Andy Drozdziak
Missio has urged its supporters to surpass last year’s World Mission Sunday donations of £616,251 in this year’s appeal.
Missio is the Pope’s charity for world mission. It describes World Mission Sunday as ‘a moment of grace to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living in situations of poverty, violence, and oppression, through the tireless work of the missionaries who accompany them.’
“That money went to help missionaries and projects around the world, including the Kidist Mariam Centre in Ethiopia,” Missio said.
On World Mission Sunday last year, Missio featured the work of Spanish lay missionary Maria in Meki, Ethiopia. As Director of the Kidist Mariam Centre, Maria and her team work hard to provide a safe, supportive, and educational environment for vulnerable women, so they no longer have to leave their families and communities to find work.
Missio explained that the funds raised will enable ‘Maria and many other dedicated missionaries like her (to) keep loving, serving, and sharing God’s hope with others.”
“Since last year’s World Mission Sunday, thanks to Missio supporters in England and Wales, the Kidist Mariam Centre has continued to provide vocational training, including food preparation, hairdressing, and tailoring, despite the difficulties in Ethiopia at this time,” the charity added.
According to Maria’s latest report: “Conflict and political instability in Ethiopia, the continuing effects of the pandemic, and climate change affecting much of the country are making it increasingly difficult for vulnerable families to have the bare minimum necessary to live. Shortages of food and basic goods in local markets further worsen the situation.
“In September 2022, new students were registered at the Kidist Mariam Centre. The total number of students in May 2023 is 380: 180 students in hairdressing, 163 students in tailoring, 37 in food preparation.”
Maria wrote: “It is a great joy for us to express once again our most sincere gratitude for the help received from Missio in England and Wales.
“This project has contributed enormously to the empowerment of young women, both economically and personally.”
In much of the developing world, many public services, such as hospitals and schools, are run by the Catholic Church. The global Missio network is entrusted by the Pope to support all of the 40% of the Universal Church currently in need of support from the rest of the Church.
“World Mission Sunday is vital to the growth of the Church and the spread of the Gospel in predominately impoverished and remote areas overseas,” Missio explained.
“It provides the financial assistance needed to help struggling communities survive, and ultimately flourish, through the work of dedicated missionaries.”
This year World Mission Sunday falls on Sunday 22nd October. Missio is inviting Catholics ‘to support and celebrate missionaries and mission dioceses around the world.’