Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Posadas (Agenzia Fides) – The month of October “is dedicated in a special way to the missions, prayer, and reflection on the missionary dimension, which is the reason for the Church's existence.” This is what is found in the Pastoral Letter written by Bishop Juan Ruben Martinez of Posadas, on the occasion of the beginning of the “Month for the Missions” and published October 4. Making reference to the Message of Pope Benedict XVI for World Missions Day on October 18, 2009, the Prelate highlighted that “the objective of the Church's mission is to use the light of the Gospel to illumine all peoples in their path towards God, that they may find fullness of life in Him.”
The Bishop also points out that “with this aim, the disciples of Christ throughout the world work, make efforts, and tire under the weight of suffering and give life,” and specified the fact that “the Church does not work with the objective of extending her own power or affirming her own dignity, but to bring Christ, the salvation of the world, to all mankind.” “We are asked to place ourselves at the service of humanity, especially those who most suffer and are marginalized,” added Bishop Juan Ruben Martinez.
Referring once more to the modern-day reality, he pointed out that “when in various sectors, in science, education...they try to eliminate God, they deny the necessary religious dimension that exists in every person and assume an ideological position through a materialist vision of man.” With this in mind, “Pope Benedict XVI, in Aparecida, said that analyzing reality without God, which is its foundational cause, has always led to mistaken conclusions that end up being a cause of suffering for humanity.”
In the final part of the Letter, the Bishop of Posadas highlighted that “the universal Church, without boundaries or borders, feels responsible for announcing the Gospel to entire peoples.” This “seed of hope through the vocation, should continue the service of Christ in the world,” and thus, “try to transform it through the proclamation of the Gospel of love.” “In reflecting on the missionary dimension this month of October, may we not ignore the fact that this preaching plays a fundamental role in serving the culture of our time,” the Bishops of Posadas concluded. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2009)
