Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
By virtue of our baptism, we are disciples of Jesus, engaged in His mission to bring the Gospel to all peoples and nations. Through the Propagation of the Faith, Catholics worldwide take part in the missionary work of the Church with their prayers, sacrifices and offerings. This generosity enables those who have yet to hear the Good News to experience the message of God’s love and salvation.
Next weekend, Jan. 18-19, we will celebrate Membership Sunday. With our membership, we make a special commitment to the Church’s mission “to all peoples and nations” by pledging daily prayer and financial help to the Propagation of the Faith. We help to ensure that the Gospel is proclaimed to the poorest members of our human family.
The goal is to offer support to the missions around the world, for pastoral and evangelizing programs, for catechists and catechetical work, for the building of new churches, health care, education, communication and transportation needs. Catholic missions count on this support as they help young people search for the meaning of life, comfort refugees by meeting their spiritual and material needs, minister to the sick, teach small children, prepare adults for Baptism, or bring help to the suffering in times of war and natural disasters.
During Membership Sunday, please remember to pray for missionaries everywhere who are sharing Christ’s Gospel message.
Grateful for your continuing generosity and support of the most important task of the Church – evangelization, I remain,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Earl K. Fernandes
Bishop of Columbus