is always a call ‘from the world’ and a new sending ‘into the world’ to bear witness to what one has experienced: the salvific power of the Word of God, the salvific power of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. All those who have met the risen Lord have felt the need to proclaim him to others, as did the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. After recognising the Lord in the breaking of bread, they “set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled” and told them what had happened to them on the road. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter New Millennium exhorted us to be “watchful, ready to recognize his face and run to our brothers and sisters with the good news: 'We have seen the Lord!'”
The Pope explains further that the message of the Gospel has to be for all people. He specifies that the beneficiaries of the Gospel proclamation are not merely Christians but everyone. The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council was, within the current of uninterrupted Tradition, quite explicit in affirming the intrinsically missionary nature of the Church. The Church does not exist of herself or for herself: she draws her origin from the mission of the Son and the Spirit; the Church is called, of her nature, to go out of herself in a movement towards the world, to be a sign of Emmanuel, the Word made flesh, God-with-us. Referring to the Document of Second Vatican Council Ad Gentes the Holy Father says that the Church “is missionary by her very nature, since it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father”. This is “the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize”. Consequently, she can never withdraw into herself. She is rooted in particular places in order to go beyond them. Her action, in obedience to Christ’s command and under the influence of his grace and his love, becomes fully and truly present to all men and women and to all peoples in order to lead them to faith in Christ.
This task has not lost any of its urgency. Indeed, “the mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted to the Church, is still very far from completion. An overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still only beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service”. We cannot be content when we consider that, after two thousand years, there are still peoples who do not know Christ and have not yet heard his Message of salvation. Pope Benedict also addressed the growing number of individuals who've heard the Gospel but have forgotten it, abandoned it, or no longer identify themselves with the Church and many sectors, even in traditionally Christian societies are today reluctant to open to the word of faith. He said that in modern times, even traditionally Christian societies are “reluctant to open themselves to the word of faith.” He cited a cultural shift – influenced by globalization and increasing relativism – as leading to mentalities and lifestyles “that ignore the Evangelical message as if God did not exist, and which exalt the search for well-being, easy earnings, career and success as the goals of life, even at the expense of moral values.” He explained that cultures are changing all over and has affected the faith. This aspect, nourished also by globalisation has led to a life-style that disregards the gospel Message, to behave as if God does not exist.
Pope Benedict continued to emphasise in his message that the Proclamation of the Word of God is the joint responsibility of all people. The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others. And this gift-commitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptised, who are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people”, in order that they may proclaim his marvellous works. He continues to say that all activities are also involved in this. The Church’s attention and cooperation in missionary activity in the world cannot be limited to some particular moments or occasions, nor can they be considered as one of many pastoral activities: the Church’s missionary dimension is essential; therefore it must always be kept in mind. It is important that both individual baptised persons and ecclesial communities should be involved not only spasmodically and occasionally in mission, but constantly, as a way of Christian life. Mission Day is not an isolated moment in the year, but a precious occasion for pausing to reflect on whether and how we respond to the missionary vocation: an essential response for the life of the Church.
Speaking on Global evangelization the Pope says that the Evangelization is a complex process and includes various elements. Among these, in missionary animation particular attention has always been given to solidarity. This is also one of the objectives of World Mission Day, which, through the Pontifical Mission Societies, appeals for help to carry out evangelizing activities in mission territories. It involves supporting institutions necessary for establishing and consolidating the Church through catechists, seminaries, priests; and also giving one’s own contribution to improve the living conditions of people in nations where poverty, malnutrition, above all infantile malnutrition, diseases, lack of health care services and education are most serious. This, too, is part of the Church’s mission. Proclaiming the Gospel she takes human life to heart in the fullest sense. It is unacceptable, the Servant of God Paul VI declared, that in evangelization the themes of human promotion, justice, liberation from every form of oppression, obviously with respect for the autonomy of the political sphere, should be neglected. To ignore the temporal problems of humanity would be “to forget the lesson which comes to us from the Gospel concerning love of our neighbour who is suffering and in need”. It would be inconsistent with the behaviour of Jesus, who “went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness”.
Pope Benedict XVI says that through co-responsible participation in the Church’s mission, the Christian becomes a builder of communion, of peace and of the solidarity that Christ has given us, and he or she collaborates in fulfilling God’s plan of salvation for all humanity. The challenges it meets call Christians to journey together with others, and mission is an integral part of this journey with all. In it, albeit in clay pots, we bring our Christian vocation, the priceless treasure of the Gospel, the living witness to Jesus dead and risen, met and believed in the Church. He says that the missionary zeal has always been a sign of church vitality. He asks all Catholics to pray for an increase in missionary passion and to support missionaries who work on the front lines of evangelization, often under hostile conditions. At the same time he asks everyone to offer as a credible sign of communion among the Churches, financial and human assistance, especially in these times of crisis affecting all humanity. The Pontiff concludes with his expectation that the World Mission Day must reawaken in each person the joy and desire to “go” out to meet humanity taking Christ to all. He imparted his Apostolic Blessing, especially on those who toil and suffer most for the Gospel.
We now pray for the Missions: Father of all, you sent your Son to carry out your mission of redeeming the world. Today, many still have not heard his message of truth and love. Our world is torn by war and conflict, by poverty and injustice. Let the light of your Gospel of love so shine in the world that it may be transformed into a worthy home for all your children of every race and country. Bless all missionaries throughout the world that their work may bear fruit. Together with them, we may share in the missionary work of the whole Church so that the Kingdom of justice, love and peace may come in all hearts and in all nations. We make our prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Eugene Lobo S.J.