What a great day in our world mission family as we continue to bring the mission message to Boston from the ends of the earth! writes Maureen Heil from the Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Boston USA. “Archbishop Adrian Smith, sm of the Solomon Islands joined us for a visit with Cardinal Sean [O’Malley] at the Cathedral along with Fr. Alex Okello, Diocesan Director of PMS in Jinja Uganda. Archbishop Smith will preach at St. Anthony’s Shrine this weekend.”
St. Anthony Shrine, “The Church on Arch Street,” is a centre for Roman Catholic Ministry in Boston, Massachusetts, directed by the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province.
Commenting on his meeting with the Archbishop O’Malley said, “Though I knew of him, I had never met the Archbishop before. He is a member of the same Bishops Conference as Papua New Guinea, so he knows the Capuchin bishops who are there.” O’Malley is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, commonly known as the Capuchins.
Smith was in Boston as part of the Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies sponsors’ programme which brings missionaries who come in from around the world to preach at Masses in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston.
Cardinal O’Malley explained that the Programme has two purposes:
- The economic support for the works of evangelisation and mercy that are carried out in the name of the Catholic community in these countries of the Third World.
- An opportunity for mission animation, to help Catholics in Boston to grow in their awareness of the universality of the Church and their responsibility to be part of this mission of announcing the Gospel and caring for one another.
“I am always very edified by the generosity and the love that our people demonstrate towards the missions. Indeed, Archbishop Smith attested to the warm welcome that he received in the parishes and for the generous support that the people have given him,” said O’Malley.
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