Mission: “You Shall Be My Witnesses”

Day 23
96th World Mission Week
30th Sunday in ordinary time, 23 October 2022
Reading: Sir. 35:12-14.16-18
Gospel: Luk. 18:9-14

“The Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat.”

(2Tim. 4: 17-18)

Dear beloved missionaries,

Let’s imagine how it would be if we, intelligent humans, have no life direction or purpose, our life will be empty and meaningless. Uncertain direction, unclear purpose, and direction of life. We will feel lonely and suffering, no passion and enthusiasm. Life has no meaning, just flows with time, without being alive.

So is the church, “without mission, the Church is dead”. The church exists to carry the mission, which is proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and sending Good News through words and action to all nations and creatures.

Today the Church and all of us are celebrating the 96th World Mission Week with the theme of “You will be My witnesses” as quoted in Acts 1:8. The celebration of Mission Sunday was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1926 on the suggestion of Society for the Propagation of the Faith for all Catholic Churches. The World Mission Sunday is intended to offer specific opportunities to pray for the missionary work of the church and the missionaries, to renew the missionary commitment of the church, and to raise funds for mission solidarity. The celebration of World Mission Sunday always reminds us that the church is missionary. The Decree of the Second Vatican Council on the mission activity of the Church entitled Ad Gentes states, “The pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature since it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father” (AG, 2).

Proclaiming the Gospel is the commitment of the church of all ages. This commitment should be renewed constantly. At the end of the Eucharist, we are always reminded of this missionary commitment, “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord!” Pope Francis as the highest leader of the world Catholic Church also encourages all of us in the mission. In the celebration of the World Mission Sunday today he stated, “I continue to dream of a completely missionary Church, and a new era of missionary activity among Christian communities.”

A missionary Church is a Church bearing witness of the Lord’s kindness, mercy, and love to all mankind, the witness of the Lord’s care for the weak, poor and marginal. The first reading of the 30th week quoted from the Books of Sirach says, “He listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication, nor the widow pouring out her complaint. Whoever wholeheartedly serves God will be accepted, his petitions will carry to the clouds.” The Lord cares for those injured and persecuted, and He listens to each prayer of those who serve Him. The Lord protects those who serve Him, as experienced by St. Paul who bore witness in his second letter to Timothy, “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat”

We are part of missionary Church. Therefore, our mission today is we bear witness of the Lord’s kindness, mercy, and love to all mankind through our words and action. Shall we speak and act that will bring our brothers and sisters to the mercy of the Lord. Remember, Jesus Christ, says, “You shall be My witnesses!”Mission: To be a missionary Church.

(RD. M Nur Widipranoto – National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies Indonesia)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with St. Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church this month:

For the purpose of Universal Churches: Church is open to all people
We pray, by holding onto a strong and bold faith in proclaiming the Gospel, may the Church become an open community of brotherhood and solidarity, living in the environment of ecclesiastical togetherness.

For the purpose of Indonesian Churches’ intention: Involved Churches
We pray, in the midst of their internal activities, may the Churches constantly give themselves, thought and time to be involved in society’s problems.

Amen

MISSIONARY  ROSARY PRAYER

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray, (quite)

Dear Loving Father,

You send the Church to present your Kingdom to the world with good news and prosperity for all mankind. With Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Son, we pray for missionary spirit unto faithful believers. Give us strength and assist us in working together and creatively proclaiming Your good news to society, especially during the 400th anniversary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People, the 200th year of Pontificial Mission Society for the Propagation of Faith, and the recovery moment from Covid-19 pandemic.

Through the intercession of Jesus Chris, Your Son, and our Lord.

Amen

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection

“The angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” (Matt. 28:5-6)

Prayer is intended for the continent of Asia (yellow beads)

Father, with Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we pray for the nations in Asia continent. Thank to the Minister of Foreign Affair and the Indonesian Embassy for their effort to repatriate exploited and troubled Indonesian migrant workers, especially pregnant women, mothers with babies, children, the elderly, the sick people in other countries. Also, thank for the aid from Indonesian Citizen Protection Task Force to the delivery agent and the aid from the Indonesian Citizen care application. Hope all the efforts could offer prosperity to the migrant workers, especially to give hope to those living imprisoned in suffering and helplessness. May life in the continent of Asia be illuminated with Your light of hope and salvation.

We pray this through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children.

2. The Ascension

“When he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ‘Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:9-11)

Prayer is intended for the continent of Australia & Oceania (blue beads)

Father, with Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we are praying especially for the continent of Australia and Oceania. We hope the whole community will strive to build a just and prosperous society. May You grant the humility and grace of wisdom to the leaders and policymakers both at the central and regional levels, so they can sit together, striving for two-way communication regardless of the difficult situation. Turn on the true spirit of brotherhood among the people in the continent of Australia and Oceania so they could work together to strive for goodness for all nations of this continent.

We pray this through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children.

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting […] and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts. 2:2.4)

Prayer is intended for the continent of Europe (white beads)

Father, with Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we ask for the presence of Your Holy Spirit, especially for the continent of Europe. Father, bless this continent with peace. Hope the effort for ending the crime of aggression, negotiations, and stopping the weapon supply that is escalating the conflict could get the attention of all parties. Save this continent from disunity, and encourage each party to take the peaceful way so that they could understand and respect each other. We also pray for the victims of war, who lost their security and right to life. May in the midst of the current difficult situation the people in the Europe continent always be guided by the Holy Spirit to share the help for those in need, especially the victims of war.  Renew each heart with love and the true spirit of brotherhood.

We pray this through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children.

4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with them. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thess. 4:14.17)

Prayer is intended for the continent of America (red beads)

Father, with Mary Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we pray for the nations in the continent of America. Bless all the ruling parties with the light of Your Spirit, in order for them to stop supplying weapons to the countries at war and stop the action of creating disunity and war in some countries. May You stay among the leaders, so they would stop carrying out power politics and exploitation, power struggles, and intimidation to small nations. May the nations in the continent of America live in peace and be the peacemaker for the entire world.

We pray this through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children.

5. The Coronation and the Blessed Virgin Mary

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rev. 12:1)

Prayer is intended for the continent of Africa (green beads)

Father, with Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all nations, we come to you to present the continent of Africa. Look at your people on this continent who experiencing many problems, conflict, injustice, poverty, and disease, especially the victims of the Russia-Ukraine war. The focus of the world tends more towards the conflict rather than the victims of the conflict. War has caused a high cost of transportation, and in consequence, the aid to the nations in the continent of Africa is delayed. Father, we hope all nations in the world could work hand in hand to offer help and hope for the suffering people. Bless the continent of Africa to be a prosperous continent.

We pray this through the intercession of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Evangelization, Mother of all Nations, pray and protect us, your children.