Venerable Archbishop Sheen and the Missions – on Television

A red sweater, a manila folder, a small notebook.  These were three items – all connected to Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen – that National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI presented to Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR when he visited with him on EWTN’s Sunday Night Prime.  The television program’s initial broadcast was April 28; a video copy of the show, “Missionaries in the Year of Faith,” may be viewed at the show’s website.

In addition to discussing the very missionary heart of Archbishop Sheen, his predecessor as National Director (1950 to 1966), Father Andrew told Father Apostoli about his recent missionary journeys, about the call through Baptism to be missionary – and the significance of that in this Year of Faith – and about our new “chief missionary,” Pope Francis, who encourages all of us to “embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important…”

The program also affirmed our patron missionary saints, St. Francis Xavier and St. Thérèse of Liseux, the little flower whose support for the Missions on the home-front in her “little ways” inspires us to support the missions ourselves through prayer and sacrifice.

Pages from Venerable Archbishop Sheen’s notebook during his travels in the missions as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith...

We are in prayerful solidarity with the people of Bangladesh who have suffered an unthinkable tragedy, a factory collapse burying 3,000 workers in the outskirts of Dhaka. Let us pray for the victims, the survivors, the families, and for the support of the Church in this mission country.

Lessons on Faith Offered by Pope Francis

Pope Francis, at his General Audience on June 12, 2013, continued his weekly catechesis, guiding us and teaching us in this Year of Faith.

The Holy Father’s catechesis for this week focused on the Church as the People of God. He referred to the terms of the Second Vatican Council that defined the Church as “People of God” (cf. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 9; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 782).

Pope Francis explained that God does not belong exclusively to any particular people and is inviting all, without distinction, to be part of His people because His mercy “desires all people to be saved” (1 Tim 2:4). The Holy Father quoted Jesus’ request of the Apostles: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (cf. Mt 28:19). He invited anyone who felt far from God and the Church and those who are fearful, indifferent or hesitant in their ability to change to know that the Lord is respectfully and lovingly calling them to be part of His people.

The Holy Father taught that to be God’s people, “an essential part of His loving plan for our human family,” means to “be the leaven of God in this humanity of ours; it means to proclaim and to bring God’s salvation into this world.” By using the imagery of lights in a stadium, he encouraged us to “make our lives a light of Christ, and together we will bring the light of the Gospel to the whole world.”

He concluded, “May the Church always be a place where everyone can encounter God’s mercy and feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.”

Series of questions for reflection taken directly from the Pope’s Catechesis:

• What does it mean to be “People of God”? (To be  the leaven of God in this humanity and to proclaim and bring God’s salvation into this world.)
• How do you become a member of this people? (Through Baptism and faith in Christ.)
• How can I grow in the faith that I received in my Baptism? How do I tend to this faith that I have received and that the people of God have? How do I make it grow? Reflect.
• What is the law of the People of God? (The law of love, for God and our neighbor according to Jesus’ new commandment.)
• How much further must we still journey to live this new law concretely?
• What mission does this people have? (To bring the world the hope and the salvation of God and to be the sign of God’s love.)
• Do you believe that God is stronger than evil? (Yes! Say this in a loud voice!) Why is He stronger? (Because He is the Lord, the only Lord.)
• What is the goal of this people? (The kingdom of God and full communion with our Lord, to enter into His divine life and live in full joy.)

On Wednesday, May 8 – the birthday of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen – our National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI, in Rome to begin discussions with other National Directors about distributing support to the Missions, was blessed to meet our chief missionary, Pope Francis, during that General Audience!

Download .pdfs

Cateschesis June 19, 2013 - Unity in the Body of Christ

Catechesis June 12, 2013 - The Church as the People of God

Catechesis June 5, 2013 - The environment, creation

Catechesis May 29, 2013 - The mystery of the Church

Catechesis May 22, 2013 - “We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church"

Catechesis May 15, 2013 - Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth

Catechesis May 8, 2013 - 'The Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life'

Catechesis May 1, 2013 - The dignity of work

Catechesis April 24, 2013 – ‘He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.’

Catechesis April 10, 2013 – The Resurrection

Catechesis April 3, 2013 – 'He rose again on the third day'

Lessons on Faith Offered by Pope Emeritus  Benedict XVI (October 17, 2012 – February 13, 2013)

Download PDF's: 

Catechesis February 13, 2013 – Farewell Message from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Ash Wednesday

Catechesis February 6, 2013 - 'Creator of heaven and earth'

Catechesis January 30, 2013 - 'The Father Almighty'

Catechesis January 23, 2013 - 'I Believe in God'

Catechesis January 16, 2013 - Seeking the Face of God

Catechesis January 9, 2013 - The Incarnation

Catechesis January 2, 2013 - Where does Jesus come from?

