On Sunday October 21, 2018, our universal Catholic Church will mark the importance of our missionary calling. This year, World Mission Sunday recognizes the great importance of youth in the revitalization of our Church in the theme for this special Sunday: “With Youth, we proclaim the Gospel to all’.
On October 21, Catholics everywhere are called to support the work being done by Christ’s representatives around the world. Building schools and hospitals, bringing instruction to those thirsting for faith, building and staffing institutions to train and support the growing number of catechists, seminarians and novices are signs of our faith in action. But to maintain these good works requires our financial support.
Our financial support on this special Sunday means that the good work goes on. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith acts as the conduit for missionary projects around the world. It cannot do its work without your support. The Church is made up of each one of us. Together, we define its message relayed to us by Jesus Christ so many years ago. We are all messengers of Christ through our Baptism and while our roles may not be to serve abroad in mission lands, we can still be part of the missionary experience through our prayers and financial support of those who do work in the field.
In his message for this Year’s World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis says, “every man and woman is a mission.” To be attracted and to be sent are two movements of the heart that “hold out promise for our future and give direction to our lives.” The heart of the Church’s mission, the Pope continues, is the infectiousness of love, where joy and enthusiasm become the expression of a newfound meaning and fulfilment in life.
As we gather in prayer this October 21, keep in mind that like you, Catholics around the world are also praying and contributing financially to the propagation of our faith. It is our greatest moment of world-wide solidarity in the entire year. I wish to thank you in advance for your prayerful participation and donation in this important work of the Church.
Yours in the spirit of mission,
+ Vincent Nguyen,
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto
Ponens, Society for the Propagation of the Faith for Canada, English Sector