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On the third Sunday in October each year, the Church acknowledges the special men and woman who put their faith in action by being missionaries.
World Mission Sunday, marked Oct. 20 this year, focuses attention on the needs and works of the Church in developing countries across the world and pays homage to those who commit their lives to this noble practice.
Cardinal Dolan served as the principal celebrant and homilist of the 10:15 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Joining him in the archdiocesan observance of World Mission Sunday were a number of missionary priests who served as concelebrants, including Father Andrew Small, O.M.I., national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which is based in Manhattan, as well as other religious missionaries and former missionaries in the congregation.
During his homily the cardinal reminded Mass-goers how the work of the missions and missionaries is reflective of prayers and faith of Catholics just like them.
“In God’s holy words through Jesus, he tells us that our prayers have to be persistent and persevering, not to give up,” Cardinal Dolan said.
The cardinal mentioned that the text of the day’s first reading from Exodus offered an example of how faith and prayer is a communal act. We benefit when people help us pray, the cardinal said, citing the assistance that Moses received from Aaron and Hur as he prayed.
Cardinal Dolan reminded those in attendance that October is month of the Rosary. The Blessed Mother is always helping us, and her intercession has particular value, he said.
“Her intercession caused the first miracle when she spoke to her son, and when the apostles were waiting on the Holy Spirit they asked the Blessed Mother to pray with them. There is nothing more persistent than praying the Rosary. By praying it, we fulfill the mandate that our prayers are persistent,” Cardinal Dolan said.
The cardinal also made reference to St. Therese of Lisieux, “The Little Flower,” and St. Francis Xavier, the patron saints of the missions.
There are more than 1,100 mission dioceses around the world. Pope Piux XI established World Mission Sunday in 1926. The archdiocesan Office of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith dates to 1827.
Sister Pauline Chirchirillo, P.B.V.M., the current archdiocesan director, shared her personal thoughts about the archdiocese’s World Mission Sunday observance in an interview with CNY.
“I was very pleased with the number of priests, who concelebrated the Mass with Cardinal Dolan. The cardinal’s homily was superb. He reminded everybody of the importance of bringing the Good News to the ends of the earth,” said Sister Pauline, who has served as the director for the Office of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for nine years. She has also given the office 22 years of service as education coordinator.
Sister Pauline believes that a sense of missionary work should be instilled in young people at an early age, and she encourages educators and parents to contact her office.
“It is very important to make young people aware of the work that is done in foreign countries,” she explained. “The youth, parents and educators who work with youth should take advantage of the missionary office as a resource. By motivating children and making them aware there maybe some who will dedicate their life or at least take a year or two to be a part of a mission.
“Even though there is poverty in this country, in many cases it doesn’t compare to the conditions that exist in other places, either through economic reasons or because countries people don’t have the freedom we have here. Many live in suppressed countries, ” said Sister Pauline, who has visited 25 mission countries during her tenure with the archdiocesan Propagation of the Faith office.
Information on the office: (212) 371-1000, ext. 2704.
