The World Mission Sunday this year was aptly celebrated in the Collegio del Verbo Divino, thanks to the program laid out by Mission Secretary Stanislaus Lazar in collaboration with the Rector of Collegio del Verbo Divino, Nicolas Espinosa and his Leadership Team, local chaplains of different migrant communities, and confreres.
The two-day event started with a seminar on the Prologue of John held on October 22nd. The main presenter was Bishop Ladislav Nemet of the Diocese of Zrenjanin in Serbia. He talked about “The light that shines in the darkness: Prologue of St. John and the missionary outreach”. Bishop Nemet’s presentation was followed by a roundtable discussion on the theme “Prologue of St. John: The grace of God, the acceptance, and rejection by men”. The panelists included a Comboni priest, an FMM Sister from Burkina Faso, and a lay professional on social communications. Members of the Collegio including some SSpS, joined this mission seminar.
On October 23rd, the World Mission Sunday itself, there was a concelebrated Mass presided by Bishop Ladislav Nemet, SVD with the participation of Father Superior General, SVD confreres and different migrant communities in Rome. Notably present were the Filipinos, Indians, Ghanaians, Zambians, Congolese, Italians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, Poles, Slovaks, and Germans, among others. Participants in the renewal course at Nemi were also present. After the Eucharist, films depicting the different missions of the Society in the four zones were shown. The participants also had a glimpse of the life and mission of Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz. The event ended with a potluck lunch of different cuisines from all the participating countries. Several songs and dances were also presented as part of the program.
Those who participated in the event, roughly 250, returned to their homes inspired by the spirit of interculturality.
By Sonny de Rivera