Bishop Benavent: "Missionaries are the tip of the iceberg of what all of us in the Church are called to live".

October is the missionary month and, with the celebration of the DOMUND The Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain inaugurated the exhibition "El Domund al descubierto" and presented the theme for the 2025 World Mission Sunday, "Misioneros de Esperanza" (Missionaries of Hope), which is part of the celebration of the World Youth Day. Jubilee Year of Hope celebrated by the Church.

Valencia has been the venue chosen by the Pontifical Mission Societies to host the eleventh edition of "El Domund The exhibition is a traveling exhibit that seeks to bring the reality of the mission to the street. This year the Catholic University of Valencia is hosting the exhibition, which will be complemented by an extensive program of activities throughout October, the month dedicated to the missions.

At the presentation, the Archbishop of Valencia, Bishop Enrique BenaventHe recalled how in his childhood he lived with intensity the Domund in the parish, and stressed the importance of valuing the testimony of those who give their lives to Christ in mission lands. "The missionaries are sowers of hope among the people, the tip of the iceberg of what all of us in the Church are called to live," he said. He also invited the Christian people to get involved in this special month, supporting and praying for them.

José María CalderónThe national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, stressed that the World Mission Sunday is much more than a financial collection. "There are almost seven thousand Spanish missionaries who give themselves for Christ and for their people. What we are looking for with this exhibition is for everyone to know what the Domund is and what it represents," he explained. For his part, Francisco José Ferrer, delegate of missions in Valencia, recalled that "the missions are not just one day, they are the whole year", and insisted that praying and collaborating with the missionaries is a permanent commitment of the Church.

Juan Manuel Cotelo, preacher of World Mission 2025

The exhibition "El Domund al descubierto", installed in the cloister of the Catholic University, pays homage to the 240 Valencian missionaries and will remain open until October 29. Among the programmed events are prayer vigils, missionary meetings and the proclamation of the World Mission Sunday, which this year will be given by the filmmaker Juan Manuel Cotelo.

The month of October will culminate with the celebration of World Mission Sunday, on October 19, with a Eucharist presided by Bishop Enrique Benavent in the Cathedral of Valencia.