Evangelii Gaudium Sunday
Image of papal encyclical
Next weekend 19th/20th is for the Home Missions Evangelii Gaudium Sunday.
Each year the Church sets aside the third Sunday of September as a special time of prayer focussing on the spread of the gospel in our own country. This is in contrast to the mission ‘ad gentes’ to those people and countries that have never known the gospel.
England ceased to be a ‘mission territory’ in 1918. Following centuries of persecution, it was decided that the Catholic faith was firmly established and England could return to a normal situation within the Church. We all know, however, that the situation over a hundred years later has changed. A springtime of expansion for the Church has become an autumn of closing churches and smaller congregations.
Pope John Paul II called for a ‘New Evangelisation’ where the beauty of the gospel is presented anew in countries and cities that may have forgotten it.
What can I do about this?
Pray for the conversion of our country.
Invite a friend or family member to Mass.
Learn more about our faith so that we can answer questions people might have about what we believe.