On World Mission Sunday, a Catholic prelate has asked the faithful to pray and support the missionaries especially amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“While it's true that life is also hard for us, but life is more difficult for our missionaries," Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in a Mass Sunday.
He said these missionaries are the priests, nuns, laity who are serving in mission territories to reach the non-Christians.
“Let us support them with prayers and materially. Let us also ask our Blessed Mother to guide especially the spreading of Good News,” said Pabillo.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, also issued the same appeal.
“I encourage all of us who take part in this missionary endeavor by collaborating with your prayer and financial support through the worldwide collection for the missions,” he said in a video message shared by the Pontifical Mission Societies Philippines in their Facebook page.
“With all the human family we are experiencing a moment marked by great challenges that can make us focus on ourselves alone, let us not forget that mission continues. And where the most vulnerable are, there are also the missionaries who need our support,” added Tagle.
“Thank you for your generosity that sustains the mission of the Lord that is carried on by the church,” he said.
World Mission Sunday was started by Pope Pius XII in 1926 as a day of prayer for missions.