Mission Sunday Celebration & Gospel sharing in the families of Siddhpur Mission by Xavier James.

Mission Sunday Celebration & Gospel sharing in the families of Siddhpur Mission.

Lumen Gentium of Vatican II calls the lay faithful as ‘People of God and the baptized, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, they should everywhere on earth bear witness to Christ’ (9-10). Having well understood this dignity which the Church bestows on our faithful in Siddhpur celebrated Mission Sunday in a meaningful manner by participating in the Liturgy and contributing generously to the cause of missionary activities of the Church. They are aware of Ad Gentes Divinitus no.2 saying ‘The Church on earth is by its very nature missionary’ and so take up their responsibility seriously. During the Holy Eucharist, there is a tradition began to give witness of God-experience publicly, so Martin Fernandes shared the God experience and how God has been leading his family members to the Faith. After the Eucharist there was an Agape. Every family had to prepare a dish and bring it and share in common to live out the experience of the early Christian communities.

Keeping the success stories of the Parish Priest among the Small Christian Communities and having the primacy of the Word of God in Catholic families, we have begun the Gospel Sharing in the families and it is so wonderful to see and hear the small children sharing beautiful reflections and making spontaneous prayers. This has enriched the families and their love for the Word of God. As Ecclesia in Asia 46 sees ‘the family as the domestic Church’, our Catholic families in Siddhpur though few in number make the Church vibrant through their witnessing value.  (27^th October 2013 by Xavier James)