“We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20)
KUCHING — The Universal Church celebrates the annual World Mission Sunday on the second last Sunday in October. This year, it will be celebrated on 24 October 2021.
In 1926, Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday to be celebrated in all the local Churches as the feast of catholicity and universal solidarity, so that Christians may recognise their common responsibility with regards to the evangelisation of the world through prayer, animation and offerings for the Missions. His concern was to engender a sense of responsibility in people for supporting the Missions throughout the world, through the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Pope Francis, in his message for this year’s celebration, reminded how Jesus brought about the Good News of Salvation through a genuine friendship, watching him cure the sick, dine with sinners, feed the hungry, draw near to the outcast, touch the unclean, identify with the needy, propose the Beatitudes and teach in a new and authoritative way.
This left an indelible mark on them, awakening amazement, expansive joy and a profound sense of gratitude. With Jesus, we too have seen, heard and experienced that things can be different. Even now, he has inaugurated future times, reminding us of an often forgotten dimension of our humanity, namely, that “we were created for a fulfilment that can only be found in love” (Fratelli Tutti, 68).
As the apostles, who had seen and heard this Good News took up the mission to echo the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we too are reminded of our Baptismal calling of proclaiming the Gospel to the world, especially in this time of the pandemic which has brought to the fore and amplified the pain, the solitude, the poverty and the injustices experienced by so many people. Let us thank the Lord for the gift of our faith and vocation by living our mission to echo Christ in our daily living.
There will be a special collection done on Mission Sunday every year intended for the work of mission around the world through the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Last year, the parishes within the Archdiocese of Kuching collected RM67,234.01 and this fund was later distributed to dioceses in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and also Indonesia by the Pontifical Mission Societies of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Among the projects that was partially supported by this fund, was the Catechists’ training in the Diocese of Miri.
In the month of October also, we are giving the opportunity for Children to participate in the works of mission in the spirit of “Children Helping Children” through a special collection box. Children are encouraged to give up certain amounts of their daily pocket money to help other children who are in need.
These boxes will be collected during Christmas and are to be presented at the Solemnity of Epiphany, as a gesture presenting their gifts together with the Magi. Last year, children all throughout the parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuching collected RM51,603.35 and this collection was sent to support projects for children in Africa. Well done to our little ones!
There are still so many areas of mission in which we can help in. Therefore, as a missionary Church, what will your mission be in this whole month of October which shall be dedicated to the works of mission and evangelisation?
May Mary, the first missionary disciple, increase in all the baptised, the desire to be the salt and light in our lands (cf. Mt 5:13-14).
Fr Galvin Richard Ngumbang
Chairman, Archdiocesan Commission for Mission and Human Development
Blessed Happy World Mission Day 2021