“Jesus gives us life, life in abundance. If we are close to him, we will have joy in our hearts and a smile on our face” Pope Francis
Since 1926, the Church has traditionally remembered its universal mission during the month of October. This year Mission Sunday will be celebrated globally on 18 October.
Bishops have welcomed the message of Pope Francis for Mission Sunday, and for his invitation to reread and reflect on the contents of Ad Gentes, the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity which was promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI fifty years ago in December. Bishops also noted that the late Bishop Donal Lamont, a native of Antrim, played a significant role in the drafting of Ad Gentes.
In his message for Mission Sunday Pope Francis says that: “Mission is a passion for Jesus and at the same time a passion for his people. When we pray before Jesus crucified, we see the depth of his love which gives us dignity and sustains us. At the same time, we realize that the love flowing from Jesus’ pierced heart expands to embrace the People of God and all humanity. We realize once more that he wants to make use of us to draw closer to his beloved people (cf. ibid., 268) and all those who seek him with a sincere heart. In Jesus’ command to “go forth”, we see the scenarios and ever-present new challenges of the Church’s evangelizing mission. All her members are called to proclaim the Gospel by their witness of life. In a particular way, consecrated men and women are asked to listen to the voice of the Spirit who calls them to go to the peripheries, to those to whom the Gospel has not yet been proclaimed.”
Click here to read the full text of the Pope’s message for Mission Sunday 2015.
Click here to read Ad Gentes, the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Church’ Missionary Activity.
New DVD highlighting work of missionaries from World Missions Ireland
During their Autumn General Meeting bishops viewed a new DVD, produced by World Missions Ireland, which features the work of missionaries. This seven minute DVD which has been circulated to parishes throughout Ireland, highlights the work of missionaries with people who live in a cemetery in Manila in the Philippines, with children rescued from people traffickers and with people with AIDS in Seoul, South Korea. Bishops expressed their appreciation to Irish missionaries and asked the faithful to continue to support their work in bringing light and hope into the lives of the most marginalised and oppressed.
Click here to watch the video which is entitled ‘Charlie Bird on the missions’.
Click below to listen to an interview with Ms Sally McEllistrim from World Missions Ireland on their work and on this year’s video resource for Mission Sunday.
Prayers for Missionaries
A Prayer for Missionaries
I offer my sufferings to you,
O Lord, for your Church.
In particular,
I offer them for missionaries,
those who have left all for the sake of the Gospel.
Bless them in their work of spreading the Good News
among those who still do not know you.
AMEN
Embracing The Lord’s Call
Mary, mother of Jesus, our mother too,
called to a life of deep trust,
pondered in her heart the call of God.
We too are urged to ponder our call.
To Mary we say: give us hearts to respond to God’s call.
AMEN
Prayer for Mission
Jesus came into this world
to proclaim the good news that God is love;
that God loves you, loves me,
and that He wants us to love one another
as He has loved each one of us.
Give me grace and healing to love myself and others.
AMEN
Prayers are taken from Prayers & Reflections from World Missions Ireland
