missions newsletter 2010 vol. 29

con

ten

ts

the

ne

wsl

ett

er

Maturing in Faith, Maturing in MissionEditorial03

Socrates C. Mesiona, MSP

Leadership in Mission04 James H. Kroeger, MM

ECM Fun Run: Missionary Spirit on Display08 Nirva Delacruz

ECM: Fetes Lay Missionaries10 Nirva Delacruz

>

Use Media for Mission12 Consolata Manding, FSP

Nurturing Families for Mission13Anthony Dameg

Becoming Missionary Families14 Jette N. Antolin

Mission Directors Assembly18 Jette N. Antolin

Board of Editorial ConsultantsBp. Edwin A. de la Pena, MSP, DDMsgr. Pedro C. Quitorio, IIIFr. James H. Kroeger, MM

EditorFr. Socrates C. Mesiona, MSP

Associate Project CoordinatorMs. Ma. Perpetua Jette N. Antolin

ContributorsFr. James H. Kroeger, MMSr. Consolata Manding, FSPMr. Anthony DamegMs. Nirva’ana DelacruzMs. Ma. Perpetua Jette N. Antolin

Layout and DesignMs. April Frances A. Ortigas

Circulating CoordinatorsMr. Anthony DamegMr. Benjamin S. TulanaMs. Ma. Perpetua Jette N. Antolin

Finance OfficerMs. Ma. Janil A. Uy

http://pms-phil.org

~

ed

ito

ria

lMaturing in Faith

Maturing in Mission

the missions newsletter 03

Socrates C. Mesiona, MSP

Like any living organism, faith must grow to maturity. The analogy of a small mustard seed that grows into a tree is u s e d i n s c r i p t u r e t o demonstrate the dynamic process of faith.

But how can we measure that faith is maturing? Or, what is our indicator that faith is moving towards maturity. The answer lies in mission. As the late Pope John Paul II said, “Mission is an issue of faith, an accurate indicator of our faith in Christ and his love for us” (RM 11). This is because faith is something that we must not keep to ourselves; it must be shared! The centrifugal m o v e m e n t o f m i s s i o n indicates that we are open and ready to share it with others.

In this issue of The MISSIONS Newsletter we try to portray the many signs of a maturing faith. One visible sign is the commitment of the Diocesan Mission Directors in the Philippines to make the Philippine Church “a dynamic Church-in-mission.” In fact, this was the theme they adopted during their fifty-

seventh National Assembly on June 21-25, 2010 in Cebu; a s h o r t a c c o u n t o f t h e proceedings is reported here.

Another sign is the increase in awareness among lay faithful that the missionary vocation is not only reserved to ordained ministers and the religious; it is an inherent vocation of all baptized Christians. The increase in awareness is manifested in the collaborative effort of many Catholic lay mission groups to initiate activities that promote mission. Two of the recent activities were the Run for Life, Run for the Mission (Fun Run) and The Missionaries' Ball.

We also had the Propaganda Fide Convocation held at the Ateneo de Manila High School covered courts in Quezon City during the month of October; a good number of high school students from various Catholic schools made a personal c o m m i t m e n t t o b e missionaries in their own way.

However, as we speak of mission as a good indicator of a maturing faith, we cannot but also talk of growth in doing

mission. In fact, the two are one continuum that should not be dichotomized or separated.

For instance, a mature faith should make us wiser in our choices of making decisions that have consequences for others. In particular we call to mind our ability to make decisions as regards media-use, that is, our viewing of television and film, listening to radio broadcast, surfing the I n t e r n e t , s e n d i n g a n d receiving emails, connecting with friends and colleagues through cyber chatting, face-book, sending and receiving mobile phone messages and others. This is what is being discussed in the article Use Media for Mission.

Likewise, in mission, one must also learn to be an effective leader. This i s because leadership plays an essential r o l e i n a n y C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y . T h u s , missionaries need a variety of skills to achieve their goals and fulfill their vocational calling. A good treatment of the topic i s found in the art ic le Leadership in Mission.

LEADERSHIP04 the missions newsletter

James H. Kroeger, MMIN MISSIONTwo pivotal events help to frame our gathering together for this special assembly of Catholic Lay Missionaries and their collaborators. Today, September 28, we joyfully celebrate the feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, lay missioner and martyr, who died professing: “I shall die for God, and for him I would give many thousands of lives if I had them.” Also, this is exactly the tenth anniversary of the First National Mission Congress held in Cebu (September 27 to October 1, 2000).

All recognize that concepts of Christian and missionary leadership are many and diverse. For this presentation I will draw upon some insights from two books. Howard Gardner in Five Minds for the Future says that the two most important intelligences are the theoretical-analytical (the “what” and “why”) a n d t h e p r a c t i c a l - s y n t h e t i c intelligence (the “how to” or the “co n c rete a p p ro a c h e s ” to a question). The second book, by Robert Greenleaf, is Servant Leadership. Ideas of “Servant Leadership,” though not specifically referring to Christian models and perspectives, have captured the imagination of many Church leaders and missionaries. This presentation will not focus much on theology or spirituality; it will, however, center on practical leadership attitudes and

skills that facilitate the art of “doing” mission.

Missionaries need a variety of skills to achieve their goals and fulfill their vocational calling. Leadership plays an essential role in any Christian community; thus, this brief sharing explores several pivotal traits of missionaries, qualities that are needed if they are to effectively function within the Church today. It appears nearly impossible to surface a “magic list” of key characteristics that describe missionaries. Consider this material my personal reflections, enhanced by four decades of experience in various missionary situations.

