In August, I had the blessing of traveling to Madagascar in my new role as chairman of the board for Catholic Relief Services. This was not my first time in Africa. I spent eight years serving as superior with my order the Congregation of the Holy Cross from 2010-2018.
During this past visit, I again witnessed the beauty of a faith that endures despite tremendous challenges. While the circumstances of life there are very different from those we experience in central Minnesota, I was struck by a common truth: people everywhere long to be seen, heard and accompanied. Whether in a remote village, a bustling city or one of our own parishes, the human heart yearns to know it is not walking alone.
That experience has stayed with me as we enter October, a month that invites us to reflect on several important realities in the life of the Church.
On Oct. 18, we will observe the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday, a celebration established by Pope Pius XI in 1926, that reminds us that every baptized person shares in Christ’s mission. This year’s theme, “One in Christ, United in Mission,” impresses upon us that mission is not only something that happens in distant lands. It happens whenever we extend Christ’s compassion to another person. It happens when we listen with patience, offer encouragement to someone who is struggling or share the hope of the Gospel through our words and actions.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen, one of the great missionary voices of the last century, often reminded us that prayer and mission belong together. His World Mission Rosary was designed to help Catholics remember that we are part of a global Church united in faith and love. As we celebrate this centennial year, we are invited to broaden our hearts and see ourselves as members of one family reaching across every nation, language and culture.
October is also Respect Life Month, observed on the first Sunday of the month, which this year falls on Oct. 4. “Mary, Mother of Life,” is this year’s theme, which highlights the Blessed Mother as a model for protecting human life at every stage. We also note that this month is a time we acknowledge the many families who quietly carry the pain of infant or pregnancy loss. For parents and grandparents who grieve a child they had hoped to hold, the loss can feel invisible to others. The Church must be a place where that grief is acknowledged and where those who mourn know they are not forgotten. Every life, no matter how brief, is precious in God’s eyes.
Likewise, we continue to grow in our awareness of the challenges surrounding mental health. Many people among us are carrying burdens of anxiety, depression, loneliness or grief. Some suffer silently because they fear judgment or do not know where to turn. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to accompany them with compassion. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is our presence. We need not have all the answers. We simply need willing hearts that reflect Christ’s heart of mercy.
In Madagascar, I was reminded that the Church is at her best when she walks with people. Mission begins with accompaniment. It starts with learning to walk beside one another. May we ask the Lord to make us missionaries of hope. May we accompany those who grieve, encourage those who struggle and welcome those who feel forgotten. In doing so, we become living witnesses to the God who never ceases to walk with us.
Yours in Christ,
Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC