Catholic communities across the Diocese of Miao in Arunachal Pradesh marked the centenary of World Mission Sunday by renewing their commitment to spreading the Christian faith and supporting missionary work worldwide.
The celebrations highlighted the message that every baptised person has a role in the Church’s mission. Activities included prayer, religious formation, community gatherings and fundraising to support missionaries.
“Mission belongs to every baptised person,” Father Felix Anthony, secretary of the Office for Social Communications of the Diocese of Miao, told Fides News Agency. He said the initiatives had strengthened the faithful’s sense of responsibility to proclaim Christ and support the Church’s mission across the world.
Located near the borders with China and Myanmar, the diocese is home to indigenous communities from different ethnic groups. Father Anthony said people from across the diocese came together for the Eucharist, prayer, missionary activities and the family recitation of the Rosary. These celebrations helped them feel united with the universal Church, he added.
Bishop George Pallipparambil, a Salesian, celebrated World Mission Sunday at Miao Cathedral, dedicated to Christ, the Light of the Nations. He encouraged parishes and mission centres to organise meaningful events to mark the centenary and renew their commitment to evangelisation.
The bishop called on Catholics to see themselves not only as believers but also as missionary disciples who follow Jesus and share his love and peace. He stressed the importance of prayer for people who have not yet encountered Christ.
“Let us reach out to those who have never heard of Jesus. Let us pray for those who do not know the Gospel,” he said. He also highlighted the role of Christ’s love in promoting peace and brotherhood in northeastern India, a region affected by tensions and conflict, including the continuing violence in neighbouring Manipur.
Parishes across the diocese organised a range of activities in response to the bishop’s appeal. At Mary Help of Christians Parish in Borduria, in Tirap district, parishioners contributed to support missionary work. Parish priest Father C. J. Mathew thanked the community, saying that even small donations could make a difference when people worked together. He also recalled the message, “One in Christ, United in Mission.”
At Christ the King Parish in Khonsa, also in Tirap district, families were encouraged to pray the Rosary for missionaries involved in pastoral care and evangelisation throughout the diocese. The community also noted that the Holy See had granted a plenary indulgence for World Mission Sunday.
St Mary’s Catholic Church in Loaksim held a special missionary gathering to help people understand their shared responsibility for the Church’s mission. In Ozako, parishioners processed through the streets before celebrating the Eucharist, publicly expressing their faith and encouraging wider participation in missionary activities.
At St Peter’s Parish in Tezu, in Lohit district, missionary activities were combined with a fundraising food fair. Parishioners prepared food and sold it to raise money for the Universal Solidarity Fund of the Pontifical Mission Societies, allowing local residents to support missionaries through their contributions.
Soplum Toh, an itinerant catechist serving the diocese, said the missionary vocation was not limited to priests, religious sisters or people sent to distant countries. Every baptised person, he said, has a responsibility to take part in the Church’s mission.
He described the event as a reminder of the importance of putting this responsibility into practice in daily life.
Based on reporting by Fides News Agency.
