WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

John Paul Speaks

Notable quotations from Pope John Paul II and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

"PROCLAMATION OF FORGIVENESS"

We will celebrate Mission Sunday on October 20 with the stimulating theme: "Mission is Proclamation of Forgiveness."

MISSION IS OUR RESPONSE TO JESUS

Although this event is repeated every year ... it loses none of its special significance and importance, because mission is our response to Jesus' supreme command: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19).

"EVER MORE URGENT"

The Lord's call to proclaim the Good News is still valid today: indeed it is ever more urgent.

"THE DEMANDS OF GOD'S INFINITE LOVE"

The celebration of Mission Sunday offers everyone an opportunity for self-examination on the demands of God's infinite love. Love which calls for faith; love which tells us to put all our trust in Him.

PRAYER AND COOPERATION

On this annual recurrence we are called to pray assiduously for the missions and to cooperate with every means in the Church's activity all over the world to build up the Kingdom of God, "an eternal and universal Kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace" (Preface for the Feast of Christ the King).

TOTAL COMMITMENT TO CHRIST

We are called to bear witness first of all with our life to our total adhesion to Christ and His Gospel.

"NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL"

We must never be ashamed of the Gospel and never afraid of proclaiming that we are Christians, hiding our faith. Instead we must continue to speak to extend the spaces for proclaiming salvation, because Jesus has promised to be with us for ever and He is always in the midst of His disciples.

"MARY, QUEEN OF MISSION"

Let us entrust this commitment to proclaim the Gospel and indeed the whole evangelizing activity of the Church to Most Holy Mary, Queen of Missions. May she accompany us on our journey of discovering, proclaiming and witnessing to the love of God Who forgives and gives peace to mankind.

(Source: Message for World Mission Sunday, issued on May 19, 2002, the Solemnity of Pentecost)