October – Mission Month
Jesus was sent by the Father to bring healing and comfort; through today’s Church, he continues to reach the poor and afflicted. The late Pope Francis has urged each of us
- “to participate actively in the common evangelizing mission of the Church by your witness of life and prayer, by your sacrifices, and by your generosity.”
- “May the light of Christian hope illumine every man and woman, as a message of God’s love addressed to all! And may the Church bear faithful witness to this message in every part of the world!” (Spes Non Confundit,
Prayer is the primary missionary activity. It is strengthened by the sacraments and the word of God (particularly the Psalms). We believe and know that death and hate are not the final word pronounced on human existence, so by our prayer we keep alive the spark of hope lit by God within us. In this way, the constant missionary desire that God be praised by all peoples will become a living flame within us.
To remind us of this, we are delighted to welcome among us a Mission Appeal by the Columban Fathers in our parish this weekend.
Fr Sean Coyle and Fr Pat Colgan from the Columban Missionaries will speak at our Masses this Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October. Founded here in Ireland in 1918, and taking their name from 6th century Saint Columban, missionary to Europe, the Columban missionaries have been trailblazers, preaching the Gospel where its has not yet reached and serving the poor and standing for justice.