An encounter with Christ living in His Church
20 October is World Mission Sunday. It’s the one day in the year when the entire global Church comes together to support mission. What a great opportunity for all of us to reflect on and pray for the Church’s missionary work! During this time, we honour the brave and selfless women and men already making a huge difference in the world’s poorest communities. And with the whole Church we can appreciate that, in our rapidly changing world, we need the Gospel more than ever.
In the first week of Extraordinary Month of Mission (EMM2019), Catholics commit to reawakening a personal encounter with Jesus Christ living in his Church. Through prayer and action, we seek a deeper relationship with Jesus; the chance to increase our faith through service to others.
Bringing the warmth of Christ to a harsh climate
For World Mission Sunday in 2015, Missio shared with you about the work of the Church in Mongolia – the world’s youngest Catholic Church. We told how, in 1992, Fr Wenceslao ‘Wens’ Padilla packed the warmest clothes he had and set off from his home country of the Philippines for the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. His mission was to share God’s love with the people living in one of the harshest climates in the world, following the collapse of Communism.
Sadly, Bishop Wens has since passed away. But thanks to your support, he’s left a beautiful legacy of faith, as well as a care centre for children who were homeless, schools, clinics and training centres for vocational skills.
World Mission Sunday
In the run up to World Mission Sunday, we ask you to us and the worldwide Catholic family in praying for our global Church and supporting missionaries.
Donate to World Mission Sunday>>
Find out more about this year’s WMS appeal>>
This story appears in the Autumn special extended edition of Mission Today, which you can download here.