In October of the Jubilee Year 2000, a World Mission Congress was held in Rome.
Hundreds of missionaries and mission educators from around the world gathered in the Eternal City
to celebrate the fundamental call of all Christians: to preach the Good News to the ends of the earth!
The Congress closed on World Mission Sunday, with a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II. As a remembrance of the first missionaries, the Twelve Apostles, twelve men and women were chosen to receive a simple mission cross from the Pope and commissioned "to bring Jesus back to your country." I was given the amazing and unexpected grace to be selected as one of those twelve souls, representing the United States of America!
That moment of kneeling before the Vicar of Christ on earth and hearing the prayers and songs of over 80,000 people in St. Peter's Square will never fade from my memory. It was there at the feet of Peter that I believe the seed was planted for the Mission Moment ministry. Its goal is to simply bring Jesus to the world, one word, one step, one moment at a time.... to open eyes to the wonder of faith, and the beauty of grace that comes streaming down from the Cross. Each of us is given so many mission moments in our life. May God give us the grace to recognize and respond to them!
Peace and Prayers,
photo taken by "L'Osservatore Romano" Photographic Service