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October 21, 2007
From the Desk of Bishop Clark . . .
October 2007
Dear Friends in Christ,
In his last words to the apostles, the Lord Jesus Christ gave them a mission:
“Go therefore, and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you.” (Mt. 28:19-20)
The responsibility for filling that mandate passes on unchanged to me as your bishop and to all the Catholics of today.
“A Eucharistic celebration for all missions of the world”
is today’s theme as we celebrate World Mission Sunday.
All of us here at home reached out in prayer and generosity to the suffering in our own country and other parts of the world.
In times of tragedy – natural disaster, war, and persecution
– our mission family looks to the Church and her missionaries for
help and hope. World Mission Sunday celebrates our unity as a
human family and provides an opportunity to support the life-giving
presence of missionaries and of the Church among the suffering and the
poor of the Missions.
Today we unite with Catholics throughout the world – all of us
gathered at the Eucharist – in special commitment to the
missionary task. We should pray for the Church’s missionary
work and offer our personal sacrifices – our own sufferings, our
cares and concerns – in union with the sufferings of Christ on
the Cross for the salvation of the world. We should also provide
financial help through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for
the Church’s work in more than 1,150 dioceses throughout the
Missions.
The missionary work of the Church depends on each one of us. As I
ask you to keep our brothers and sisters in the Developing World in
your prayers, may I ask your continued prayers as well for the people
in our own country who are in need. Pray also that all of us in
the Diocese of Rochester may be eager and effective witnesses to God,
our loving Father, and to His only Son, Jesus Christ.
Sincerely in the Lord,
+Matthew H. Clark
Bishop of Rochester
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