All big or small organisations tend to have their mission statement – from schools to charity organisations and all sorts of businesses. The mission of the Church is so clear and to the point. As stated in the Vatican II document Evangelii Nuntiandi, the Church exists in order to evangelise (14). This clarity of purpose emanates from Jesus’ words when he ordered his disciples to proclaim his word, be witnesses, make disciples, teach and baptise.
Over the centuries and throughout its history, the Church has been blessed with so many generous people, male and female, who have responded to the call to be Evangelisers and do their bit in proclaiming the message of the Lord to others. Many did this within their close circle of friends and family, within their parish, such as volunteering to be catechists, and many others who took a further step of leaving their country of birth and become missionaries in other parts of the world. Many recent popes have renewed and echoed the call for us all to be part of this evangelisation process.
It is our responsibility as members of the Christian community to reflect and ask what is our role in all this – in what way can I be a witness and evangeliser in my daily life?
Evangelisation is the mission of the Church,
not just of a few, but my, your, our mission.
Pope Francis
