Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "This year's missionary October follows in the wake of the Extraordinary Missionary Month that we celebrated in 2019. The theme 'Baptized and Sent', which aimed to rediscover the universality of the missionary vocation, will have its development in this year's theme: every baptized person is called to make known the goodness, mercy and love of God for all men, above all through an attitude of welcome and a lifestyle based on 'fraternity'." This is what is written, in a message sent to Agenzia Fides, by Fr. Giuseppe Pizzoli, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (Missio) in Italy, illustrating the material prepared for the animation of the Missionary Month and World Mission Day.
Recalling Pope Francis' message for World Mission Day, Fr. Pizzoli emphasizes that "Here I am, send me" is Isaiah's answer and wants to be the response of all those who have become aware because they are "baptized and sent". "In particular, the missionary vocation is characterized by bringing to all men the experience of God's love for all humanity. In our Church context in Italy, we wish to translate this missionary vocation in an appeal to all believers to become 'Weavers of fraternity'."
"We lived a period of isolation - he continues -, we experienced the 'nostalgia' of our relationships of family and friendships. We want to learn to live new relationships, not only with the people we are dear to us, but with all those we meet on our path, in particular with those who pay the most for the negative consequences of the storm that has hit us in this time".
The Director of Missio Italia recalls that World Mission Day is a day of communion in prayer and solidarity with the young Churches.
The image chosen by Missio Italia as the poster for World Mission Day is a mural from San Salvador, which depicts Mgr. Oscar Arnulfo Romero with Father Rutilio Grande, a Jesuit martyr, who will soon be beatified. The assassination of Father Rutilio Grande impressed and converted Mgr. Romero, transforming him into a courageous pastor and defender of the weak and the poor. The signs of fraternity are represented below: bread, chalice, Bible and cross, symbols of fraternity in faith, as well as the fruits of the earth that represent fraternity and solidarity among peoples. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/10/2020)
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