Bishop Colm O’Reilly calls Catholics “together in mission” for Mission Sunday

22 Oct 2010

PRESS RELEASE
22 October 2010

Bishop Colm O’Reilly calls Catholics “together in mission” for Mission Sunday

  • Pope Benedict’s message for Mission Sunday 24 October ‘Building Ecclesial Communion is the Key to Mission’
  • Special web feature on Mission Month available on www.catholicbishops.ie
“Especially on Mission Sunday we remember all missionaries but especially our 2,000 Irish-born missionaries who bring the prayers, solidarity and financial help of the Church in Ireland to Christian communities in other parts of the world” – Bishop Colm O’Reilly

This Sunday is Mission Sunday and ‘Together in Mission’ is the 2010 theme and call to all Catholics for this Mission month of October.  Ahead of Mission Sunday Bishop Colm O’Reilly, Chairman of the Bishops’ Council for the Missions, asks the faithful to join with Pope Benedict XVI to highlight Mission Month as an “opportunity to renew the commitment to proclaim the Gospel and to give pastoral activities greater missionary perspective.”

Bishop O’Reilly said “October is a special time in the Church calendar as it allows us to reflect on Mission, as well as to renew our Missionary work for today.  In particular on Mission Sunday we remember all missionaries but especially our 2,000 Irish-born missionaries who bring the prayers, solidarity and financial help of the Church in Ireland to Christian communities in other parts of the world, especially those in greatest need.  Let these missionaries, and the many Irish lay volunteers supporting their pastoral work, be the focus of our prayers as we celebrate Mission Sunday.”

Bishop O’Reilly continued “Let us also remember in our prayers those in need in our own families and communities and around the world and we thank in particular the members of the Apostolic Work Society, all over Ireland, who give such valuable support to the work of our missionaries.  ‘Together in Mission’ asks us to live the call of our baptism, ensuring that the Good News is proclaimed as others experience God’s love through the love and concern we have for them.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

World Missions Ireland www.wmi.ie –  the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies – brings the prayers, solidarity and financial help of the Church in Ireland to Christian communities in other parts of the world, especially those in greatest need.

Each Mission Sunday we are asked to put aside – for that day – our financial support for our favourite missionary group or project so as to show our solidarity with the younger Churches throughout the world, especially those with the least resources.  Please avail of the special Mission web feature, including Pope Benedict’s message for Mission Sunday and resources for Mission Month 2010, available now on www.catholicbishops.ie which includes:

  • A short video interview with Bishop Colm O’Reilly, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois and Chairman of the Bishops’ Council for the Missions, about the Church’s celebration of Mission Month, the continuing need for a missionary presence in the world, and how we can support the Church’s missionary work
  • The Message of Pope Benedict for Mission Sunday 24 October 2010 on the theme ‘Building Ecclesial Communion is the Key to Mission’
  • Details of the Mission Alive project 2010.  Mission Alive is the Mission Awareness Project of the Irish Missionary Union and provides resources for members and supporters of the Irish Missionary Movement to reflect on the theme for Mission Month 2010.
  • Articles from Intercom, the Irish Bishops’ pastoral and liturgical resource magazine, by Fr Gary Howley SPS, National Director of World Missions Ireland and Ronan Barry, Mission Alive Coordinator at the Irish Missionary Union
Further information:
Martin Long, Director of Communications 00 353 86 172 7678