Message from Pope Francis
Go and invite everyone to the banquet (cf. Mt 22:9)
Dear brothers and sisters,
The theme I have chosen for this year’s World Mission Day is taken from the Gospel parable of the wedding banquet (cf. Mt 22:1-14). After the guests refused his invitation, the king, the main character in the story, tells his servants: “Go therefore to the thoroughfares, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find” (v. 9). Reflecting on this key passage in the context of the parable and of Jesus’ own life, we can discern several important aspects of evangelization. These appear particularly timely for all of us, as missionary disciples of Christ, during this final stage of the synodal journey that, in the words of its motto, “Communion, Participation, Mission”, seeks to refocus the Church on her primary task, which is the preaching of the Gospel in today’s world. Continue Reading
Gospel Reflections for Missionary Month 2024
Tuesday, October 1, 2024:
Jb 3:1-3,11-17,20-23; Ps 88; Lk 9:51-56
Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Today marks the beginning of World Mission Month, which will culminate in World Mission Sunday. For many years, “mission” has been a major concern of the Church, of popes, bishops, and of many movements… The good will is there among many. So why does so little happen?.
Perhaps we lack a little of Jesus’ determination and steadfastness in fulfilling His mission, which we heard about in today’s Gospel: “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” And He continued the journey with persistence, but also with patience with those who did not understand or share His mission, as well as with the Samaritan villagers who refused to accept Him. This is how He taught His disciples the new attitude, the new vision, the “new things” in the fulfillment of God’s mission. Continue Reading
Meditations
Let us begin: There is no mission without the Rosary!
How beautiful it is to rediscover the providential similarity between the month dedicated to “missions” and the one of the “Rosary”: the month of October. And for the missionary disciples of Canada, it is a grace, because Our Lady of the Rosary is the Patron Saint of this country.
Animation Guide
The Joyful Mysteries: First Mystery – The Annunciation
“Yet it is not so much that we go to the Lord, but that he comes to us, to fill us with his grace, to fill us with his joy.” (Pope Francis, Homily for the celebration of the sacrament of penance with the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, March 25, 2022).
