Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - “Living and proclaiming the Word of God”: this is the theme for World Mission Sunday (October 19) in India. Catholics in India has wished to focus the theme on the proclamation of the Word of God, using World Mission Sunday to recall the other events that are taking place in the Universal Church: the Pauline Year and the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, which is taking place in the Vatican.
As Fides was told by Fr. Ignaci Siluvai, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in India, in preparation for World Mission Sunday, all the Catholic parishes, schools, and associations in India will be intensifying their reflection and meditation on the Word of God. “Sacred Scripture is the most valuable gift we have: we should have it in our hands, read it, pray with it, live it, and communicate it,” Fr. Siluvai said.
Several activities have been prepared in order to help the faithful “to make the Word of God a priority. Every Christian is invited to bring the Gospel flame to his environments. Let us go and proclaim the fullness of life, joy, and love to the modern world.”
Fr. Siluvai told Fides that World Mission Sunday takes on special meaning in the context of the Year of Saint Paul: “We should follow the example of Saint Paul, who said, 'Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel' (1 Cor 9:16). The passion for Christ and for His Gospel should give new meaning to the mission, which cannot be reduced to the action of a group of specialists, but should responsibly involve all the members of the People of God.”
The PMS Director said: “It would be great if, as a fruit of World Mission Sunday, every parish could be prepared and take the necessary steps in becoming a missionary community that evangelizes the land. All we need is a little courage, so we can celebrate World Mission Sunday and celebrate it in plenitude.”
The present situation of the Christian community, submitted to attacks from radical Hindu groups, will not go unnoticed, Fr. Siluvai said. “World Mission Sunday is an opportunity to change and to reaffirm our faith in Christ, crucified and risen. Let us not lose the courage to proclaim. Preaching the Gospel is not an option, in a list of many others, but a necessity for every Christian. The Christian community feels close and expresses its solidarity with those brethren who are suffering in many areas of the nation. The recent canonization of Sister Alphonsa is an invitation to the Christians of India to maintain their heroic faith and an invitation to us to remain firm in our faith.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2008)
