Mission Mass: We rejoice in what the Lord has done through you!

Saturday 5 October saw a very special Mission Mass take place in Pimlico, London. The Mass was held in the Church of the Holy Apostles, Westminster Diocese, and truly embodied the spirit of this year’s World Mission Sunday by inviting everyone, from all dioceses, to join!

It was wonderful to gather with supporters, volunteers, and some of our Diocesan Directors from the dioceses of Southwark, Westminster, Brentwood, Arundel and Brighton, Portsmouth and Northampton, who joined us both in person and via live feed. Bishop Paul McAleenan, assistant bishop in the Diocese of Westminster, was the main celebrant. We were also joined by Fr Philip Adede, the Mill Hill Missionaries’ councillor for Africa, and several missionary priests who were visiting the UK from across the world; from the Philippines and Malaysia to South Africa and the DR Congo.

Mission is alive

In his opening address, Fr Carlos (Westminster Diocesan Director) welcomed everyone, and noted that it was a great week to come together to celebrate mission, since we had celebrated the feasts of many saints involved in the mission of the Church. Chief among them was St Thérèse of Lisieux, Patron of Missionaries. Introducing the missionaries who had joined us to concelebrate the Mass, Fr Carlos emphasised:

‘These are not just exotic names and places, they’re the places in which missionaries are  spreading the gospel, and sharing the World Mission Sunday invitation to all of us to come to the banquet. The banquet that we share today is this Eucharist, and thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us.’

Let Jesus out!

In his homily, Fr Philip reinforced the Holy Father’s message for World Mission Sunday, that Jesus is knocking on the door, but not from the outside. Instead, Fr Philip said:

‘Jesus is already present in our hearts and lives, gently asking us to open the door from within; inviting each and every one of us to go beyond our comfort zones, to step out in faith and love so as to share the Good News with the world.

‘And this is at the heart of the missionary mandate: to go out as the Gospel tells us and invite everyone to the wedding feast of the kingdom of God.’

Fr Philip thanked all Red Box supporters and volunteers sincerely, saying:

‘Your dedication to the mission of Christ, whether through prayer, financial support or personal involvement, makes you true partners in the work of the Gospel. You’re answering Jesus’ call to open the door and go out into the world to bring hope and healing.’

The profound effect of God’s love

He also noted the conclusion of the annual Season of Creation, mentioning Fr Innocent, who was visiting from Cameroon and attended the Mass, and whose mission will be familiar to those of you who follow our social feeds and news posts. He explained that:

‘Fr Innocent comes from a place that is broken and bleeding because of war and ongoing crises. But these are the places where Christ is most needed; where the message of his love and mercy can bring profound change.

‘Through your support, you are helping to build up the Church in these areas, providing essential resources to spread the Gospel and serve those in need. You’re helping to bring the invitation to the wedding feast to all people, especially those who feel forgotten at the margins or abandoned.’

Tirelessly reaching out

Fr Anthony Chantry, Missio’s National Director in England and Wales, added his message for supporters at the end of Mass, thanking everyone for joining either in person or online. He shared:

‘Every year all the Missio National Directors are blessed to meet the Holy Father in Rome. And there’s one thing he constantly repeats: mission is about tirelessly reaching out. Tirelessly, non-stop; never giving in, trusting in God.

‘And that’s what missionaries in the field do, and that’s also what you do, because you’re reaching out to your brothers and sisters in your communities; reaching out to help them understand what mission is…; calling them to pray for mission and missionaries; and of course supporting them through donations.

‘That’s what we do: we push on, knowing that in the end it’s not anything to do with us really, it’s about Jesus Christ. We proclaim him, our Saviour, risen from the dead, living among us. And with Jesus behind us, through the power of the Spirit, moving towards the Father, we cannot fail.’

A wonderful sharing of love

After Mass, supporters got the chance to chat to the missionary Priests who had joined us over some refreshments in the community hall. The response to the Mass and the conversations shared were truly moving. Rita, one of our tireless Local Secretaries, shared:

‘I’ve come to the Mass today here in Pimlico and been inspired by the beauty of what I experienced. To see such devoted Priests serving on the sanctuary, and celebrating like a banquet, has made me want to go and continue in my role as secretary with enthusiasm!’

Thank you as always to our wonderful secretaries and volunteers, and to all who joined us for this special Mass. A special thank you to the Church of the Holy Apostles, Pimlico for hosting this wonderful service.

October: A special month for mission

This month, the Holy Father calls us to pray for our common mission, and the synodal journey of our global Church family. There is no better way to support the global mission of the Church than to support Missio, through Mission Month and World Mission Sunday!

Tags: England and Wales · Mission Mass