By Patrick Carroll, PIME Missionaries

Martyrdom is not always the outcome, but it is the possibility that is faced by the men and women who give up their normal: their homes and families, in order to heed the call to the missions that Jesus gives to us. 

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron made this point clear at the 2018 World Mission Sunday celebration at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington on Sunday, Oct. 21. 

The archbishop's point was punctuated by the World Mission Sunday poster contest, the theme of which was Jesus’ final request: “Go out into the whole world, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). That theme was grasped by every winner from grades 1-8, from all over the Archdiocese of Detroit: from Detroit to Plymouth and even Anchorville. 

“Anchorville, well, that’s where I’m from!” the Archbishop pointed out to the young recipient.

The liturgy ended with a reflection on the missionary groups gathered there. A porcelain chalice and paten were given to the archbishop, adorned with the Chinese characters hanzi, in recognition of the missionaries' presence in all parts of the world, including the Near East. Both the chalice and paten included phrases about the Word bearing fruit, fitting for the Archbishop’s campaign to Unleash the Gospel. Finally, there was one last surprise in store: a birthday cake given to the Archbishop from all the parishioners of Our Lady of Sorrows, in honor of the chief shepherd's 70th birthday.

Next year's World Mission Sunday event will take place on Oct. 20, 2019, at another location in the Archdiocese of Detroit to be determined.

Patrick Carroll is a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit's World Mission Sunday Committee and works with the PIME Missionaries in Detroit.