Diocese of San Diego
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Never underestimate the power of your own witness to our faith in Jesus,” said Monsignor John E. Kozar, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. His message was from his keynote presentation at Catechetical Leadership Day, April 7, a part of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) / National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors (NPCD) annual convention. “We’ve heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child,” Monsignor Kozar observed, “but we know that it takes a world to make a Church.” He pointed to the critical role of the personal “faithful witness” of those gathered, and spoke too of his encounters with such witnesses in the Missions. “In my travels, I meet those who lead others to this experience of our Lord and teach them about our Catholic faith,” he said. “But even more than a source of information about the faith, these mission catechists are ‘faithful witnesses’ who inspire and teach by the example of their lives.” Monsignor Kozar described as well the life’s witness of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, former National Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Above all, Monsignor Kozar offered words of encouragement to these faith formators. “You are heroic in your efforts, despite the challenges and difficulties,” he said. “You are true missionaries.” |
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A. Introduction The Pontifical Mission Societies consist of: The Pontifical Mission Societies have, as their primary purpose, the promotion of a universal missionary spirit — a spirit of prayer and sacrifice — among all baptized Catholics. The first three Societies, in carrying out that goal, invite baptized Catholics to express their missionary commitment by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial support for the work of the Church in the Missions. The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious works to deepen mission awareness among priests, men and women Religious, catechists, and educators so that they are fully prepared to take on the mission formation of the faithful. The four Societies each received the title “pontifical” in 1922 to indicate their status as official instruments of the Holy Father and of the Universal Roman Catholic Church. |
