VATICAN – Cardinal Tagle and World Mission Sunday: the “journey” in preparation for the Sunday dedicated to the missio ad gentes continues

Vatican City – Preparations for World Mission Sunday continue with a four-part video series led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization , together with the JESCOM . While the first video focused on the importance of Catholic communities’ participation in World Mission Sunday and the collection of donations , the second video starts with a question: “What is our mission today?” The Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery answers this question based on the accounts of the four evangelists, which demonstrate that the mission Jesus entrusted to the first disciples is to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. This mission continues today through each one of us. Cardinal Tagle also cites the Code of Canon Law, Book III : “Since the whole Church is by its nature missionary and the work of evangelization must be held as a fundamental duty of the People of God, all the Church faithful, conscious of their responsibility, are to assume their part in missionary work.” And if by virtue of Christ’s mandate we are sent to evangelize “how can we take active part in this missionary work?” In response to this question, the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery reiterates that “to go out and evangelize is much needed today as there are still places and peoples who have not heard yet the Gospel of Jesus.” Referring to the decree “Ad Gentes” of the Second Vatican Council : “The proper purpose of this missionary activity is evangelization and the planting of the Church among those peoples and groups where it has not yet taken root.” Cardinal Tagle explains that as a Church, we can support these areas of initial evangelization both by reaching out to these young Churches, as missionaries have done and continue to do, following the example of the first disciples, but also indirectly, by supporting “the global missionary arm, the Pontifical Mission Societies, and its four organizations.”
Cardinal Tagle illustrates the specificity of the four Pontifical Mission Societies and at the end of the video, makes an appeal: “We become a part of this global effort through our generosity, especially during World Mission Sunday. We become missionaries of Pope Leo XIV, who reminds us that supporting ecclesial communities in areas where the Church is young is a missionary responsibility of all Christians.”

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