Discovering the Theological Foundation of Mission Month through in October
Week 1
The Mission of the Universal Church
The nature of the Church is beautifully articulated in Ad Gentes, which teaches that the Church is missionary, springing forth from the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father. The Church continues Christ’s mission of salvation, becoming both sign and instrument of God’s kingdom in the world. “The Church exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). Evangelization, the very essence of the Church’s identity, is the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ through proclamation, witness, and service so that all may encounter Him. This mission extends to the whole world, and the Gospel is meant for all. In today’s world, countless people are still waiting to hear the Gospel. Realizing this, every baptized person is called to be a witness. By using modern means of communication, they are to bring the light of Christ into the darkest corners of the world. Thus, the observance of this week seeks to awaken missionary consciousness.
Week 2
The Focus of the Mission of the Syro-Malabar Church
In this second week, we reflect on how the universal mission of the Church is lived within the SyroMalabar Church, in her own ritual identity. The SyroMalabar Church does not possess a mission apart from that of the universal Church; rather, she fully participates in the one mission of Christ, expressed through her own ecclesial patrimony. Rooted in the missionary heritage of the Apostle Thomas, the SyroMalabar missionary tradition embraces evangelization and migration with renewed seriousness. By faithfully living her ecclesial identity, the SyroMalabar Church seeks to instil a profound sense of missionary responsibility across the globe, wherever she is permitted to spread the light of the Gospel. The observance of Mission Month is one of the many steps in this journey reminding the faithful that the Church’s identity is missionary and that her witness must shine forth in every corner of the world. Thus, the mission lived by this sui iuris Church enriches and embellishes the mission of the universal Church.
Week 3
Eparchial Mission Engagement
In the third week, we draw closer to the concrete reality of mission. The Eparchy becomes the place where the universal missionary vocation of the Church and the particular mission of the Syro-Malabar tradition take visible form in a specific territory and community. The decisive question for every Eparchy is: Who are the people whom God has entrusted to us? The answer embraces Catholics who are active in faith, those who have grown distant, young people and children, families and migrants, the poor and those on the margins, people who have never encountered Christ, people of other faiths, those who have lost faith, and the digital generation. In this way, the Eparchy moves from “mission in general” to “mission here,” making the mission concrete in the lives of particular people and places entrusted to the care of each eparchy.
Week 4
Parish Mission Comprising Families and Individuals
The fourth week brings mission home, where it is lived concretely in the parish, the family, and in each baptized believer. The parish and the family become places where faith is lived, prayed, shared, and handed on, becoming true missionary presences. By its very nature, the parish is a missionary community, called not merely to preserve the faith of those already Christian but to reach out to everyone within its territory, making mission local and tangible. Participation in missionary projects, such as offering material help, dedicating time and energy, even adopting mission territories, are part of this journey. Each believer is invited to embrace personal responsibility for some mission work. Mission begins with small steps: a persontoperson conversation, a humble and sincere prayer, an act of service for one in real need, a touching testimony, an act of forgiveness, or even a single word about Jesus. Through the observance of Mission Month, parishes, families, and individuals are encouraged to shift their focus to practical steps in spreading the light of the Gospel in daily life. Ultimately, the lived experience of “we are sent” leads to the personal conviction “I am sent”—the climax of the missionary journey.
Syro-Malabar Mission Month Prayer
Loving Heavenly Father, the children of the Syro-Malabar Church across the globe are united in one mind during this Mission Month. Deepen in us the conviction that all who have received Baptism are sent as missionary disciples. Enable us to pray for the spread of the Gospel, to be witnesses of Christ, and to courageously share the Gospel with others. Through our proclamation, let all the people on earth know that you alone are the true God, the Father, and that you sent your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Bless the endeavors of the missionaries serving in the mission fields for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Call forth many priests, religious, and laity to work with zeal in the mission regions. Bless us to work hard for the mission you have entrusted to us, so that we may be found worthy of the eternal crown. Amen.
Our Mother, Blessed Mary, Pray for us.
Our Father, Saint Thomas the Apostle, Pray for us.
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Patroness of the Missions, Pray for us.
Saints and Blessed of our Church, Pray for us.
Karozuza Prayer
During this Mission Month, we dedicate and pray for all mission territories, together with every priest, consecrated religious and lay missionary who serve in the work of evangelization. Grant us, who are sent through Baptism to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel, the strength and courage needed to bear witness to Christ through our lives and actions. May the light of the Gospel shine through us and enter the hearts of all whom we encounter.
(Include in the Karozuza prayer of the Holy Qurbana)
Archbishop Mar Prince Antony Panengadan
