Missionary spirit is animated by the Holy Spirit

   
    My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
    Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has shown himself to have the heart of a missionary. Like Jesus, he teaches by word and example, keeping the poor, the troubled and the vulnerable in his heart and speech at all times. In that spirit I write to you today. Our Catholic Church’s origin is in the very mission of Jesus Christ himself. It is in Christ alone that “salvation is offered to all people, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy” (see Ephesians 2:8; Romans 1:16).
    In every nation, World Mission Sunday will be observed next weekend Oct. 19-20. This essential observance is a time for us to be inspired by the  priests, religious and lay missionary groups who make it possible for the most needy to encounter Christ, the sacraments and the living Word of God, and thereby to live in hope.
    The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is the Holy Father’s chief missionary arm, providing resources for more than 1,150 mission dioceses the world over. We are asking that every parish and all the faithful celebrate the fullness of World Mission Sunday. In his address in advance of World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis summarizes well the vision which we must maintain: “The Church – I repeat again – is not a relief organization, an enterprise or an NGO, but a community of people, animated by the Holy Spirit, who have lived and are living the wonder of the encounter with Jesus Christ and want to share this experience of deep joy, the message of salvation that the Lord gave us. It is the Holy Spirit that guides the Church in this path.”
    The theme for Mission Sunday is: “Do good on earth.” This is taken from the words of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who is the Patroness of the Missions. It is a call to put faith into action! This year we highlight the missionary efforts of the Salesian Sisters of Chennai, India, who work among young women who are victims of trafficking and slavery in order to set them free to know Jesus. They are a powerful witness of the missionary realities of today.
    At a time when the needs in the missions have grown substantially, I ask you for your generosity. With the mutual efforts of our clergy, religious and faithful, every parish embraces the call to proclaim the “Good News” to the poor. Let us pray that this year World Mission Sunday will touch each of us deeply, and that we will be united with our universal church responding to those most in need. I thank you in advance for your generous response to the needs of others.
    Wishing you God’s blessings, and with much gratitude for your missionary spirit, I am
    
    Faithfully yours in Christ,
    Most Rev. Gregory M. Aymond
    Archbishop of New Orleans