The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-02-17

SpGC1&l Offerings WAH DC WCCCps
ted tomorrow in all Catholic
Churches Of Waterbury as well as
throughout the Hartford Diocese
In Observance Of mission Sunday"
A special letter emphasizing the
need Of generous cooperation
spiritually and financially ON the
mart Of the Catholic laity has
been read in all the churches.
1t was issued by Most Rev.
Maurice F. MeAuliffe, bishop Of
the Hartford Diocese and reads
as follows
Episcopal Residence
40 Pennington Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut.
Dear Father:
Sunday, February 18th, is Mis-
sion Sunday in the Diocese Of
Hartford. It is a day Of prayer
and sacrifice for the extension Of
Gods Kingdom on earth. His
Kingdom grows and expands from
generation to generation. The
Church prays for light for those
who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death. She never for
gets the Divine Commission "Go-
ing, therefore, teach We all ma
lions, baptfzing them in the name
of the Father and Of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost" est. Matthew
XXVIII-19). She is the witness
of Christ in Jerusalem and in all
j., Judea and Samaria and even to
the uttermost part of the earth
(Acts I-8). Modern scientific de-
velopment has brought the ends
of the earth nearer home. The
printed word, the radio, the auto
mobile and the airplane bring to
the breakfast table the latest
news of the far-flung missionary
world. This makes us all the
more conscious Of our duty Of
prayer and sacrifice for those who
know not Christ or His Kingdom.
Constant Sacrifice
Holy Mother the Church blesses
those noble men and women who
leave father and mother, sister
and brother and lands to follow
Christ and carry His Name to
benighted peoples. Their lives OF
constant sacrifice should excite
us to generous cooperation in our
daily prayer and the gifts which
we should send them. The MS
sionary today. is not only an ex-
ponent of Divine Truth: he is also
a social worker and medical mis-
sionary. Thousands of dollars are
required for his training and tens
of thousands to build up a strong
Christian faith in these outposts
of civilization. Well may we
ponder on the security Of our own
lot in life and ask ourselves If
we are doing our part for the ex-
tension of Gods Church.
The manifold missionary activi-
ties throughout the world are a
challenge to our faith and charity.
Do we realize how little our faith
has cost us and yet how much it
cost those from whom we received
it? Should we not thank God
that in these days of world dis
order and infidelity, we live in
peace and comfortable existence?
Look ahead and see the chaos
which hangs over countries from
which once came missionaries and
generous offerings for the sup
port of the missions. That door
is now closed. Among the great
nations of the world we have been
spared. Will not Divine Provi-
dence remind us that here lies our
duty to support generously the
mission work Of the Church? Shall
we not pray every day more fer
ventIy for those who in our place
are carrying aloft the torch Of
faith? Shall we not double or
treble our contributions this year
as an act of thanksgiving to God
for our faith and the peace we
enjoy? Shall we not in the spirit
and generOSitv of our offerings