|
2008 World Mission Sunday Mass Celebrated at Cathedral Basilica |
|
|
 On a beautiful autumn morning, His Excellency, Most Reverend Robert J. Hermann, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, celebrated World Mission Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The 10:00 a.m. Mass on October 19th was the Archdiocesan celebration of World Mission Sunday.
Bishop Hermann encouraged the faithful to “give generously to the second collection for the Propagation of the Faith.” He noted the important role of the Propagation of the Faith as the Vatican’s network of evangelization worldwide.
Bishop Hermann also praised Msgr. Francis X. Blood, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, for his excellent leadership and promotion of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and also the Latin America Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis.
Prior to the blessing in the dismissal rite of the Mass, Msgr. Blood spoke to thank Bishop Hermann for celebrating the Mass for World Mission Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica. Msgr. Blood also thanked Msgr. Joseph Pins, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica, for his hospitality in hosting the Archdiocesan celebration of World Mission Sunday; Fr. Kevin Schroeder, Master of Ceremonies; and in a particular way, Dr. John Romeri, organist and choir director of the Cathedral Choir. “Being able to celebrate World Mission Sunday Mass in the Mother Church of our Archdiocese, and be uplifted and inspired by the beautiful music and the beauty of the Cathedral Basilica helps one look beyond one’s parish and feel part of the larger Church in the Archdiocese, and in union with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,” Msgr. Blood added.
 Msgr. Blood noted that every Pope has urged Catholics worldwide to pray and sacrifice for missionaries worldwide, since Pope Pius XI established World Mission Sunday in 1926. He noted that the collection for World Mission Sunday assists Catholic missionaries in over 1,150 mission territories. He also noted that the Old Cathedral was built, at least in part, with donations from the Catholics of Europe who gave to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Saint Louis was mission territory, as was the Church in the U.S.A., until 1908 when the Vatican issued a decree through which the Church in the U.S.A. was declared no longer in need of subsidy from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
Bishop Hermann greeted the faithful after Mass outside the Cathedral. Many of the faithful went to Boland Hall for coffee and donuts. Msgr. Blood and the Staff of the Mission Office visited with those who had come to the World Mission Sunday Mass.
Special thanks are also due to Mr. Jim Sweeney, President of the Daily Worldmissionnaires, and Mr. David Albright, Secretary of the Daily Worldmissionnaires. They presented the bread and wine to Bishop Hermann during the presentation of the gifts. Thanks to other members of the Daily Worldmissionnaires and their family members for making the effort to participate in the Mass with Bishop Hermann at the Cathedral Basilica.
View the World Mission Sunday photo gallery...
|
Special Events and Pictures