The initiative, which was started in Italy by the Youth Movement of the Pontifical Mission Societies in 1993, has spread in recent years to other countries. March 24, the date chosen, is the anniversary of the assassination in 1980 of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador.
The theme for this year, announced the Vatican missionary agency Fides, is «Bread Broken for Others.» This year, the day coincides with Holy Thursday, and is in memory, in particular, of the 15 missionaries killed in 2004 while carrying out their work.
A statement prepared by the Pontifical Mission Societies invites parishes, religious communities, seminaries, mission groups, youth groups and all people of good will to celebrate the day.
The sick are encouraged to offer their suffering in memory of the missionary martyrs and for the spread of the Gospel. Everyone is encouraged to visit a place of suffering — for example, hospitals, homes for the elderly — and to comfort the afflicted.
