Missionaries Young and 100 - and including the Whole World

October is "Mission Month" - and it started with the youngest making mission their priority, especially in the Year of Faith.

On the first Friday of this month, October 5, young people gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. for the Worldwide Children's Eucharistic Holy Hour. The Missionary Childhood Association, a Pontifical Mission Society, partnered with the Children of the Eucharist to produce this Holy Hour which is broadcast live to 140 countries on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).

Father Andrew Small, OMI, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, led the Holy Hour. Children from the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, and Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., members of the Missionary Childhood Association, gathered at the Basilica, joining young people all over the world – in their own local churches and chapels – to adore our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and to pray the World Mission Rosary for their families and the families of the world.

The World Mission Rosary was envisioned by Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, former National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, also a Pontifical Mission Society; the different colored beads call to mind the continents of the world where the Church continues her evangelizing mission. When you had completed praying the World Mission Rosary, Archbishop Sheen had said, you would have "embraced the world in prayer." Pope Benedict XVI has asked that the World Mission Rosary be at heart of the Prayer Movement to which all Catholics are called during the Year of Faith which began on October 11.

During the Holy Hour, Father Andrew answered questions from young people, including one about what the youngest in the Church can do for the Year of Faith. Father Andrew wasted no time in reminding them about the importance of prayer for the Missions - and in encouraging them to "hug the world" with prayer through the World Mission Rosary.

Here's a link to some photos taken at that Friday morning Holy Hour.

As we reached mid-October, there were missionary heroes to celebrate. The first: Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, New Jersey. Acknowledging his universal view of the Church and his consistent encouragement and support of missionary outreach, the Pontifical Mission Societies designated Archbishop Myers, a "Pontifical Ambassador for Mission" - their highest honor – during an October 11 reception for local mission supporters, held at the archbishop’s residence.

"The Pontifical Mission Societies recognize persons of remarkable mission spirit," said Father Andrew in making the presentation. "It is my unique privilege on this important evening in which we begin the Year of Faith and in the midst of our faithful mission partners to bestow this honor on Archbishop Myers."

The Pontifical Mission Societies highlighted as well a specific mission connection with Archbishop Myers – his home diocese of Peoria, Illinois, which he shares with a former National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Father Andrew, along with Assistant National Director Monsignor Robert Fuhrman, a Newark priest, presented Archbishop Myers with a glass paperweight, engraved with Archbishop Sheen’s image and his perennial message, "God love you." The gift also acknowledged Archbishop Myers the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination.

That Saturday, October 13, another hero for the Missions took the spotlight: "Uncle Jim." As he marked his 100th birthday, prayers of gratitude were offered at a Mass at Our Lady of the Cenacle in Richmond Hill, New York, celebrated by the pastor, Father Robert Morales. Father Andrew sent "Uncle Jim" a special birthday greeting, observing that he put the "cent in century," especially for our mission family!

Now all of us in this "one family in mission" - young and old, bishops, priests, religious and laity - are preparing for our "once a year day" - World Mission Sunday, this weekend on October 21. On World Mission Sunday, Catholics of the world unite at Mass to recommit ourselves to our vocation, through Baptism, to be missionaries. On World Mission Sunday, we are called in a special way to be "missionaries of faith" through prayer and participation in the Eucharist, and by giving generously to the collection for the Society for the Propagation of Faith. On World Mission Sunday, we're all called to be heroes for our mission family, as we celebrate our unity as missionaries!

Recognizing Mission...

During the Catholic Media Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, last week, we had the chance to honor Catholic journalists for their reporting on the missionary work of the Church. Catholic diocesan newspapers in Arlington, Fairbanks, Fall River, Indianapolis, Kansas City (Kansas), Los Angeles, Miami, and Paterson, and diocesan directors from Rockville Centre, San Diego and Scranton, as well as Columban Mission magazine received Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Award winners this year. These annual awards, presented by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, recognize excellence in coverage of world mission news. They are named for the late Archbishop O’Meara, who served as National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1966 to 1979. Presenting the awards with National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI, were Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in the Vatican, as well as the Secretary of that Council, Monsignor Paul Tighe. (Click here for a complete list of award winners.)

"We value our partnership with Catholic publications to tell the mission story," said Father Andrew. "And that story is centered on the great works happening in the midst of our world of great need. Helping the Catholics here at home to learn of the hope offered to the poor and vulnerable by local priests, religious and lay faithful makes the media very much and very needed missionaries.

"These finely crafted journalistic works provide readers of the Catholic press with an eyewitness account of the blessing of the Church's presence among the poor of the Missions, a profile of a missionary hero, and 'good news' stories about young people coming to see their responsibility as missionaries, as well as glimpses into the lives of missionaries and the lesson that we’re all part of that life-giving service half a world away," he added.

Those receiving first-place honors in the newspaper and magazine categories this year will participate in a mission visit, organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies. Next year, for the 20th anniversary of this competition, a new category will be added - recognizing excellence in online promotion of the Church's mission. Eligible will be articles from online only publications, as well as blogs.

And the Pontifical Mission Societies received honors as well during that meeting of Catholic communicators. Our Mission Lessons - "moments from the Missions that teach and inspire" - featuring National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI, won a Gabriel Award from the Catholic Academy of Communication Arts Professionals.

Also our MISSION magazine won two Catholic Press Association awards:

(1) Best Original Poetry, First Place, "Lord, Let Us See Your Visit” by Mary Regis McLoughlin (editor emeritus, MISSION) - "This is the kind of work that calls for us to experience it more than once, each time asking what it's calling us to do."

(2) Best Feature Article, Third Place, "Celebrating, Sharing Faith: A look at Sundays in Kenya" by Monica Ann Yehle (editor-in-chief, MISSION) - "Great juxtaposing in opening as an example of style matching message in this piece. Very engaging."