The parishes of Sacred Heart, Andheri, St. Theresa of Lisieux, Bandra and St Teresa of Calcutta, Mysore had a unique way of celebration the Mission Sunday. Prior to the Mission Sunday, the whole weed was celebrated as ‘Mission Week’ dedicated to the SVD Missionaries and Missions in Orissa.
During the week, short video clips were screened after every mass depicting the harsh realities of the INE Mission stations, people of Orissa belt and the commitment of the missionaries in carrying out the mission. Each video clip gripped the viewer’s attention so intensely, that some of them literally said this is God’s work and this mission will flourish, no matter what may come.
On the Mission Sunday the missionaries from INE were invited in the parishes in Mumbai. In Sacred Heart Andheri, Fr. Sunil Damor and Fr. Anurangan through their meaningful homilies, explicated the sentiments, vulnerability, impediments in INE mission works and the zeal entailed in sustaining their life and their mission through faith is commendable. In St. Theresa’s Bandra Fr. Joseph Pais and Fr. Prince Paul shared their real life experiences of being with the people, less privileged. In Mysore, in St. Teresa of Calcutta, Fr. Sunil Menezes, reiterated the call of every Christian to be missionary wherever one is by letting the light of Jesus shine.
Along with that the mission preaching, proclamation continued through banners - a large banner was displayed in front of the churches along with other banners. After every Mass some fun fair was organized by the parishioners to raise the funds for the missions. Handicraft items prepared by the disabled children of VIKAS DEEPTI were sold along with varieties of breakfast, snacks, lunch, games, auctioning of things, as well as lucky games. Catechism children prepared cards as ‘Children’s Contrition to the Missions’ were also sold. Different cells and associations, wards, zones, and Religious congregations actively participated with the sentiments of letting mission become our way of life.
