Dear PIME Family,
Time flies! In just three days, Thanksgiving gives way to Advent. This season will be especially meaningful for me as I celebrate Advent and Christmas in Papua New Guinea, visiting our missionaries in some of PIME’s most remote communities. Papua New Guinea holds a special place in our history: it was PIME’s first mission. On April 10, 1852, the first PIME missionaries left London for the distant islands of Melanesia.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of PIME missionary Blessed John Mazzucconi. I am deeply grateful to join a pilgrimage to Woodlark Island, where he was martyred at just 29 years old. When PIME missionaries receive their missionary mandate, we are given a cross and recite a prayer that Blessed Mazzucconi wrote in his journal shortly before his death.
“Blessed is that day when I will be granted to suffer greatly for such a holy and human cause, but even more blessed is that on which I will be found worthy of shedding my blood for it and of meeting death amid torments. My God, who inspire in me these resolutions so far beyond my feeble strength, sustain me with that omnipotent Spirit which first filled your holy Apostles.”
As we receive the crucifix, the bishop says: “Here is the inseparable companion of your apostolic labor; your support in times of danger and difficulty; your comfort in life and in death.” Praying Blessed Mazzucconi’s words in the place where he gave his life will be a profound privilege and honor. More importantly, his sacrifice reminds me of the gift Jesus is to each of us - like Jesus, he gave his life. And he is inviting each of us to do the same. To face all the challenges and adversities of our life with Jesus, our inseparable companion and our comfort in life and in death.
During this Advent season, the Lord invites us to take part in his plan of salvation. With your support, we can reach people who are hungry, thirsty, without clothing, or suffering illness in some of the world’s most remote places. This appeal continues to grow each year, and I am deeply grateful for your commitment. Our 2026 goal is to send $1.4 million to the missions. Please prayerfully consider a gift of $50 to help us make this goal possible and bring hope and love to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
With a grateful heart, I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving, a fruitful Advent season, and a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for being part of our PIME Family and for supporting our missionaries. You remain in my prayers; please pray for me as well.
God bless you!
Fr. Daniele
