By Matters India Reporter
Miao, October 2, 2019: A Catholic diocese in northeastern India has published a booklet to guide prayer intentions during the Extraordinary Missionary Month announced by Pope Francis.
“I hope this booklet helps everyone to make an extra effort to make this month time for deep reflection on the call to everyone to be a missionary,” said Salesian Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao, one of the two dioceses in Arunachal Pradesh state.
Pope Francis has set up October this year as Extraordinary Missionary Month to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud.
Catholics in Miao opened the month on October 1 with a special prayer intention booklet and Rosary procession throughout the diocese.
Releasing the booklet, Bishop Pallipparambil said the month should make everyone aware that the primary duty of the Church is to make Christ known to all the people.
The booklet contains a brief reflection for each day of the month and prayer intentions for all the mission stations in the Diocese and concludes with a short prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Miao diocese has drawn up an action plan to make everyone participate in the month, that includes animations for catechists, men and women groups, Eucharistic procession and prayer rally scheduled to be held all throughout October.
People also expressed happiness to be part of this global event of the Church.
“Such events of the Church not only make participate but it also makes us aware that we belong to the Universal Church,” said a Catholic at the end of the first day.