Vol. XVI
No. 9
OCTOBER 2004
Feedback on this article?
write to
by Corrado De Robertis
"Whoever believes and follows Him becomes a builder of the civilization of love and of peace.” These are words that Pope John Paul pronounced at the beginning of his visit to Switzerland last June. It is a mission statement, and outlines the very goal of any missionary work today. The opening lines of the Pope’s message for World Mission Sunday - to be celebrated on October 24 this year (see pages 17-19) - say clearly once again that missionary work is a must today more than ever before, as we are only at the beginning of the missionary task.
This missionary month World Mission Magazine wants to highlight in a special way this timely and urgent task with which all of us are charged and to offer our readers ‘The Model’ to follow (see special on pages 20 – 25). Month after month you may have understood our magazine’s vision, how the scope of mission actually does encompass the whole person, society and even our simplest daily activities, and how it is the basic and essential character of the Church that needs constant nurturing. This is why WMM strives to report on Church activities, the environment, education, economics, politics, dialogue and all that is the target of Christian mission to the furthest corners of the world and of the human heart.
The example of so many men and women - “missionaries ad vitam” - in the 5 continents, who make such a task the goal and purpose of their life definitely cannot and must not leave us unmoved. And yet as the editor of a missionary magazine, I cannot avoid sharing my experience that at times it is not easy either to get the missionary message across or obtain some form of satisfactory response.
Mission is not to be relegated to just one celebratory day a year in which funds are collected for the missions. Though the work of missionaries does indeed need this material support, it is important that our whole lives are imbued with a missionary spirit all year round. It is a matter of fact that mission work is most needed today. While most humanitarian crises are more or less readily addressed, and people respond promptly with abundant humanitarian aid, it is crucial that the heart of the matter be faced, injustices eradicated, attitudes and lifestyles changed. Missionary work aims at the heart - a free change of persons and cultures from the inside out. Mission is as essential as the air we breathe for the world to stay alive and become the home of a civilization of love and peace.<WM
Comments, suggestions, opinions?
Write to
Fr Corrado De Robertis
Comboni Mission Center
7885 Segundo Mendoza St.
Sucat,
1715 Parañaque City, MM
Philippines.
World Mission Home | From the Editor | Where to find WMM | Subscription Rates | World Mission Archives | Comboni Missionaries | FORUM | E-mail
©2004World Mission Magazine