Theme for Mission Sunday, 21 October 2007

Posted on 05. Oct, 2007

“Reflect God’s Love” 

50 years ago Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical letter Fidei Donum in which he invited the dioceses of the European churches to send priests to the newly emerging dioceses in Africa. These diocesan priests voluntarily worked for a temporary period alongside the traditional missionary Orders and Societies, for example, the Holy Ghost Congregation, St Patrick’s Missionary Society, and the Society of St Columban.

In the last 50 years the dioceses of Ireland provided over 268 priests to minister mainly in Africa, and this was extended also to South America. For example, the Diocese of Cork and Ross, under the initiative of the late bishop, Bishop Cornelius Lucey, established a mission in Peru, and in the last 50 years over 62 diocesan priests from Cork have ministered in Peru.

The Bishops wish to acknowledge the generosity and sacrifice of these pioneers who not only enriched the overseas dioceses through their ministry, but on their return to Ireland, brought many pastoral initiatives and values to their home church. The Church in Ireland is now receiving priests from the very dioceses where Fidei Donum priests once ministered.

Pope Benedict’s message for Mission Sunday, on 21 October next, pays tribute to the Fidei Donum missionaries and requests that the churches of the old tradition ought not “slacken in their missionary endeavour”.