Itanagar – “As we celebrate the centenary of World Mission Sunday, the initiatives held throughout the Diocese of Miao have highlighted a central message: mission belongs to every baptized person. Through prayer, formation, community participation and material support, the faithful in this remote part of northeastern India have reaffirmed their shared responsibility to proclaim Christ and support the mission of the Church throughout the world,” Father Felix Anthony, secretary of the Office for Social Communications of the Diocese of Miao, in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, tells Fides News Agency.
The Diocese of Miao lies in a region bordering China and Myanmar and is home to indigenous peoples belonging to various ethnic groups. “All communities came together to celebrate World Mission Sunday through the Eucharist, prayer, missionary animation and the prayer of the Rosary in families. We felt united with the universal Church. The Church’s missionary work is global,” Father Anthony observes.
The Bishop of Miao, Salesian Bishop George Pallipparambil, SDB, celebrated World Mission Sunday in the Cathedral of Miao, dedicated to “Christ, the Light of the Nations”. He invited parishes and mission centres to organize meaningful activities to mark the centenary and renew their commitment to evangelization.
“May these celebrations remind each of us that we are not just believers, but missionary disciples who follow Jesus and proclaim his love and peace. This is the Church’s most urgent need in our context,” the Bishop said, recalling “the importance of prayer in reaching those who have not yet encountered Christ”.
“Let us reach out to those who have never heard of Jesus. Let us pray for those who do not know the Gospel,” he added, emphasizing that “the love of Christ brings peace and fraternity” to a region such as northeastern India, which has been marked by tensions and conflicts, including the ongoing conflict in neighbouring Manipur State .
Throughout the Diocese of Miao, parishes and communities responded to the Bishop’s invitation with a range of initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to the Church’s missionary mandate and their generous support for evangelization.
In the parish of Mary Help of Christians in Borduria, in the Tirap district, the faithful gathered to contribute to the missionary cause. Expressing his appreciation for their participation, the parish priest, Father C. J. Mathew, said: “Every small contribution counts, and it is moving to see what we can accomplish when we come together as a community.” He also recalled the Pope’s message: “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
In the same district, the parish community of Christ the King in Khonsa proposed the family recitation of the Rosary to pray for missionaries directly engaged in pastoral and evangelizing work throughout the diocese. The community also recalled that the Holy See had granted a plenary indulgence on the occasion of World Mission Sunday.
At St Mary’s Catholic Church in Loaksim, the local mission centre organized a special missionary animation gathering to deepen understanding of shared missionary responsibility within the Church.
In the mission of Ozako, the faithful marched in procession through the streets before the celebration of the Eucharist, bearing witness to their faith, fostering missionary zeal and encouraging greater participation by all.
At St Peter’s Parish in Tezu, in Lohit district, missionary animation activities were accompanied by a fundraising event in support of the Universal Solidarity Fund of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The faithful prepared dishes and food for a fundraising food fair. By purchasing food at the event, local residents were able to express their solidarity with missionaries in a tangible way.
Soplum Toh, a diocesan itinerant catechist, said: “It is important to remember that missionaries are not only priests, religious sisters or people sent to distant lands. Every baptized person is a missionary. Today’s event is a reminder to each of us of how important this truth is in our lives.”
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