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Grateful for the generous “missionary spirit” of a multitude of clergy, men and women religious and laity, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne publicly thanked them for their service, both past and present, at a liturgy commemorating World Mission Sunday Oct. 18 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
“Today we celebrate World Mission Sunday,” said Bishop Byrne, who served as principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass that marked the 89th anniversary of World Mission Sunday and the 162nd anniversary of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the archdiocese.
Concelebrants included missionary priests and representatives of mission-sending communities. Family members of New York missionaries were also invited to the regularly scheduled 10:15 a.m. Mass.
Mission work at home and abroad constitutes “an essential part of the faith,” added Bishop Byrne, who serves as episcopal vicar of Dutchess, Putnam and Northern Westchester. “Our faith is a great treasure.”
Bishop Byrne noted that Pope Francis calls the faithful to be missionaries in their personal lives, for the glory of the Lord. He also said the Holy Father reminds people of goodwill what Jesus instructed his disciples, “to go forth and proclaim” the Good News.
Pope Francis’ Sept. 23 canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra during the pontiff’s visit to Washington, D.C., was a timely reminder of the liturgy’s mission theme. Bishop Byrne shared a thoughtful account of the saint, who served as an 18th century Spanish missionary in California. “Through all the obstacles he endured, he never let his enthusiasm wane,” Bishop Byrne explained.
Sister Margaret Rogers, S.H.C.J., of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in Rye, was among the missionaries honored. “The Mass was beautiful,” said Sister Margaret, who delivered the first reading. “It was a real privilege and a blessing to be part of the Mass. I’m grateful for that. Most of my life has been spent on mission.”
Sister Margaret, 87, became a woman religious at age 18. She devoted many years to mission work in Africa, primarily in Nigeria, as a teacher. She later participated in ecumenical planning projects to help provide basic needs for poor families in African countries.
“I’ve been to 25 African countries,” she said, acknowledging that while traveling there interpreters sometimes had to help her. “Unfortunately, I’m not gifted with the gift of tongue. I managed with my English throughout my African experiences. I found that the Africans can forgive you an awful lot when your heart is right.”
Father Claude Nikpi, S.M.A., of the Society of African Missions, was one of the missionaries honored at the liturgy. Born and raised in West Africa’s Ivory Coast, he is 36 years old and currently based in Tenafly, N.J., Archdiocese of Newark.
Father Nikpi is furthering his studies in pastoral care and promoting the S.M.A. mission. He performed missionary work as a parish priest for seven years in Africa, including in the northern section of Nigeria. “I quite appreciate the recognition,” said Father Nikpi, who was ordained nine years ago. The Mass, he said, is a sign of Church leaders recognizing the commitment and hard work of “those who engage themselves through the mission of the Church.”
“The Church,” he added, “is missionary by nature,” and a mission worker’s focus is “to proclaim the Word of God, to proclaim the love of God.”
Among the priest concelebrants of the World Mission Sunday Mass was Father Andrew Small, O.M.I., of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate. Father Small serves as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which is based in Manhattan.
Through the years, Father Small has provided his missionary skills in Texas and Brazil and, in addition to his native tongue, English, is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, French and Italian.
He said one cannot genuinely “be faith-filled—we can’t receive the faith, we can’t share the faith if in some way we’re not also missionaries in our daily lives.”
“For some people, that means traveling around the world,” doing mission work, added Father Small, “but for the vast majority, it means being prepared to share the Good News with others.
“Pope Francis reminds us that through our baptism we are all missionaries, and to be concrete with gestures of charity and compassion with those around us.”
