Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “This is your programme, dear Brother Henryk: like the Apostles, for you too the proclamation of the Gospel to all peoples is a fundamental part of your life and Episcopal ministry”. This was the first task which Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, entrusted to the new Secretary Adjunct of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies Archbishop Henryk Hoser during the Mass of ordination on 19 March at the chapel of Urban College. The co-consecrating Bishops were Archbishop Stanislao Dziwisz, personal secretary to Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Taddeo Ntihinyurwa of Kigali, Rwanda.
“In particular, care for those who are not yet members of the Lord’s flock and who are the majority of humanity- the Cardinal said in his homily -. United in the bond of collegiality with all the bishops of the Catholic Church, be concerned for all the Churches, sustaining those in mission territories most in need of assistance. Render the missionary church, rich in holiness and embellished with many holy martyrs and confessors, an ever more splendid reflection of the face of the Lord. Give your life for her. Live for her and she will certainly follow you along the path to salvation.”
At the beginning of his homily Cardinal Sepe greeted those present, Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, clergy, religious and lay persons many of whom came from the places where the new Archbishop has worked. The Cardinal greeted the Superiors and confreres of the Pallottine Fathers the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, and especially family and friends who had come from Poland where the new Archbishop was born. “The gift you are about to receive is a service which you will offer in the name of Christ” the Cardinal said, “through your ministry, Christ continues to proclaim the Gospel and incorporate more children in his mystery of salvation, giving new members to his body, the Church,”.
The Cardinal said: “To fulfil this sublime mission, you are called to proclaim the Gospel on every occasion, opportune and non opportune, as the consecrating Bishop will tell you shortly, to exhort with magnanimity and doctrine and, having always recourse to prayer, never tire of asking Christ Eternal High Priest to grant the riches of grace and holiness to the entire people of God, especially missionaries who live with enthusiasm and sacrifice at the outposts of the Church to witness and proclaim his Gospel. This has been your priestly ministry since long ago in 1974 when you left your homeland and your family and went as a missionary to countries in Africa and Europe to respond with generosity to the call of the Lord who was sending you”.
At the end of the homily Cardinal Sepe entrusted Archbishop Hoser’s new ministry of father and shepherd to Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles and Star of Evangelisation. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/3/2005; righe 39, parole 532)
