World Missionary Sunday is a Sunday in the year when Mass is celebrated exclusively to enhance the missionary activity across the globe. It enables Catholics to individually renew their commitments to the missionary movement, coordinated by the Pontifical Mission Societies who are known as the Missio. As the World prepares to celebrate this year’s edition on October 24, BETTY AMUKPO takes on some children on how they intend to promote the World Missionary Sunday. Excerpts:
‘Praying for all missionaries’
I will promote the world mission Sunday by
• Praying for all missionaries
• Helping through my financial support
• Sending words of encouragement to them.
To be on mission is to be willing to think as Christ does, to believe with Him that those around us are also our brothers and sisters. Mission Sunday was established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as the day of prayer for missionaries. Mission work has always been special to God. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverb 19:21.
• Chima Anita.
‘Educate people about our faith’
As an individual to promote my faith, I will preach the word of God and educate people about our faith. Matt.24:14 says, “And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” Also in Jeremiah 20:9, it is written, “If I say I will not mention Him or speak anymore in His name’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.’ Apart from all these, one can also pray and engage in real life mission, as per trying to do as Christ would do if He were to be on earth. We are the salt of the earth and thus make it a better place for all to live through Christ Jesus.
• Victoria Okefe
‘Practice what I preach’
From the Book of Mark 16:15, “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. I will promote the World Mission Sunday by preaching the word of God to people, the Gospel which I will spread in words and as well it will reflect in my actions and deeds too because I want to practice what I preach which is the best way of committing myself and spreading the Gospel.
• Eyinade Gideon
‘Doing charity work and helping the needy’
The world Mission Sunday is a day set aside by the Catholic Church throughout the world to publicly renew its commitment to the missionary movement.
I will promote the mission Sunday by:
1. Doing charity work and helping the needy.
2. Preaching the gospel to people for the work of evangelisation. Philippians 4:9, “My God will supply.
3. Showing people the way to Christ which is light and salvation, in line with what is written in the Bible in John 14:6, “I am the way, truth and the life. No one cometh unto the Father except through me”.
4. By talking to people about the World Mission Sunday; creating enough awareness about it.
5. By giving donations and financial support to the missionary, especially those in difficult areas.
6. By praying for them and encouraging them in their work and propagating the work of Christ, through the missionaries.
7. Encouraging people to support the work of the missionaries, financially and materially.
8. By volunteering to do the work of evangelism as contained in Isaiah 6:8 “Here I am, send me”.
By so doing all these, the gospel of God will get to the end of the earth. So that salvation will get to everyone. Mark 16:15 says “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures”.
• Chibuike Anyasor
‘Raise awareness for the Church missionary work around the globe’
As the Catholic Church around the world celebrates and supports Pope Francis on World Mission Sunday, there is need to look at the missionary institutions. What are the pontifical mission societies? How are they different from other mission or evangelistic organization? We are the Pope own mission societies, helping him along with the Bishop, to raise awareness for the Church missionary work around the globe and gather support for the 1,100 missing diocese, mostly in Asia and Africa, but also in Oceania, as well as in remote region of Latin America and parts of Europe. Pope Francis message for World Mission Sunday this year reflects on the theme ‘You shall be my witness (Acts:8).’ He reminds us that every Christians is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ. On World Mission Sunday, we join our Holy Father the Pope in supporting the mission as we pray and respond here at home.
• Sandra Ojimmadu
‘Preaching and teaching the Word of God’
World Mission Sunday was created by Pope Pius XI in 1926. The purpose is to carry out and promote the work of Jesus Christ on Earth. How do I to promote the World Mission Sunday? By:
• Sharing our gifts and talent with others.
• Preaching and teaching the Word of God.
• Helping the less privilege.
• Promoting justice, equity, fairness and hope for humanity
• Ensuring a safe and sustainable environment for all creation of God.
• Okononfua Bryan
‘Praying for sick and helping the needy’
I will promote the Mission Sunday by preaching the gospel to people. Praying for sick and helping the needy. God says who works for the salvation of others will have their sins forgiven and will bring salvation to their own souls.
• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