Catechesis December 19 - The faith of Mary at the Annunciation

Catechesis December 12 - The stages of the Revelation

Catechesis December 5 - God's benevolent plan for humanity

Catechesis November 28 - How to speak about God?

Catechesis November 21 - The reasonableness of faith in God

Catechesis November 14 - The ways that lead to knowledge of God

Catechesis November 7 - The desire for God

Catechesis October 31 - The faith of the Church

Catechesis October 24 - What is faith?

Catechesis October 17 - Introduction

June 16, 2013

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Link to Readings

Today’s Gospel tells us about Jesus’ encounter with a repentant sinner. The woman followed Him into a Pharisee’s home where Christ had been invited for dinner. Clearly, she was not welcome, yet she did not care. She went there for only one reason: to seek Jesus’ mercy. At some point, she must have heard Christ and been overwhelmed by His compassionate message.  She did not let her own sins or the taunts of others keep her from our Redeemer. “He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The others at table said to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ But He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace’” (Luke 7:48-50).

Because Jesus loves us, we can love Him. We can find the forgiveness we need for our peace of mind and eternal salvation. And now we can share our faith with others so they, too, will know the joy of God’s mercy. 

Suggested missionary action: Let us express our gratitude to God for His mercy by drawing other closer to Him. Our prayers, actions, and sacrifice for the Missions can bring the faith to people everywhere.

 Mission Voices... in the Year of Faith

In each of the brief audio messages in the player on this page, you’ll hear personal reflections on our faith.  Allow yourself time to focus on these messages and give thanks to be called, by Baptism, to be a "mission voice" yourself, speaking of your faith in Jesus every day, especially in this Year of Faith,  by your words and the very example of your life.

 Featured Clips

• As the world watched, a small group of directors and coordinators of the Pontifical Mission Societies had a bird’s eye view of the last week in the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. In Rome at the CIAM (Center for Mission Animation of the Pontifical Mission Societies), these members of our mission family, led by National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI, focused on the key formation topics, learning about their role and responsibilities in U.S. dioceses.  These members of our diocesan office mission family went to the final general audience of Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday, February 27, to bid a prayerful farewell to our "chief missionary"!
• Really meeting Peter! National Director Father Andrew Small, OMI during his mission visit to Zambia was able to meet Peter whose photo and story were featured in our MISSION magazine in Summer 2012. Father Andrew also shared Peter’s story in one of our Mission Lessons, which are aired nationally on some 98% of Catholic radio stations. Have a listen!
• Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB, Secretary Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, speaking on mission in the Year of Faith. Click to learn more about his recent visit to the United States.
• Archbishop Salvatore Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization in Rome. During a visit to the national office, the Archbishop recorded some thoughts on mission within the context of the Year of Faith.

Father Andrew with beloved mission hero, Peter!

 The World Mission Rosary, The Year of Faith and You!

Introduce your family and friends, especially the young people in your life – children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews and godchildren – to the World Mission Rosary. Please visit us online at World MissionRosary.org to order a World Mission Rosary for someone you love – and read below of its history and its connection to the Year of Faith.

“Renewed energy to the mission of the whole Church.”

As he announced a Year of Faith (begins October 11, 2012), Pope Benedict XVI focused on its ultimate purpose. That “renewed energy,” he observed, would be directed “to lead men and women out of the desert...toward friendship with Christ who gives us fullness of life.” During the Year of Faith, the Pope has asked all of us to be part of a great Prayer Movement focused on the person of Jesus Christ and faith in Him. This Prayer Movement — to which we are all called — will be centered on the World Mission Rosary.

Why is the World Mission Rosary different?

In February of 1951, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966), in a radio address (The Catholic Hour), inaugurated that World Mission Rosary. He saw the need for us to pray not just for ourselves, but for the whole world, and especially for those who are poor and vulnerable at home and around the world.

What do the colors signify?

Each decade of that World Mission Rosary calls to mind an area where the Church continues her evangelizing mission: green for the forests and grasslands of Africa; blue for the ocean surrounding the islands of the Pacific; white symbolizing Europe, the seat of the Holy Father, shepherd of the world; red calling to mind the fire of faith that brought missionaries to the Americas and yellow, the morning light of the East, for Asia. Archbishop Sheen himself linked this Rosary to the missionary work of the Church and to the Holy Father. Praying this Rosary, he explained in that radio broadcast, would “aid the Holy Father and his Society for the Propagation of the Faith by supplying him with practical support, as well as prayers, for the poor mission territories of the world.” “When the Rosary is completed, one has…embraced all continents, all people in prayer,” he added. “Won’t you please make a tour of the world on your World Mission Rosary?”

Learn more at www.WorldMissionRosary.org!