To the Ends of the Earth

Within the past two weeks, I have sent letters concerning our annual Missionary Cooperative Program (MCP) to the pastors and administrators in the Archdiocese of Boston.  MCP brings a mission speaker into every parish once a year.  Its purpose is not only to raise financial support for missionary activity, but also to bring the message of mission education to every parishioner.

One of the mission dioceses that benefits from MCP is the diocese of Machakos in Kenya, a relatively young African diocese founded in 1969.  This week I received a letter from the bishop of Machakos, Rt. Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, thanking me for the support his diocese received from the 2012 MCP.  The Archdiocesan parishes who welcomed the Bishop’s representative were Holy Family, Lowell, St. John the Evangelist, Chelmsford, St. James the Greater, Boston, and my own parish, St. Gerard Majella in Canton.

In Bishop Musonde’s letter, he detailed how this money would be spent:

As indicated in our 2012 MCP application, I am committing the donations from your diocese to support the following needs:

1)  Payment of tuition and fees for bright children from poor families to complete their high school and/or college education.  We often find that if students with potential are unable to complete their education, they turn to drug abuse and undesirable lifestyles.

2)  We will continue our support of our 21 group homes which house children with disabilities.  We need to make the homes safer and more comfortable for them.

3)  We will continue to support the 4 orphanages in our diocese to provide the children with the necessities of life and a safe and nurturing environment.

Although you may never leave the comfort of your own home, you can fulfill your vocation as a missionary carrying the gospel message “to the ends of the earth” by your prayerful and generous support of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith when your parish hosts a missionary representative sometime during the next few months.  Bishop Musonde closed his letter by writing May God bless you abundantly for your support of this life transforming ministry.  Although those words were addressed to me, they are also meant for each one of you.  During this Easter season, may the Risen Christ bless you with his peace and with the ultimate gift of eternal life.

-Rev. Rodney J. Copp, JCL