Toward the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019
In Indonesia, the Xaverian Parish Priests gathered for two-day meeting in Padang, March 20-21, 2019, during which they briefly studied together Maximum Illud and then spent the rest of the time exploring the Guide prepared by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Mission Societies for the celebration of the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019 (http://www.october2019.va/en.html).
Indeed, to mark the 100th Anniversary of the apostolic letter Maximum Illud of Pope Benedict XV, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared the month of October 2019 an Extraordinary Missionary Month with the theme: “Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World”.
Taking inspiration from the guide, we fraternally exchanged ideas about possible concrete activities and initiatives that could be done as preparation and celebration of the Extraordinary Missionary Month. Each Parish Priest will see which of the suggested eight (8) activities found in the guide are suitable for his parishioners, the aim of it all being to raise our awareness on the two characteristic and inalienable elements of every Christian: Baptism and Proclamation.
Our confreres in charge of the missionary and vocation promotion were associated to this meeting. They helped us to understand the general context in which we all are immersed and work in Indonesia, i.e. the digital age. The confreres were asked to print leaflets and roll banners containing the logo, its meaning and the prayer for the Extraordinary Missionary Month which will be distributed to the faithful for use.
Following the suggestion of Pontifical Mission Societies for this special missionary month, we concluded the meeting by sharing thoughts on how to raise local benefactors in our different parishes in order “to support materially the immense work of evangelization, especially the missio ad gentes and Christian formation in Churches that are most in need”. We acknowledged that in this domain, generally the Xaverian Parish Priests working in Indonesia are still timid and shy to tell the faithful that aside from prayers, mission and formation need their financial contributions as well.
Fr. Valentin, SX
