‘Go forth with zeal’ — Mission Sunday emphasizes extending Christ’s invitation near and far
ARLINGTON — Sunday, Oct. 20 was designated by Pope Francis as World Mission Sunday. The pontiff’s message for this year’s celebration, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet” (Mt. 22:9), emphasizes the Church’s primary task to become disciples of Jesus Christ and extend this invitation to the whole world.
In his message, Pope Francis said the faithful should evangelize “with urgency but also with great respect and kindness.” He called on missionary disciples to proclaim the good news “with joy, magnanimity, and benevolence that are the fruits of the Holy Spirit within them. … Not by pressuring, coercing, or proselytizing,” he said, “but with closeness, compassion, and tenderness, and in this way reflecting God’s own way of being and acting.”
Local mission
During Bishop Michael Olson’s homily at St. Joseph Parish in Arlington on World Mission Sunday, he explained the call to mission is two-fold.
“Part of the missionary spirit given to the Church is that we go forth with zeal both to meet Christ already present in our neighbor and also to introduce Him to others who have not encountered Him,” he said. “We go into the world to find Christ where He has called us as we meet new people and encounter new cultures.”
The Diocese of Fort Worth established a Mission Council to promote the bishop’s missionary initiatives to spread the Gospel both locally and abroad. The Council also supports parish outreach efforts through prayer, education, and opportunities to share experiences and ideas related to mission outreach.
Deacon Mike Mocek is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Fort Worth and a member of the Diocesan Mission Council. Since his first mission trip to Honduras 20 years ago, Mocek said his understanding of mission has changed.
“Mission is a call to spread the Gospel message by our actions and serving others, and to invite others to join us,” he said. “Whenever we leave the doors of our church, we should consider ourselves to be on mission.”
Mocek emphasized that mission does not require traveling abroad. “Any little thing we do to witness our faith and reach out to others in the name of Jesus is mission,” he said. “Start small and see where it leads.”
Dr. Philomena Ikowe, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Arlington, also serves on the Council. “Mission is very important to me because it has shaped and defined the person that I am today,” she said. “I went to a Catholic school and this was made possible by the missionaries. Engaging in missionary activities is a way of giving back to the system that trained me.”
Ikowe believes everyone is called to participate. “There is no particular age to get involved in the work of evangelization,” she said. “For those who feel they are too young, the Church needs your youthful energy and vigor. To those who feel they are too old, your experience will be of great value. To those who feel they are too busy, your donations will go a long way to support missionary activity.”
Mike Wuller, a parishioner of St. Bartholomew Church in Fort Worth and Council member, points to the diocesan website (fwdioc.org/pontifical-missions) as a resource for local opportunities.
“There are projects already underway that you could participate in, or financially support, or pray for,” Wuller said. “Pick something you have a heart for, avoid distractions and obstacles, and see where that takes you. Often God calls us to share gifts we already have and work with a team to facilitate sharing those gifts with those in need.”
Missionary Childhood Association
As part of the Mass celebration for World Mission Sunday, Bishop Olson recognized Ciara Edmond as a winner of Missionary Childhood Association’s National Christmas Artwork Contest. Edmond, a 2nd grade student at Louise Cabaniss Academy of Young Scholars in Grand Prairie, attends Our Mother of Mercy Parish in Fort Worth.
Edmond’s mother, Stephanie, said her daughter’s inspiration for the prize-winning drawing came from wanting to display her love for Jesus and God. “Sometimes children can better express themselves through music and art,” she said.
Edmond’s artwork will be displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., during the upcoming Advent and Christmas seasons.
Origin and tradition
Pope Pius XI instituted World Mission Sunday in 1926 as part of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies. Since then, on the annual day Catholics everywhere are invited to support worldwide missionary efforts through prayer and charitable giving. “The mission for all requires the commitment of all,” Pope Francis said.
Historically, popes often canonize new saints who devoted their life to missionary work and the service of others on World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis continued this tradition by canonizing 14 new saints. These included Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis from Canada, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family; Blessed Elena Guerra, an Italian nun who founded the Oblates of the Holy Spirit; Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries; and eight Franciscan friars and three Maronite laymen martyred in Syria in 1860.