"Come and see" – In Celebration of the Extraordinary Missionary Month

In response to Pope Francis’ appeal for the celebration of the Extraordinary Missionary Month, an open-air mass was held at the site of the Ruins of St Paul’s on 19th October 2019. As the message was “Baptized and Sent: the Church of Christ on Mission in the World”, the venue for the Eucharistic celebration had been chosen in an attempt to engage non-believers through evangelism. Has this aim been well achieved? 

I was among the many attendants that evening. Despite my active participation in the ritual, I could not help being distracted at times by the onlookers, assumedly tourists on a visit. The above question flashed across my mind from time to time. I also thought of the Bible quote “Jesus said: Come and see (John 1: 39-40)”. The tourists were doubtlessly the non-believers we desired to reach. Did we manage to make them come and see? What did we want them to see? Did they somehow get inspired by what they saw that evening?

The huge congregation occupying the entire staircase in front of the main façade of the former Mater Dei Church as well as the stone-paved ground at its bottom must have been a magnificent sight to the visitors. They must also have been fascinated by the choral singing and prayer recital. However, as this is a popular tourist attraction, actually an icon of Macau, where a variety of activities are held at different times of the year, it is doubted whether the onlookers saw the open-air mass merely as one of the tourist activities and cared only to take a few photos for remembrance. Did the mass serve its purpose of evangelism ultimately? 

In retrospect, I think we have reasons to be optimistic. For one thing, unlike the performances aimed to entertain the tourists, our singing was an act of prayer consisting mainly of hymns, each with a spiritual appeal, igniting their curiosity about the message conveyed. Besides, our chorus was a visible expression of our joy of being brought together as a community, not only within the same parish but between parishes. In fact, when singing with one accord, though lacking in professionalism, we showed that we were faithfully united in Christ.

In addition, the tourists must have been attracted by the priests seated on the raised platform, far more by Bishop Lee, the celebrant speaking most of the time. The idea of the Bishop’s role as the pastor was, of course, unknown to them. But they must have marveled at how readily and unanimously the congregation responded to his words. The natural way in which we interacted with him could not have been the result of a timely rehearsal. On the contrary, it had been due to long years’ practice based on a well-established religious belief. Bishop Lee’s sermon in four different languages indeed drew great attention, particularly the Putonghua version targeted at them. The sermon may have passed their comprehension. But at least one or two ideas ought to have sunk in. 

I believe, therefore, that though the open-air mass could not claim to be an overnight success, it was at least a step in the right direction. It has kindled a tiny spark of light. Whether the light will persist with vigour, guiding the non-believers gradually out of darkness, however, depends on us Catholics. We have a lot to do in the pursuit of evangelism, inviting the non-believers to come to our church to see. The word church here does not necessarily mean the building where we gather for prayer and adoration. It ought to be interpreted in a broader sense instead. Together, we are the church. In fact, through our acts of love, hope and faith, we will enable the non-believers to see the church in us. This is actually what evangelism is about.

In brief, the open-air mass has achieved its aim, which was to reawaken in us the awareness of our mission. As Pope Francis says, each of us is a mission to the world, for each of us is the fruit of God’s love. Let us be always reminded to share in any way in the mission of the church, proclaiming God’s word and bearing witness to the Gospel.