PISTA NG MISYON: An Extraordinary Celebration of Mission Maribel Corcolla

As the whole celebrated the pointed out that like any feast Pista ng Misyon worldwide Extraordinary Missionary Month is celebratory—full of praise and thanksgiving, (EMM) of October 2019, the Pontifical Mission singing and dancing, storytelling and witnessing, Societies – Philippines (PMS) and the Roman praying and sharing of food. He also pointed out Catholic Archdiocese of (RCAM) organized that this was another step in the preparation for and hosted a whole-day Pista ng Misyon (Fiesta of the 500th Year of in the Philippines Mission, a title coined by Father James Kroeger) on in 2021. October 18, 2019 at Cuneta Astrodome, City. Prior to this event, the PMS staff had gone to different parts of the country, both on the level of ecclesiastical territories and on more local levels (schools, , offices, communities, seminaries and organizations), and made use of different media platforms (print, brochures, booklets, national papers, radio, television and social media) in order to promote mission awareness; these activities served to orchestrate preparation for and celebration of the EMM, and to facilitate further different possible forms of mission cooperation. Themed “Baptized and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission in the World,” EMM was a celebration on the occasion of the centenary of Maximum Illud, the Apostolic Letter on mission, issued in 1919 by Pope Benedict the XV to “evangelically renew” the Church’s missionary commitment in the midst of the tragedies and Pista ng Misyon was highlighted by five traumas of World War I. major segments:  Paying It Forward to the In his opening remarks, Msgr. Esteban Kabataan (Youth);  Playing up God’s Graciousness Lo, LRMS, PMS National Director, welcomed sa mga Kapus-palad (Those on the Peripheries);  the participants on behalf of Luis Praying for Mission sa mga Karatig Bansa (Other Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, DD, Countries);  Proceeding Forward Kasama ang Isa’t of Manila and in the name of the PMS. He Isa (Together with Each Other); and  Usapang

The MISSIONS Newsletter | 29 “Each segment was a showcase of different missionary activities, involvements and expressions of our mission partners as a way to help the participants rediscover the missionary dimensions of our faith in Christ.”

Misyon, Kunsumisyon at Kumisyon (A Conversation Segment Two: Playing up God’s Gra- on Mission, Its Challenges and Its Blessings) with ciousness sa mga Kapus-Palad was a special theatrical Cardinal . presentation featuring the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Each segment was a showcase of (Care/Shelter) Center and the Program Paghilom different missionary activities, involvements and (Healing). They depicted the stories of street or expressions of our mission partners as a way to homeless people, as well as families of the victims help the participants rediscover the missionary of the extra-judicial killings. This segment of the dimensions of our faith in Jesus Christ. program shared with the audience the interventions Segment One: Paying It Forward sa mga (psychological and spiritual counselling, legal Kabataan was a creative performance through assistance, educational support, and livelihood songs, dances, and the spoken word and poetries, programs) that have been introduced to help the presenting the situations of the young people widowed and traumatized spouses and children that today, and the efforts in accompanying them and they may start rebuilding their lives. the programs in transmitting the Christian Faith Segment Three: Praying for Mission sa to them. It was spearheaded by the Catechetical mga Karatig Bansa was a rich opportunity for all Foundation of the Archdiocese of Manila, Marian participants to unite their hearts in praying the Youth Movement, Alagad ni Maria, Missionaries of world mission led by the members of the the Holy Cross, and the Campus Ministry of the Holy Childhood Association, the Society for the Archdiocese of Manila. Propagation of the Faith, and .

30 | The MISSIONS Newsletter Each decade with its corresponding color was who are preparing to be sent or are already sent to offered for a particular mission continent and mission locally or internationally. region. Indeed, prayer is the first missionary act. Segment Five: Usapang Misyon, Kunsu- Segment Four: Proceeding Forward misyon at Kumisyon was a sharing of three well- Kasama ang Isa’t Isa was a unique presentation by known personalities in show-business: Mr. the Archdiocesan Commission on Youth, sharing Dingdong Dantes, Ms. Marian Rivera-Dantes, with everyone the stories and sentiments, the and Ms. Cherry Pie Picache. In this segment, the dreams and excitements of some young people guests were interviewed by Cardinal Tagle and

The MISSIONS Newsletter | 31 they generously shared about their respective that “Every baptized person living the life of Christ stories of opportunities and successes, challenges by sharing in his death and resurrection is also sent and struggles, the joys and tears that came along on mission,” Cardinal Tagle underlined the following their way, faith-life, discernment, and advocacies. points:  A Personal Encounter with Jesus: “This is a There were at least 8,300 participants from requirement for growth in baptism and mission. Do all walks of life and from all sectors of the Church, I know Jesus? Have I encountered him and what am representing twenty-eight Philippine ecclesiastical I doing in order to deepen my knowledge of Jesus?” territories. Aside from Cardinal Tagle, the celebration  Mission is Fundamentally Witnessing: “Mission in was also graced by the presence of the Papal , word, in deed, in my relationships, even in my silence, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, as well as by Archbishop is witnessing to Christ. To witness to Christ means , President of the Catholic ’ bearing the cross, especially the cross of helplessness.” Conference of the Philippines and nine other bishops.  Mission of Charity: All the faithful were asked to At least, 7,525 World Mission Rosary beads were remember in their prayers those who were greatly distributed. The whole celebration was covered live affected by the earthquake that hit Mindanao two both by Radio Veritas 846 and TV Maria. days earlier, as well as those who are caught in the Further enlivening the celebration, the midst of violence and war in Syria, and those who Light of Jesus Music Ministry, Couples for Christ, suffer in Kenya because of severe drought. and the Missionary Families of Christ led the praise Before the final blessing everybody raised and worship concert portion of the gathering. their world mission rosary beads as Cardinal Tagle Both organizers and participants certainly enjoyed commissioned them to engage in mission. Pista the day. This Pista ng Misyon truly served as a ng Misyon closed with everyone singing the 1995 platform to celebrate in thanksgiving the of World Youth Day theme song: “Let Us Tell the mission bestowed on us in baptism, to renew our World of His Love.” commitment and our yes to God to serve Him ______through his people, and to rekindle the joy of Miss Maribel Corcolla is a staff member mission in the heart of every Filipino Catholic. in the Office for the Promotion of the New The whole day program culminated in Evangelization, Archdiocese of Manila; she is the celebration of the Holy presided by also involved with the Discipleship Program of Cardinal Tagle. Within the Mass was the Missio the Campus Ministry of Polytechnic University Canonica of the catechists of the Archdiocese of of the Philippines, Manila, and of Manila. In his homily, after reminding everyone , Manila.

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