Dear Brothers and Sisters, The late 19th and 20th centuries were a time of extraordinary missionary activity. Many new Missionary Societies were formed, and huge efforts were made to go into all areas of the world to proclaim the good news. Equally missionaries were jailed and expelled from countries as anti-Christian governments came to power. Missionaries died in prison or were executed because of their beliefs. In many ways the acts of the apostles were being repeated in the 20th century. Pope Francis has declared October of this year an Extraordinary Missionary Month. It reminds us that the Church of its nature is missionary and must continue both in the 1st and 3rd worlds to proclaim the gospel. The proclamation of the gospel challenges us to look at the world with a Jesus perspective and that can lead to conflict and division as it did in the early days of the church. The Jesus perspective ‘s values are often different from the worlds. They can be called backward and out of touch. Remember Jesus’s values were questioned in His own time and led to the cross. Lord you called us to live our faith in the world but not to be seduced by it. Give us courage and faith as we journey towards the kingdom amen Fr Karl