In a communication with the members of the Congregation of Holy Cross earlier today, Wednesday, July 31, Fr. Emmanuel Kallarackal, C.S.C., Vicar General and First General Assistant, revealed the official prayer for the Congregation’s new Holy Family Mission to open in the Diocese of Bouganville in Papua New Guinea later this year.

The prayer was prepared by the Congregation’s Commission for Mission, which is chaired by Fr. Kallarackal. The Commission is advising on the preparations for the new mission, including an orientation for the new missionaries at the Holy Cross Generalate in Rome set to begin on August 13. There are prayer cards with the new text available for download in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Given the importance of the new mission, as well as the upcoming training, Fr. Kallarackal wrote: “It is important that we support this new mission as a Congregation. … On behalf of our Superior General and the General Council, I would cordially request you to include this prayer during your morning or evening prayers, whichever may be convenient for each of your communities, particularly during this coming month of August.”

Fr. Kallarackal added that the prayer should be "shared with our collaborators, friends, and benefactors so that they too can support this new mission through their prayers."

Learn about the new mission in Papua New Guinea

In the same communication, the logo for the Holy Family Mission was also revealed. The logo was designed by Br. Adolf Mugume, C.S.C., Director of Communications, in consultation with the Commission for Mission.

In the logo, the cross and anchors are the symbol of Holy Cross, the boat signifies the Congregation’s movement to the new mission on the island of Bougainville. The golden rounded halo above the boat signifies the protecting and providential hands of God, while the inner rounded halo signifies the Church as the People of God.

The Cross above the boat represents the hope that the Cross of Christ brings to humanity, as captured in the Congregation’s motto: Ave Crux, Spes Unica (Hail, the Cross, Our Only Hope). The lighted candle signifies the Holy Cross missionaries’ sharing of the Light of Christ as educators in the faith. The doves signify peace and harmony for the people of the region.

The stars in the outer border remind us both of the Star of the Magi, which led them to Christ the Savior as the Holy Cross missionaries will be leading people to Christ, and the constellation on the flag of Papua New Guinea.

Finally, the name of the Holy Family seeks the intercession of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, whose family Blessed Basile Moreau, the founder of the Congregation, gave as the model for his religous family.