2011 World Mission Sunday Mass at SS Peter & Paul Basilica, Philadelphia [Front row-L/R]  Sister Gloria Patrone, acj & Ms. Lynette Kyle,  Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Project FIAT Mission in El Salvador; Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia; Brother Robert Ziobro, S.C., Brothers of the Sacred Heart. BR: Reverend Monsignor Francis X. Schmidt, Father Chuck's Challenge and Reverend Monsignor James T. McDonough, Pontifical Mission Societies Archdiocesan Director.

What it Means to be Missionary Today

2011 World Mission Sunday, October 23rd Homily Excerpts
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

Link to the homily in its entirety, click here.

Today the Church in the United States and throughout the world is celebrating World Mission Sunday.

The theme that the Holy Father has given to this World Mission Sunday are words that Jesus spoke to the Apostles as he was preparing to ascend to heaven,  “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  All of us, because of our Baptism, are sent by God as Missionaries. Sent as Missionaries, in our own way, some to our families, some to our local community, some to the broader Church and then some to the foreign Missions. Missionaries – sent to go to places where the Gospel has not yet been heard or people do not have the resources and to offer, not  only a bit of life, but their whole life to the service of others in unusual circumstances and in foreign places.

We have quite a number of people from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who serve in the Missions – we have a number of lay missionaries, but we also have a number of women and men who have joined Religious communities to be Missionaries.

Back when I was a kid, and this is almost 50 years ago, many  people wanted to be Missionaries.  In fact, the Mission-sending Religious orders, like Maryknoll and other similar communities had huge numbers of people going to South America and to Asia and to other parts of the world.  Unfortunately, today, we don’t have that same sense of being Missionaries and, in a sense; I don’t think we have the same generosity.  People find it very hard to give of themselves as Missionaries and so, what we do, instead, is give money, which represents us in a very real way and sometimes at a great sacrifice.

On World Mission Sunday, it is important for us to consider the possibility that God is calling us to be Missionaries in foreign places.  Lay people do this, as well as, Sisters, Brothers and priests.  So, please give it a thought.

But if it is not possible because of your family responsibilities and other responsibilities[like I can’t be a foreign Missionary, I’m called to be the Archbishop of Philadelphia] we have to be generous with our resources.  We have to be generous to enable the Missionaries to be effective and to also help people that are poor.  You and I who want to be disciples of Jesus, need to listen to the words of today’s Gospel:
“Master, which commandment of the law is the greatest?”
And Jesus says to you and I again today, “You shall love the Lord.”
How?
With your heart  . . . that means, with our affection.
With our soul . . . this means, our whole being.
With our minds . . . that we are fascinated by God, as we might be fascinated by the girl we love or the boy that we love.
And the second is exactly like it.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments hang the rest of the story.
So, may the Lord bring to perfection the good things He begins in your hearts today.
One of the ways that we love our neighbor and love our God is to be Missionaries and to be generous with the Missionary activities of the Church.  It is a way of reaching out to others and pouring ourselves out in love to God.  Happy World Mission Sunday!

November is traditionally a time when many people remember their loved ones in a spiritual way. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the perfect offering made to God because it is Christ Himself who is priest and sufferer. Around the world, hour by hour, as the Eucharist is offered, Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary and His Resurrection are made present, and His redeeming work continues for all. Christ told us, "Do this in memory of Me."

Masses for Loved Ones
Throughout the centuries, Catholics have followed the praiseworthy custom of requesting that Mass be celebrated for themselves, or for loved ones, living or deceased. So often we think Masses may be celebrated only for the deceased, but they may be offered for healing, good health, birthdays, anniversaries or simply to express thanks and praise to God for a loved one.

Your Mass Offering is a special help to a Mission priest, poor himself and serving among the poorest of the human family. For many Mission priests, Mass Offerings are a substantial means of day-by-day support.

In November, or any time of the year, the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith will send your prayer intention offerings for the celebration of Masses to Mission priests. 

Call 215-587-3944 to have a Mass Card request form along with a return-addressed stamped envelope sent to you or go to Masses under the Society for the Propagation of the Faith on this website.

MONTHLY UPDATE
by Monsignor James T. McDonough
DIRECTOR, PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES-PHILADELPHIA

For More Mission Monthly Update, click here >