World Mission Sunday is a celebration of the heart that also helps build God’s kingdom, writes Francis Leong.
In his World Mission Sunday (WMS) address to the Catholic faithful in every parish throughout the world, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, reminds us that “… WMS itself is not an isolated moment in the course of the year but a precious occasion to pause and reflect on how we respond to the missionary calling …” in our everyday lives as a baptised person and as ecclesial or parish communities. WMS has always been an occasion for the affirmation of our solidarity and connectedness to Catholic communities throughout the developing world so as to reach out to each other as one Church in Christ.
Our Holy Father further reminds us that “… we are Church: Let us be Church … precisely by opening ourselves and stepping outside ourselves and being Church with others throughout the world …”
Most of us have responded to our missionary calling, at least in part, through our generous and in many cases, regular, donation to Catholic Mission’s Propagation of the Faith Appeal during the year. WMS offers us the opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you for your generous support on behalf of our Holy Father, and on behalf of all our missionary priests, religious sisters and brothers, catechists and lay volunteers in every Catholic parish throughout the developing world. Your support sustains and strengthens the work and presence of our missionaries and their outreach to vulnerable people.
In this month of October, Archbishop Hickey and Bishop Sproxton are on their ad limina visit to Rome. It will be with some degree of pride they will be able to say that $7,580,776 was raised from the parishioners of our archdiocese over the last five years in support of our Holy Father’s universal Mission Appeal. This figure includes those giving on a regular monthly basis, which amounts to more than 30 per cent of the final total, those who give anything between $2000 and $150,000 on an annual basis, and bequests which amount to around 20 per cent of the final total. Such regular giving is so important in sustaining the work of our overseas missionaries.
As someone who has returned from nearly eight years of service in Africa, I can’t help but be truly moved and touched by such generosity and commitment. To be able to thank people in person for your support is a privilege and honour. As important as the total amount raised is for the missionary work and presence of our Church globally, so too is the ‘faithraising’ that accompanies such fundraising.
In a very special way, your contribution to our Holy Father’s universal Missionary Appeal is a deliberate act of faith in which we “… give back to God what belongs to God …” As this specific act of giving reinforces our sense of faith here, so too it does the same in far off places across the globe.
Meanwhile, $271,886 was raised for Catholic Mission during this five year period and sent directly to the Mission directors of countries affected by disasters. Not a lot of money over five years, this may seem a little strange given Caritas is the lead Catholic agency for disaster relief. However, the money donated to Catholic Mission during disaster appeals is different because it is specifically used to strengthen the small scale, personalised pastoral work of the Church in caring for victims and survivors, and thus compliments the large scale humanitarian relief work of Caritas.
When describing the difference, I often like to use the analogy of the human body: The work of Caritas is akin to our arms and legs, necessary for much heavy lifting and moving. A lot of energy is required, but the effect is significant, effectively targeted and very important. The work of Catholic Mission sustains the heart which pumps life-giving blood to all parts of the body, addressing universal rather than targeted needs. The heart doesn’t require much to keep going, but without it the work of the arms and legs has no meaning. Without arms and legs, the heart is debilitated but can still function.
Celebrating WMS is a celebration of the heart, the heart of our Church, and the Love at the heart of our Church which sustains our Faith and strengthens the work we are all committed to as Christians in preparing the world for God’s Kingdom.
Catholic Mission can be contacted on (08) 9422 7933