Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord!

On October 21, 2012, the walls of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross reverberated with the sounds of voices and musical instruments praising God enthusiastically as we celebrated World Mission Sunday 2012.  We welcomed over seven hundred worshipers and the celebration was enhanced by a varied musical program. Choirs from the Ugandan, Cape Verdean, and Lithuanian communities made their own unique contribution to the Mass.

Ugandan Martyrs Choir

Cape Verdean Choir

Lithuanian Folk Choir

The Book of the Gospel was sung and danced in by members of the Kenyan Community.   

Students from the Confirmation class at St. Peter’s in South Boston, accompanied by their pastor, Fr. Steve Zukas, dressed in their ethnic Lithuanian costumes and served as our greeters. Readings and prayers were proclaimed in Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, Lithuanian, African Krio, American Samoan, Luganda and English. 

Principal celebrant of the World Mission Sunday liturgy was Bishop Robert Hennessey, a member of the Missionary Society of Saint James the Apostle. Bishop Hennessey was joined by fifteen concelebrating priests representing missionary groups and dioceses from all over the world.

The homily was delivered by Father Patrick Byrne, SVD, who labored for many years in Ecuador; not only as a missionary, but later as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in that country.  In addition, he worked for ten years as Secretary General for the Missionary Childhood (formerly Holy Childhood) Association at the Holy See.  Presently Father Byrne serves the Divine Word Missionary community as Provincial for Ireland and Great Britain. 

We were pleased to honor in a special way this year the centennial of the founding of the Maryknoll Sisters.  Like the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, the Sisters had their origins in the Archdiocese of Boston under the leadership of Father James Anthony Walsh and Mother Mary Joseph Rogers.  It was wonderful to have representatives from the Maryknoll community to celebrate with us.  Congratulations to them on this milestone in their service of spreading the Gospel.

We will be continuing our observance of October as Mission Month with our first annual Mission Education Day on October 30^th at the Cathedral.  Students from Catholic schools and parish programs of Religious Education will gather with Cardinal Sean for Mass and a day of enrichment focusing on the contribution that our students can make to the missionary activity of the Church.  We are grateful that Father Pat Byrne, along with Sr. Lisa Valentini, MSC, will be able to spend this day with us as well and look forward to making this a yearly event for our students.
-Rev. Rodney J. Copp, JCL