Holy Mass on Mission.

Welcoming the assembly: A very Good evening to one and all. Dear friends today is a great day.
We are here to celebrate the Mission Sunday in the extra ordinary mission month announced by
our pope Francis. Therefore, let us enter into this celebration welcoming each other by pinning to
each other the logo of Extra Ordinary Mission Month 2019.

Introduction: Baptized and Sent: “The Church of Christ on Mission in the world. I am a mission,
always; you are a mission, always; every baptized man and woman is a mission” Says Pope Francis
in his message on extraordinary mission month 2019.

That is to say “Go into the whole world and announce the Gospel”. Dear friends in Acts of the
Apostles we read Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with him for mission but Paul disagreed
because of his weakness of deserting Paul. Still Barnabas took him and we know how Mark
became a great missionary. Moses killed one man but saved a multitude. David was only a
shepherd became king of a nation. St. Augustine committed many sins but confessed and became
a saint. Like this we have many more testimonies where the external appearance seem to be weak
but internally they all were touched by God and used as powerful instruments to preach the Good
News. And we friends, what about our weaknesses? Did I hurt others? The Lord is sending me to
bring cheers in many hearts. Did I hate others? The Lord is sending me to love many. Do I remain
with fear? The Lord is sending me to preach His word courageously. Am I unintelligent? The Lord
is sending me to guide intelligent people. Therefore we know for sure the Lord is not going to
exclude anyone of us. He is going to break us, melt us, mould us and use us. And today in a special
way the Lord is welcoming us to the world of cry, to the world of injustice, chaos… to bring Good
News. So that all people may experience God as loving and merciful God. Are we ready to say yes
to Him?

Enthronment of the bible:

Now the enthronement of the bible takes place. The Bible will be brought in procession with much
respect and veneration. Here come 5 persons in different colour shawls, which represent the five
continents where the Word of God is sown. The each colour has a deep meaning in it.

Africa: I am Africa, Green in colour, there are many forest and grass lands in me. It is said that I
am baptized by Mark, one of the four evangelists, in 60 AD in the 1st or early 2nd century AD.

America: I am America – Red in colour calling to mind the fire of faith that brought Missionaries
to the Americas. Christianity was introduced to me as I was colonized by Europeans beginning in
the 16th and 17th centuries.

Europe: I am Europe – White in colour symbolizing the purity of the saints, the seat of the Holy
Father, Shepherd of the Holy Catholic Church. The history of Christianity in me begins with Paul.
Christian tradition states that Peter was in Rome for a short time and was crucified during the
Neronian persecution of Christians.
Oceania: I am Oceania – Blue in colour for the Ocean surrounding the Islands of the Pacific.
Formerly, traditional religions predominated; today, however, over 90 percent of my people
profess to be Christian. The credit goes to the Christian missionaries.

Asia: I am Asia – Yellow in colour for the Morning Light of the East and the multi cultures there.
I am baptized and have my roots in the very inception of Christianity, which originated from the
life and teachings of Jesus in 1st century Roman Judea. Christianity then spread through the
missionary work of his apostles.
Keeping this missionary aspect in our minds and hearts that the Gospel message should reach to
the entire world, we shall listen the Word of God in this holy mass and reflect it and apply to our
lives. Now, we shall rise for the enthronement of the Bible