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The loud and
meaningful message of Jesus Christ to all the participants of the First
Archdiocesan Mission Congress to “go to the whole world and make
disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19) was heard loud and clear. The
central message that the Church is missionary by nature became radically
obvious from one speaker to the other, from one activity to the next.
Delegates from the parishes, schools and different institutions
consciously and actively involved themselves in listening, reflecting,
sharing and taking down notes from the lectures and homilies.
The bishops,
priests, lay and youth leaders who witnessed the unfolding of the event
of the mission congress as the first and foremost centerpiece of the
three year preparation for the centennial celebration of the ARCHDIOCESE
OF LIPA in 2010 concretely saw the success and meaning of the three day
congress. It was a grace experience for the whole Archdiocese. Guests
from other dioceses and congregations admired the whole congress, the
manner it was executed and the diligence and spirit of all the
participants.
There was no doubt
that the event transpired with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the
grace of God and the guidance of Jesus Christ, our savior and the first
to be sent to bring the Good News of salvation. Participants and the
staff who prepared the congress acknowledged this truth. God used LACMMI
to initiate and lead this event but everybody shared and made the event
a special blessing and a great challenge.
It is very
inspiring to hear priests and lay people already taking initiatives to
bring the message of the Congress of Telling the Story of Jesus into
their parishes, organizations and barangays. They do this in many
different ways: putting stickers of biblical passages to tricycles,
jeepneys and buses; setting up tarpaulins with Jesus’ messages in
waiting sheds within the parish; integrating the mission message to the
Marian October devotion, holding mission seminars, doing Bibliarasal to
tell the story of Jesus, integrating mission in the catechesis and
religion classes, reaching out to the poor, and many more means of doing
mission.
The task and
responsibility is huge and it will be difficult realistically to reach
out to everybody and make impacts on all strata of life: political,
economic, social, cultural, religious, academic and spiritual aspects.
But every act of mission starts with small beginnings. The Apostles did
it little by little beginning with themselves, their immediate community
before going to many places and countries and bringing the story and
teachings of Jesus to many people.
Mission has become
the umbrella of all pastoral activities and tasks. Whatever commissions,
parish or organization we have, it must be rooted in the mission of
Christ. We are only expanding His mission in our local churches so our
faithful can experience the story and message of Jesus in their lives.
Hence, we live, love and serve God in a missionary spirit in the
Archdiocese. God will guide us because he sends us!
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