Activities for young people and adults were organised in the month of October. The president of the Pontifical Missionary Works celebrated the final Mass yesterday. Free health care was provided to the poor, and young people visited hospices.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – In the diocese of Weetebula, on the island of Pulau Sumba (province of East Nusa Tenggara), the local Church, led by Bishop Edmund Woga, held moments of prayer, games and activities for adults and children from October 18 to 23 to mark World Mission Day so as to deepen the missionary aspect of pastoral outreach. Fr Markus Nurwidipranoto, national president of the Pontifical Missionary Works, celebrated the final Mass yesterday together with dozens of priests.
Mgr Woga and local parish priests organised several activities for the missionary month of October. In all diocesan parishes, worshippers recited the rosary, read the Bible, and entertained kids and children with quizzes on the catechism.
Weekly activities were organised for young people and spiritual retreats for couples. The diocese also provided free health care for the poor and less fortunate in the area.
The 90th World Mission Day was also celebrated in the diocese of Atambua, West Timor. Nuns and local religious, along with diocesan priests, brought together young and old, women and men, to celebrate together. Children danced and played music.
"We want to thank everyone who helped and allowed these events to happen,” said Fr Gerard Salu, a priest from Kefa. “Through these activities, we encourage children and young people to love the Church and God,” added Fr Nabem.
"One could touch the biblical joy in everyone," said with satisfaction Fr Salvator Towary, president of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the diocese of Atambua, with regards to the activities organised by the diocese to raise awareness of the mission and the joy of the Gospel.
Asked to work on the theme ‘The Missionary Church, a witness of mercy’, young people visited a number of local nursing homes to keep company and bring compassion to the elderly.