Mission Sunday

This Sunday is Mission Sunday. It is a day when Catholics all over the world are asked to recall that one aspect of being a follower of Jesus is that we should bring his message of God’s love and forgiveness to those around us, to the society in which we live, and to all humanity.

Earlier in the month Pope Francis published his third encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. Inspired by the life of St Francis of Assisi and completed during the global Coronavirus pandemic the document speaks of the opportunity we have to rediscover a sense of common humanity. Pope Francis sends out a clarion call to discover new ways of engaging in politics, society and religion that are grounded in a culture of encounter and friendship rather than fear and self interest.

Everyone needs to hear that the universe is good and has meaning. We need to hear that God loves us and draws us forward – with all our faults and failings – and that we see his love and forgiveness in Jesus. Bearing witness to God’s goodness is our mission. This is the call of Mission Sunday, Pope Francis’ encyclical reminds us how we can take the Mission into the everyday experiences of our lives.

Copies of Fratelli Tutti can be obtained from the Catholic Truth Society for £6.95p