English 
Missionary animation is not just about introducing religious congregations; it is about awakening the missionary spirit in every baptized Christian. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus.” On Sunday 23 March 2025, St. Blaise Church at Amboli in the Archdioceses of Mumbai, took a concrete step in deepening this awareness and inspiring a renewed response to God’s call.
St. Blaise Church is renowned for its vibrant and deeply engaged congregation, where families attend Mass together. The liturgies are well-organised, with enthusiastic participation in singing, prayers and responses, creating a spirit of unity and devotion. Established in 1832, the parish has a rich history of serving the spiritual and social needs of the faithful.
Fr. Peter D’Cunha, the parish priest, played an important role in organizing the Missionary Animation Day. With a heart for evangelization and a commitment to nurturing vocations, he envisioned this initiative as a way to mobilize the faithful in prayer for missions and to ignite a spirit of discernment among the youth.
Six religious congregations namely:
- Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary
- Society of Helpers of Mary
- Daughters of the Cross
- Daughters of St. Paul
- Little Sisters of the Poor
- Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate and
- Brothers from the seminary of the Archdiocese of Mumbai
came together in a spirit of collaboration for the Missionary Animation Day. Each congregation, guided by its unique charism gifted by the Holy Spirit, prepared stalls showcasing their missionary activities, apostolates and way of life. These stalls became vibrant spaces of encounter and inspiration, offering parishioners a glimpse into the diverse ways in which the Church serves humanity. Through engaging displays, conversations, games and shared experiences, the event aimed at creating missionary awareness and igniting a renewed call to prayer and discernment for vocations within the parish community.
For us at Vimala Convent, the process of organizing, coordinating and working together strengthened our community bonds and reaffirmed the joy of our consecration. As we set up our stall, interacted with parishioners and shared our charism and apostolic activities, we felt fulfilment of living our missionary vocation. This experience was not just about showcasing our mission but about witnessing the beauty of our fraternal living and the joy being one Apostolic body working for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
The entire event, reminded everyone that the mission of the Church is still alive, growing, and in need of new hearts ready to say ‘Here I am, Lord!’
Vimala Convent, Mumbai
