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Fr. Thomas Craig Mission Resources Page

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This page is named in honor of Father Thomas Craig, a dedicated pastor and mission worker.
The Paraclete, Our Comforter, Our Advocate

During his 2021 homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis reflected:

We too are called to testify in the Holy Spirit, to become paracletes, comforters. The Spirit is asking us to embody the comfort he brings. How can we do this? Not by making great speeches, but by drawing near to others. Not with trite words, but with prayer and closeness. Let us remember that closeness, compassion and tenderness are God’s “trademark”, always. The Paraclete is telling the Church that today is the time for comforting. It is more the time for joyfully proclaiming the Gospel than for combatting paganism. It is the time for bringing the joy of the Risen Lord, not for lamenting the drama of secularization. It is the time for pouring out love upon the world, yet not embracing worldliness. It is more the time for testifying to mercy, than for inculcating rules and regulations. It is the time of the Paraclete! It is the time of freedom of heart, in the Paraclete.

Holy Spirit, Paraclete Spirit, comfort our hearts. Make us missionaries of your comfort, paracletes of your mercy before the world. Our Advocate, sweet counsellor of the soul, make us witnesses of the “today” of God, prophets of unity for the Church and humanity, and apostles grounded in your grace, which creates and renews all things. Amen.
Celebrating AdGentes

On December 7, 1965, Pope Paul VI promulgated Ad Gentes (the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church). Ad Gentes was overwhelmingly approved by the bishops gathered at the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). As the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs states, Ad Gentes "announces the Catholic Church's commitment to bringing the Gospel to all people. (The name Ad Gentes comes from the Latin translation of Jesus' exhortation of the apostles to "go forth.") It establishes evangelization as one of the fundamental missions of the Catholic Church and reaffirms the tie between evangelization and charity for the less-fortunate. Ad Gentes also calls for the formation of strong lay groups, as well as strong relations with other Christians. Finally, it lays out guidelines for the training and actions of the missionaries."

Click here to download or read Ad Gentes.

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