Parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley Church in Hemet joined the Universal Church in celebrating the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday on Oct. 18 with a vibrantly colored procession and Mass that represented the missionary colors of different continents.
Parish ministry members dressed in red for the Americas, calling to mind the fire of faith that brought missionaries to the New World; green for Africa, representing its forests and grasslands; blue for Oceania, for the ocean surrounding the islands of the Pacific; white for Europe, symbolizing the seat of the Holy Father; and yellow for Asia, representing the morning light of the East.
After the procession, a Mission Rosary was prayed in different languages, and each mystery was offered for a continent. After the Rosary, the Holy Mass was celebrated. During the homily, Father Paul Ahiaba, C.S.Sp, pastor, reminded parishioners that all baptized Christians are missionaries.
“We don’t need to travel to another continent in order to be called missionaries,” Fr. Ahiaba said.
During the Mass, various gifts were presented from each continent. Host and Wine were offered for the continent of Europe; the congregation stood in solidarity with Africa with lighted candles; incense was presented for the continent of Asia to symbolize its cultures; two children offered flowers to greet the people of Oceania; and a group of children presented a large heart to represent America, asking the Lord to grant us a missionary heart so that we may continue the great mission entrusted to us.