By Felix Anthony
MIAO, October 21, 2026: The Diocese of Miao joined the universal Church in celebrating the 100th World Mission Sunday on October 18 through prayer, missionary animation, family rosaries, community initiatives and fundraising activities to support the Church’s missionary work worldwide.
Leading the celebrations across the diocese in Arunachal Pradesh bordering China and Myanmar, Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao called on parishes and mission center to organize meaningful activities to mark the centenary of World Mission Sunday and renew their commitment to evangelisation.
“Let the celebrations remind each one of us that we are not just baptised believers, but missionary disciples, who follow Jesus and make others disciples. And this is the most urgent need of the Church in our context,” the Salesian bishop said.
He also emphasized the importance of prayer and reaching out to those who have yet to encounter Christ.
“Let us pray for those who have not been evangelised, for those who have not been sufficiently catechised, and also reach out to those who have not heard about Jesus,” he added.
Across the diocese, parishes and mission communities responded with various initiatives, demonstrating their commitment to the Church’s missionary mandate and the generosity of the faithful in supporting evangelization.
At Mary Help of Christians Parish, Borduria, in Tirap district, the faithful came together to contribute towards the missionary cause. Appreciating their participation, parish priest Father C. J. Mathew said:
“It was lovely to see our church community come together and contribute in their own little ways. Every little contribution counts, and it’s heartwarming to see what we can achieve when we come together as a community.”
At St. Mary Catholic Church, Loaksim, in Longding district, a special missionary animation programme was organised for the faithful of the mission center to deepen their understanding of the Church’s missionary responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Christ the King Parish community in Khonsa, Tirap district, organized family rosaries to pray for missionaries directly involved in pastoral and evangelization work across the diocese.
Father Subhash Michael, parish priest of Khans Mission, thanked the faithful for taking the initiative to unite in prayer for missionaries serving throughout the diocese.
At Ozako Mission, Father Sunil organized a solemn procession before the Eucharistic celebration to foster missionary zeal among the faithful and encourage greater participation in the Church’s evangelising mission.
At St. Peter’s Parish, Tezu, in Lohit district, a special missionary animation programme and fundraising event brought together the parish community.
Each Basic Ecclesial Community prepared a food item for a Food Mela organized to raise funds for missions around the world.
The parishioners chose to purchase their breakfast at the event, turning a community gathering into a practical expression of solidarity with missionaries.
Reflecting on the significance of the initiative, Soplum Toh, touring catechist of the mission, highlighted the responsibility of every baptised Christian to participate in evangelization.
“It is important to remember that the missionaries are not just Fathers and Sisters. Every baptised person is a missionary. Today’s animation is a much-needed reminder of this truth,” he said.
The centenary celebrations also offered an opportunity for the faithful to renew their appreciation of the Church’s missionary vocation. Francis Mossang of Sacred Heart Parish, Neotan, in Changlang district, observed that the occasion made this year’s celebration particularly meaningful.
As the Church marked 100 years of World Mission Sunday, the initiatives across Miao Diocese highlighted a central message: mission belongs to every baptised person.
Through prayer, formation, community participation and material support, the faithful reaffirmed their shared responsibility to proclaim Christ and sustain the Church’s mission throughout the world.