CAPETOWN, JULY 23, 2019 (CISA)-The Catholic Diocese of South Africa on July 20 launched the theme “Baptized & Sent: The Church of Christ in the World” for the Extraordinary Missionary Month at Uganda Martyrs, Bongweni.
The launch was officiated by His Lordship Bishop Zolile Mpambani of Kokstad Diocese.
The theme for the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019 was chosen by Pope Francis in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud.
“For the month of October 2019, I have asked that the whole Church revive her missionary awareness and commitment as we commemorate the centenary of the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud of Pope Benedict XV (30 November 1919),” said the Pope.
The Missionary Month is to foster greater awareness of missio ad gentes and to animate the missionary transformation of Church life and pastoral activity.
It’s set to renew the Church’s missionary commitment and giving fresh evangelical impulse to her work of preaching and bringing to the world the salvation of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. It also is a golden opportunity to re-examine the missionary roots of, and the contributions to mission by, the diocesan Church.
The pope specified four dimensions that will help the church live more intensely the journey of preparation for the Extraordinary Missionary Month 2019: A personal encounter with Jesus Christ alive in His Church through the Eucharist, the Word of God, personal and communal prayer, Testimony, Missionary Formation, and Missionary Charity.
