Anniversary celebration for Catholic Missionary Union

Source: Catholic Missionary Union

The Catholic Missionary Union (CMU) celebrated its Silver Jubilee on Sunday, 26 October, at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Brixton.

For the past 25 years, the CMU has organised Mission Appeals in England and Wales, help raise awareness of the Missionary Charism of the Universal Church and helped clergy and religious from different parts of the world get inculturated in our Church.

The CMU joined the parishioners for their midday Sunday celebration. Fr Tony Chantry MHM (who is the National Director of Missio in England and Wales) was the main celebrant, with Fr Ugo Igwuka CSSP (provincial of the Spiritans) reflecting on the mission of the Church in England and Wales and the place of the CMU in animating the mission of the Church.

The CMU represents over 40 missionary congregations and lay organisations who are involved in the Mission on the Church both in England and Wales and throughout the world. Many of these congregations were present for this celebration and had displays and information in the Parish Hall after Mass. The Missionary Displays were complemented with traditional foods from different parts of the world and an opportunity to share stories and experiences of being a missionary, both here in England and Wales and in different parts of the world!

Co-Chairs Fr Patrick Duffy, SX (Xaverian Missionaries) and Sr Mary Sebastian Ogwuike IHM (Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) would like to thank the people of Choir of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish for opening their doors to the CMU and creating a joyful and spirit filled celebration, Fr Mark Ehichioya Odion MSP for offering the parish hall for the Missionary Display, Richard Owens and the rest of the CMU Secretariate for their organisational skills and the many members of the CMU who were present for this celebration of the Missionary Life of the Church.

"There is great thanksgiving" says Richard Owens, secretary for the CMU "for the diversity and change which the Holy Spirit has brought to our membership over this period. Back in 2000 we were almost entirely made up of European missionary personnel returned from the so called mission fields. Today, we have many men and women here from the church of the Global South, who were educated and formed by European missionaries and now are on mission to us."

LINKS

Highlights of the Mass are on YouTube: www.youtube.com/live/Pm9SxkMyb1E

For more information of the Catholic Missionary Union please visit: www.cmu.org.uk/