Missionary Character of the Church Highlighted - World Mission Sunday 2020
As we prepare to celebrate the 94th World Mission Day, the Vatican has highlighted the importance of the Church's missionary action in the world.
Traditionally celebrated on the penultimate Sunday of October, this year, World Mission Day is on 18 October.
The annual day is set aside to encourage prayers, cooperation and help for missions, as well as to remind us of the fundamental missionary character of the Church and of every baptised person. As baptised Christians, we are to respond to God’s call to go and transform all areas of life and society by our witness to the Gospel.
The Pontifical Mission Society provides vital support to particular Churches in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and parts of South and Latin America. This support goes toward formation programs for catechists, priests and religious and it also helps with material aid for their work of evangelisation in local churches.
Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot
Celebrations this year are special for the Catholic Mission because, in May, Pope Francis approved a miracle through the intercession of its foundress, Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot.
The miracle involved a little girl who experienced acute suffocation which resulted in her losing consciousness and having to be kept alive by artificial life support. After a novena of prayers, through Pauline’s intercession, the girl was revived and restored to health.
Pope Francis recounted that Venerable Pauline, a Frenchwoman born in Lyon, dedicated her life to prayer, helping the poor and the Church’s mission. On 2 May 1822, she founded the Society for the propagation of Faith, and four years later, the Association of the Living Rosary. A century later, on 3 May 1922, the Society was proclaimed Pontifical by Pope Pius XI and she was proclaimed venerable by Pope St John XXIII in 1962.
Today, Venerable Pauline Jaricot is an inspiration for us all, especially for the laity. She is a wonderful example of engaging fully in the grace of Baptism for the work of the Kingdom of God and for the mission of the Church.
Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith - World Mission Day
www.catholicmission.org.au