Fr Anthony's blog: Not simply a money box

Many of our Red Box holders tell me that they have had a Red Box in their home for generations. This was not so for me, for obvious reasons, as I was not brought up in a Catholic household. I first encountered the Red Box after becoming a Catholic.

Soon afterwards, I decided to apply to join the Mill Hill Missionaries. Nothing surprising so far, perhaps, but as I continued my formation journey towards the priesthood, the true meaning of the Red Box became more and more apparent to me.

It was not simply a collection box for money to help people in need across the world, but a powerful symbol of people’s commitment to the mission entrusted by Jesus to his Church.

This year we are celebrating 90 years of the Red Box, which forms the basis of the partnership between the Mill Hill Missionaries and Missio. Over the decades what went into the Box was, and is for many, a sacrifice. And what came out of the Box went to support the missionary work of the Church and to Catholic communities across the world that are struggling.

They struggle because they are based in poorer areas of the world, or because they are persecuted, or because they are very young and still establishing themselves.

In places like Malawi, Myanmar and Mongolia, missionaries and the communities they serve are able to witness to God’s love in very practical ways. Your support helps to build churches, convents, schools, clinics, dispensaries and children’s homes – places where faith is nurtured and the human dignity of each person is protected.

The Red Box is a visible reminder to pray for missionaries; for the spread of the Gospel; for peace, justice and freedom in our broken world. And it is a vital way of our taking part in the coming of God’s Kingdom, for which we pray for every day.

It is for the Kingdom that Jesus came to change the world. He spoke of setting the world on fire: a fire that warms hearts grown cold through suffering, fear or loneliness, and a fire that shines light into places darkened by injustice and evil. This fire is the power of God’s love and mercy at work in the world, transforming lives and renewing our hope.

So, there we are: the Red Box is not simply a box for collecting money. It is a living and dynamic sign of our response to God’s call: a sign of faith, hope and love; a sign of our desire to help bring about God’s Kingdom, where suffering, evil and death will one day be no more.

Thank you for being part of the Red Box family. Long live the Red Box!

Father Tony