"I am enjoying myself here in Paris. The food is delicious. We eat a lot of cheese and I like it. The Effel tower is just five minutes walking distance from our house. I took a photo there and am attaching it here for you. We are in the centre of Paris and many of the places mentioned in the book Da Vinci Code are close to this house. In fact I took a photo in front of the Church of San Surplice. I am attaching here a photo of the Effel Tower in the background and the Church of San Suplice. On Wednesday I went to Clamart; There is a retreat house of the Jesuits there.
I celebrated Mission Sunday here in Paris. I was given the opportunity to speak a little about India and my going to Africa at the Mass. On Tuesday I spoke to the hostel girls here. Sr. Rosario made a power point presentation with some photos which I gave her of India and the girls were eagerly listening and asking questions.
According to the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the observance of October as the month of the missions reminds every baptized person of the duty to collaborate in the universal mission of the Church. The choice of October as the missionary month was made to commemorate the discovery of the American continent. World Mission Sunday is normally observed on the second to last Sunday in October.
Every Christian should be a missionary of love in his own life, Benedict XVI said on the first day of the month that the Church traditionally dedicates to the missions. Reflecting on the missions, the Pope said that "the Church is missionary by nature," as reflected in the words of the risen Jesus to his apostles: 'As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.'" Therefore, "the mission of the Church is the prolongation of Christ's mission: To take the love of God to all, proclaiming charity with words and concrete testimony," the Pontiff said. He added that the Christian must realize this "with humility and courage, serving his neighbor without ulterior motives and obtaining in prayer the strength of joyful and industrious charity." To carry out this mission, Benedict XVI appealed for the help of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus -- whose memorial the Church celebrated on Oct. 1 -- universal patroness of the missions along with St. Francis Xavier. May the young Carmelite and doctor of the Church, "who indicated the 'simple' way to holiness as confident abandonment in the love of God," "help us to be credible witnesses of the Gospel of charity," said the Pope.
May Mary most holy, virgin of the rosary and queen of the missions, lead us all to Christ our savior.
Love,
Sr. Margaret Correa.
