POPE BENEDICT XVI'S GENERAL AND MISSION INTENTIONS FOR 2009
(click on the text of the intentions to go to the comment)
January
General: Family a place of Formation.
That the family may become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith.
Mission: Christian Unity.
That the different Christian confessions, aware of the need for a new evangelization in this period of profound transformations, may be committed to announcing the Good News and moving towards the full unity of all Christians in order to offer a more credible testimony of the Gospel.
February
General: Church Pastors, docile to the Spirit.
That the Pastors of the Church may always be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and in their service to God's people.
Mission: Promotion of Peace in Africa.
That the Church in Africa may find adequate ways and means to promote reconciliation, justice and peace efficaciously, according to the indications of the Synod of the Bishops' II Special Assembly for Africa.
March
General: The Dignity of Women.
That the role of women may be more appreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world.
Mission: Church Unity in China.
That, in the light of the letter addressed to them by Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselves to being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace.
April
General: Farmers and World Hunger.
That the Lord may bless the farmers' work with an abundant harvest and sensitize the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world.
Mission: Christians as Signs of Hope to the Poor.
That the Christians who operate in the territories where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love.
May
General: Laity as Vocations Promoters.
That the laity and the Christian communities may be responsible promoters of priestly and religious vocations.
Mission: A Missionary Church.
That the recently founded Catholic Churches, grateful to the Lord for the gift of faith, may be ready to share in the universal mission of the Church, offering their availability to preach the Gospel throughout the world.
June
General: Foreign Debt Relief.
That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt.
Mission: The Church in Areas of Violence.
That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world.
July
General: Christians in the Middle East.
That the Christians of the Middle East may live their faith in full freedom and be an instrument of peace and reconciliation.
Mission: Humanity Reconciled.
That the Church may be the seed and nucleus of a humanity reconciled and reunited in God's one and only family, thanks to the testimony of all the faithful in every country in the world.
August
General: Refugees and Displaced Peoples.
That public opinion may be more aware of the problem of millions of displaced persons and refugees and that concrete solutions may be found for their often tragic situation.
Mission: Christians Suffering Persecution and Discrimination.
That those Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in many Countries because of the name of Christ may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognized, in order to be able to live and profess their own faith freely.
September
General: Word of God be better known.
That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy.
Mission: Christians in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
That Christians in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discouraged from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
October
General: Sundays and the Eucharist.
That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist.
Mission: The Spirit of Mission.
That the entire People of God, to whom Christ entrusted the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, may eagerly assume their own missionary responsibility and consider it the highest service they can offer humanity.
November
General: Care of Creation.
That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation.
Mission: That the Name of God may bring Peace.
That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace.
December
General: Respect for Children.
That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in its various forms.
Mission: Christ, Light of the World.
That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognize in the Word Incarnate the light which illuminates every man and that the Nations may open their doors to Christ, the Saviour of the world.
General: Family a place of Formation.
That the family may become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith.
Mission: Christian Unity.
That the different Christian confessions, aware of the need for a new evangelization in this period of profound transformations, may be committed to announcing the Good News and moving towards the full unity of all Christians in order to offer a more credible testimony of the Gospel.
February
General: Church Pastors, docile to the Spirit.
That the Pastors of the Church may always be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and in their service to God's people.
Mission: Promotion of Peace in Africa.
That the Church in Africa may find adequate ways and means to promote reconciliation, justice and peace efficaciously, according to the indications of the Synod of the Bishops' II Special Assembly for Africa.
March
General: The Dignity of Women.
That the role of women may be more appreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world.
Mission: Church Unity in China.
That, in the light of the letter addressed to them by Pope Benedict XVI, the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselves to being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace.
April
General: Farmers and World Hunger.
That the Lord may bless the farmers' work with an abundant harvest and sensitize the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world.
Mission: Christians as Signs of Hope to the Poor.
That the Christians who operate in the territories where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love.
May
General: Laity as Vocations Promoters.
That the laity and the Christian communities may be responsible promoters of priestly and religious vocations.
Mission: A Missionary Church.
That the recently founded Catholic Churches, grateful to the Lord for the gift of faith, may be ready to share in the universal mission of the Church, offering their availability to preach the Gospel throughout the world.
June
General: Foreign Debt Relief.
That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt.
Mission: The Church in Areas of Violence.
That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world.
July
General: Christians in the Middle East.
That the Christians of the Middle East may live their faith in full freedom and be an instrument of peace and reconciliation.
Mission: Humanity Reconciled.
That the Church may be the seed and nucleus of a humanity reconciled and reunited in God's one and only family, thanks to the testimony of all the faithful in every country in the world.
August
General: Refugees and Displaced Peoples.
That public opinion may be more aware of the problem of millions of displaced persons and refugees and that concrete solutions may be found for their often tragic situation.
Mission: Christians Suffering Persecution and Discrimination.
That those Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in many Countries because of the name of Christ may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognized, in order to be able to live and profess their own faith freely.
September
General: Word of God be better known.
That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy.
Mission: Christians in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
That Christians in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discouraged from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
October
General: Sundays and the Eucharist.
That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist.
Mission: The Spirit of Mission.
That the entire People of God, to whom Christ entrusted the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, may eagerly assume their own missionary responsibility and consider it the highest service they can offer humanity.
November
General: Care of Creation.
That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation.
Mission: That the Name of God may bring Peace.
That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace.
December
General: Respect for Children.
That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in its various forms.
Mission: Christ, Light of the World.
That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognize in the Word Incarnate the light which illuminates every man and that the Nations may open their doors to Christ, the Saviour of the world.
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