World Mission Sunday celebrated at Abington parish

Posted October 22, 2015

Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald celebrated the annual World Mission Sunday Mass Oct. 18 at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Abington, commemorating the work of mission churches throughout the world and the support they receive from the faithful of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The bishop also presented awards to seven winners of the annual Christmas Artwork Contest of the Missionary Childhood Association, the Pontifical Mission Society for children. Also present at the Mass that was well attended by parishioners was archdiocesan director of the Office for the Propagation of the Faith, Msgr. Arthur Rodgers, along with other clergy.

The contest winners are Michael Ferraiolo and Julianna Kissinger of St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield; Mathew Strimel of Our Lady of Port Richmond School in Philadelphia; Andrew Huff of St. Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia; Julia Thomson of St. Laurentius School in Philadelphia; and Andrea Verch and Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton of Regina Coeli Academy in Abington.

Ferraiolo, Kissinger and Strimel are three of the 24 national winners selected from thousands of entries in the national art contest. The national winners’ artwork will be displayed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., during the Advent season. (All photos by Sarah Webb)

Award winners bring up the gifts during the World Mission Sunday Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians in Abington.

Award winners bring up the offertory gifts, received by Bishop Michael J. Fitzgerald, during the World Mission Sunday Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Abington.

Julianna Kissinger from St Francis of Assisi School in Sprinfield receives her Missionary Childhood Association 2014-15 Christmas Coloring Contest Award from Bishop Michael Fitzgerald.

Julianna Kissinger from St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield receives her Missionary Childhood Association award from Bishop Michael Fitzgerald.

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Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton from Regina Coeli Academy in Abington receives her Archdiocesan award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton from Regina Coeli Academy in Abington receives her award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

Andrew Huff from St Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia receives his Archdiocesan award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

Andrew Huff from St. Peter the Apostle School in Philadelphia receives his award.

Julia Thomson from St Laurentius School in Philadelphia receives her Archdiocesan award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

Julia Thomson from St. Laurentius School in Philadelphia receives her award.

Andrea Verch receives her Archdiocesan award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

Andrea Verch receives her award from Bishop Fitzgerald.

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Kathy Holmes reads along with the Gospel.

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Julianna Kissinger, national winner of Missionary Childhood Association 2014-15 Christmas Coloring Contest, from St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield, Delware County poses with her winning artwork.

Julianna Kissinger of St. Francis of Assisi School in Springfield, Delaware County, is the national winner of Missionary Childhood Association’s 2014-15 Christmas Artwork Contest. She poses with her winning artwork at Our Lady Help of Christians.

Julia Thomson, Andrea Verch, Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton, Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, Andrew Huff, Msgr. Authur Rodgers

Award winners Julia Thomson, Andrea Verch, Maria del Mar Zuniga-Stanton and Andrew Huff, stand with Bishop Michael Fitzgerald and Msgr. Arthur Rodgers, director of the archdiocesan Office for the Propagation of the Faith.