«Welcoming Pope Francis’ call to revive our missionary commitment, I am calling our diocese to deepen on this missionary awareness and commitment by celebrating an “extraordinary mission year” (EMY) from October 2019 to October 2020,» said His Exc. Mgr. José Luis Ponce de León IMC, Bishop of Manzini (Eswatini, ex Swaziland), in his message for the Extraordinary Missionary Month (October 2019). The diocese of Manzini has thus decided to extend the initiative to revive the missionary ardor promoted by Pope Francis to a whole year, reported Fides News Agency.
«This year will be an opportunity to deepen the missionary spirit that gave birth to our Church in the Kingdom of Eswatini when four members of the Order of the Servants of Mary arrived in Mbabane in 1914,» writes Archbishop Ponce de León.
«From that humble but passionate beginning, today we thank God for his abundant blessings seen in: our 17 parishes and 113 outstations, our commitment to health through Good Shepherd Hospital and College, clinics, Hope House among others; our commitment to education through 47 primary and 13 high schools, our service towards those with disabilities, our commitment to the building of peace and justice in our country.»
Among the initiatives announced from November 21-23, 2019, a “diocesan missionary congress” will be celebrated. It will be opened with an all-night vigil at Our Lady of the Assumption (Cathedral) on Friday, October 18, 2019, from 6 pm. All the parishes are called to come together at our mother church. On that night the “Candle of the EMY” will be lit. This candle will then visit every parish for three weeks, illuminating our missionary commitment,» underlined the Bishop of Manzini.
«Pope Francis’ prayer for this extraordinary missionary time is available in both Siswati and English. We are all called to pray with it as a community on Sundays and in our families during the week», says Mgr. José Luis Ponce de León who concludes: «Jesus is at the door and knocks. Let us open the doors of our hearts and let him out. Let us bless others with the good news we carry».
