On behalf of missionary priests, I thank all donors who are sending Holy Mass requests/stipends to the Missions Office. We are providing Mass stipends for 41 priests from many countries.
At most of the mission parishes in remote villages, the priests celebrate Holy Mass daily without special Mass intentions or Mass stipends. We receive numerous requests for Mass stipends from many missionary priests. Mass stipends are a critical means of support, helping them with their mission and pastoral needs.
The benefits of a Mass celebrated by a missionary priest are far-reaching. To help spread the Gospel message throughout the world by having a Mass said by a missionary priest for your loved ones and friends, living or deceased, would be great missionary work.
St. Francis Xavier is a patron of the missions, and we celebrate his feast day Dec. 3. While the Church has sent out many missionaries into the world, Francis Xavier is generally considered the greatest after St. Paul. He was known for his long hours of hard work. He loved the poor and sick and showed great joy in their service. He gave his life to bring the Good News to people who had never known Christ.
His ultimate mission was to make known Jesus Christ, and his proclamation was: “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
Francis Xavier, born in Navarre, Spain, in 1506, to a noble family, eventually went to Paris to study philosophy. He began a promising academic career and was focused on the things of this world. But Francis’ plans changed after he met Ignatius Loyola who guided him into more spiritual interests.
In 1534, Francis Xavier became a founding member of the Society of Jesus (better known as the Jesuits) and was ordained two years later. Within a few years, he sailed for India with the title of papal nuncio. He spent almost a decade bringing Christ’s message to the people of Goa, Malacca and other areas before going to Japan in 1549.
St. Francis Xavier did everything he could to obey Almighty God and help His people, body and soul. He evangelized the people of India. He baptized thousands of them, taught them the Catechism of the Catholic Church and basic prayers. He taught them spiritual and corporal works of mercy. He taught them to pray: “I adore Thee, O God; and I implore Thy help forever.”
St. Francis Xavier’s letter from India to the Society of Jesus at Rome in 1543, read, “Every Sunday I collected them all, men and women, boys and girls, in the church. They came with great readiness and with a great desire for instruction. Then, in the hearing of all, I began by calling on the name of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and I recited aloud the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Creed in the language of the country: they all followed me in the same words, and delighted in it wonderfully.
“Then I repeated the Creed by myself, dwelling upon each article singly. Then I asked them as to each article, whether they believed it unhesitatingly; and all, with a loud voice and their hands crossed over their breasts, professed aloud that they truly believed it. I take care to make them repeat the Creed often than the other prayers; and I tell them that those who believe all that is contained therein are called Christians. After explaining the Creed, I go on to the Commandments, teaching them that the Christian law is contained in those ten precepts.”
The parish priests of the mission Church continue following the path of St. Francis Xavier, giving witness to Christ through their missionary activities to teach their parishioners how to be true to the Christian faith and the sacraments.
Even though we cannot go to all nations to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can help missionaries in their work on behalf of the Church. Providing a stipend to have a Mass celebrated by a missionary priest for your loved ones and friends is one way to help.
Your loved ones will receive a beautiful Christmas-themed Mass card, acknowledging your gift.
In fact, you would be doubling your gift, as Mass stipends are a critical means of support in helping missionary priests with their mission and pastoral needs. It is a gift to your loved ones/friends and a gift to the missions.
Visit columbuscatholic.org/missions/request-a-mass or dioceseofcolumbus.org/christmas-gift-mass-form-1.
Let our minds and hearts be lifted up by the spirit of prayer and the assistance of St. Francis Xavier. Let us reach and connect more deeply with overseas ministries and across this country. Let us serve the Universal Church joyfully.
St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!
