World Mission Sunday
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY - Sunday 22 October
Hearts on fire, feet on the move (cf. Lk 24:13-35)
World Mission Sunday, the annual worldwide Eucharistic celebration for the Missions and missionaries of the world, was celebrated on Sunday 22 October this year. It is a unique, global effort for the entire Church to support over one thousand local churches in Asia and Africa, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe. Through the work of these churches, and their witness to Christ, the poor receive practical help and experience God's love and mercy, His hope and peace. Of course, we are all called to contribute to the mission given us by Christ, to bring the Good News to all people. For most of us, this will be with the people we meet in our daily lives – family, friends, and co-workers.
Inspired by the story of the Road to Emmaus in Luke’s Gospel, Pope Francis has chosen the theme, ‘hearts on fire, feet on the move.’ (Lk 24:13-35). In this passage we hear of the encounter a couple of disciples have with the risen Christ as they walk away from Jerusalem. They have witnessed the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus and are lost – what are we to do now? In meeting Jesus, they hear again the Good News but don’t recognise him until the breaking of the bread at the meal that evening. The outcome: they turn around and walk back towards Jerusalem. Back to the place where mission is to continue.
Catholic Mission is the organisation that primarily raises funds for missions throughout the Church. This year the focus of their Annual Parish Appeal is the work of the Salesian sisters in Timor Leste who operate a health clinic and vocational school in Venilale. To learn more about them and their work, click here.
To read Pope Francis’s Message for World Mission Day, click here.
The Junior School holds its Mission Day this Friday, and we thank the students, staff and families for their support of this significant initiative.
Peter Hawes
Assistant Head of School Mission and Identity