A diocesan celebration of World Mission Sunday at Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral on Oct. 20 attracted between 300 and 400 people for a 5:15 p.m. Mass with Bishop Earl Fernandes as the principal celebrant.
More than 300 individuals also attended a reception that followed in the cathedral undercroft.
This year’s World Mission Sunday theme, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet,” (Matthew 22:9) was selected by Pope Francis. The theme, which comes from the parable of the wedding banquet, is a call to invite all men and women to the Lord’s feast of love and salvation.
A second collection was taken during Masses throughout the diocese to support world missions. Last year’s collection raised more than $60,000.
The World Mission Sunday collection, which began in 1926, sustains the work of missionaries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America and the Middle East.
At this year’s celebration of World Mission Sunday at the cathedral, approximately a third of individuals present represented international communities, including descendants from Filipino, Indian, Hispanic and African nations.
During the prayers of the faithful, petitions were recited in five languages: English, Tamil, Malayalam, Polish and Swahili. The Mass’ second reading was proclaimed in Spanish.
Funds support communities where the Church is young, poor or persecuted. In those communities, the money helps with evangelization efforts, which include support for seminaries, vocations – including to the consecrated religious life – catechists, Catholic schools and health care centers.
The diocesan Missions Office promotes the universal missionary life of the Church.
Directed by Sister Zephrina Mary, a Franciscan Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and native of India, the diocesan office serves as a resource for mission animation, education and awareness. It represents the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.
The Pontifical Mission Societies USA is part of a worldwide network under the Pope’s direction. It supports the Church’s missionary activities in more than 1,150 mission territories, spreading the Gospel and meeting the spiritual and material needs of the Church in those areas.
During this year’s celebration of World Mission Sunday, approximately 20 priests joined Bishop Fernandes at the altar in the cathedral as well as several deacons.
The bishop was also accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Jude Paulraj of the Diocese of Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Priests concelebrating the Mass included Father Jan Sullivan, rector of the cathedral, and Fathers William Hahn and Michael Hartge, who serve as vicars general. Father Hahn is the director of priestly life and vocations, and Father Hartge serves as moderator of mission advancement and moderator of the curia.
Other priests concelebrating the Mass included Father David Arroyo, a member of the Clerics Regular (Theatine Fathers) who serves as vicar for Hispanic ministry; and Father Tesfaye Petro Botachew, diocesan director of multicultural ministry.
Priests in attendance represented several religious orders: the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Missionary Servants of the Word, Dominicans, Pallottines, Theatines, Apostles of Jesus, Capuchin Franciscan Friars and Benedictines. Missionary brothers were also present.
Several orders of consecrated religious sisters who reside in the diocese were present as well.
Consecrated religious communities in attendance included: Order of the Most Holy Savior of St. Bridget (Bridgettines); Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro; Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesians); Congregation of Sisters of St. Dominic, Immaculate Conception Province (Dominicans); Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception; Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Word; and Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus.
In Bishop Fernandes’ homily, which he delivered partially in Spanish, he reflected on the theme, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet.”
“Indeed,” he said, “God does not exclude anyone from salvation – not the poor, nor the rich. He doesn’t condition things the way we do with our human prejudices. He wants to save each and every soul, and for that, He founded His Church. For that, we need missionaries.”
The bishop expressed gratitude to the 180 lay missionaries serving in the diocese. He also recognized missionary priests, who, he said, have come to the Diocese of Columbus to proclaim Jesus Christ and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and other sacraments.
Bishop Fernandes thanked consecrated religious sisters serving in the diocese for teaching in schools, ministering to the sick and poor, praying and contemplating Christ.
Oct. 20 also marked the solemnity of the anniversary of the consecration of St. Joseph Cathedral. The cathedral was consecrated on the same day in 1878.
The bishop acknowledged that the Church’s mission, initiated by Christ, was later started in the Diocese of Columbus by its first bishop.
“Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans, the first bishop of the diocese – he died the day after this cathedral was consecrated,” Bishop Fernandes recalled. “It was as if he was like holy Simeon saying, ‘Lord, now let Your servant go in peace.’
“His initial mission was finished, but our mission continues: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.”