Bengaluru, October 4, 2019: In a Solemn Holy Eucharist at St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, the Extraordinary Missionary Month was inaugurated in the Archdiocese of Bangalore amidst the large number of religious, priests and lay faithful.
Msgr. S. Jayanathan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, presided over the Eucharist while Msgr. C. Francis welcomed the august gathering and introduced the day’s program.
At the beginning of the Celebration, the Banner for Extraordinary Missionary Month October -2019 was unveiled by the Vicars General of the Archdiocese.
During the Eucharist, the Archdiocesan Communication Center (ACC) released a Video containing the Message of Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangalore. The Prelate in his video message said that, “The month of October will be celebrated as the Extraordinary Mission Month in order to think about the missions, pray about the missions, share our joy, our faith with the others in a missionary spirit.”
A short video clipping highlighting the salient features of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si was also screened.
Msgr. S. Jayanathan in his homily stressed the four key words “Come, Follow, Go and Proclaim” to keep the missionary spirit alive all through this month. He began his homily with the words of St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel always, use words if necessary” and concluded the same with a special note to preserve and care for the environment. “The spirituality of creation is much deeper than the spirituality of human beings as the nature always selflessly serves all human beings”, said the homilist.
As it was the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, who is popularly known as Saint of the Nature, there were special prayers recited for the intentions of preserving the environment and for the Extraordinary Missionary Month October-2019.
After the Holy Mass, the special issues of TABORVANI and The TABOR KIRANA, the Archdiocesan monthly magazines, were released for the month of October. Rev. Fr. Antony Prasad, the Secretary for the Archdiocesan Proclamation and Evangelization Commission organized, along with his team, to bless and distribute the saplings to all the faithful. Msgr. C. Francis distributed six saplings to six persons representing six Districts of the Archdiocese.
A colourful Mission Exhibition was organized by the Commission at St. Aloysius Higher Primary School premises.
The Archdiocesan Commissions and Associations have planned a month long programmes during this Extraordinary Missionary Month October-2019.