Before proceeding to describe specific leadership traits for mission, two general observations need to be stated. First, missionary leadership is inherently connected with groups or communities of people. Thus, missionary activity and leadership are always concerned with “building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12); its purpose is that “the body grows until it has built itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16). Such leadership focuses on ser v ice to others through a commitment to faith formation and evangelization. Saint Paul (Rom. 12:6-8) asserts that the call to mission for a Christian, like all charisms, is a vocation, a gift from the Holy Spirit to

be used, not for personal or individual purposes, but for the benefit of the entire community.

A second general comment notes that Church mission today demands a participatory exercise of ministry. One could say that the “lone ranger” or “solo hero” style of mission needs to be set aside. For example, missionaries now regularly work closely with priests and religious, pastoral associates, catechists, lay leaders, directors of liturgy and religious education. The good missionary assures that all pastoral agents are recognized and their diverse charisms in ministry are both appreciated and celebrated. It is within this f o u n d a t i o n a l f r a m e w o r k [part i c ipator y community -focused leadership] that this essay now presents ten traits of missionaries which can greatly enhance “servant leadership” and the use of “practical-synthetic intelligence”—all at the service of missionary evangelization.

mis

sio

na

ry

the missions newsletter 05I. APPRECIATION OF THE

CONTEXT. Missionaries are not dealing with people in a social vacuum; thus, it can be said that they need a “firm grasp of reality.” Missionaries have to know where the people are; this awareness must start with a clear and correct analysis of the missionary-pastoral situation. The effective missionary appreciates the many social, political, economic, and religious forces operative in the community. Based on “pastoral realism” missionaries can propose concrete plans and programs that will address real needs and have the potential of helping the Christian community move forward together. In a word, if missionary-leaders understand where the people are at, they will be in a better position to help people intuit where they could be, how they can grow and advance as a Christian community.

II. MINISTERS AS PERSONS OF INTEGRITY.

Effective missionaries are to be seen as “real people,” struggling to live as mature adults. Christian ministers have a clear self-identity; they are, at heart, disciples of Jesus Christ; they are men and women of the Church. Their primary identity emerges from their Baptism; they believe, pray, sacrifice, show compassion, work, celebrate and reach out to people, all from their mature self-awareness as disciples of Jesus. Missionaries lead, not only by the quality of their ideas and the ability to articulate them, but also by their example and service. Personal integrity and morality are essential to authentic ministry. If Church members see the genuine goodness of the missionary, they will more readily trust the individual and participate in various programs of the community.

III. GENUINE FRIENDSHIP AND INTIMACY.

Missionary leadership is much more than the amassing of information, techniques and skills; rather, genuine mission is focused on the weaving and strengthening of relationships. Successfully engaging people and drawing them into participation in worship, catechesis, and social outreach programs demands building close relationships; put simply, befriending is the heart of mission. Evangelizers need to reflect the person of Jesus and his generous h o s p i t a l i t y. M a t u r e , a d u l t relationships form the basis for missionaries to nourish, sustain, encourage, heal, support, and challenge the Christian faithful.

IV. GENEROSITY AND AVAILABILITY.

It must be forthrightly stated that missionary leaders who are perceived to be “less-than-generous” with their time, energy, or resources, can cause harm to the Church. People often remember their “first contact” with the Church or the missionary; this first encounter is critical and often determines the future religious involvement of that person. Thus, effective evangelizers need to have open minds and sensitive hearts.

People need to experience not only the functions and services of missionaries; they need to experience their unfeigned friendship, sensing genuine concern for their personal well-being.

V. INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION.

Effective missionaries, even in spite of the demands placed on their time and services, take their intellectual growth seriously. They find time for serious reading and are willing to spend money for subscriptions to theological and spiritual journals. They seek opportunities to engage their imagination through theatre, music, poetry and art. Such activities rejuvenate them and foster creativity in ministry. One important task of missionary leaders is to think, reflect, analyze, imagine and plan; without regular intellectual stimulation one's creative abilities will definitely suffer. Here the importance of team ministry emerges, because no one person alone is smart enough or has access to all sources of information. Collaborative ministry for evangelization has the potential of fostering leadership skills in others.

Pontifical Missions Societies

lea

de

rsh

ip in

mis

sio

n06 the missions newsletter


VI. RESPECTFUL OF BOUNDARIES.

Recent experiences have heightened everyone's awareness of the need to respect proper boundaries in ministerial relationships. A description of a “boundary” is the ability to have a clear understanding of what one's role is and is not; it recognizes one's proper behavioral and ethical limits. In short, profess ional boundar ies are important because they define and clarify the limits and responsibilities of people with whom one interacts. When proper boundaries are clearly determined, al l persons wil l experience the smooth functioning of the team of evangelizers. Church organizations err if they think they are exempt from taking “boundary clarification” seriously; this is often a difficult skill for all who serve in the Christ ian community. Clear behavioral limits, rather than distancing the missioner from those served, enable one to engage individuals on a deep ministerial level, since a firm trust level has been established.

VII. MISSION NOT MAINTENANCE.

An effective missionary leader keeps a vibrant sense of his or her missionary calling, remaining focused on the mission of bringing God's Word to a world thirsty for peace and love. An effective evangelizer avoids getting caught in responding to the nonstop pastoral needs of a community. These numerous responses are important and appreciated, but they must be balanced with an overall mission plan. How does one apportion his or her time? Nonstop activity is not always the most effective form of missionary presence. One must

constantly ask: Is it simply the status quo that is being preserved (maintenance mode), or are real mission needs being discovered and addressed (mission mode)? Even administrative commitments must be integrated into an overall p e r s p e c t i v e o f i n t e g r a l evangelization through balanced, realistic planning.

VIII. VIBRANT SPIRITUALITY.

spirituality also implies that evangelizers include the people they serve in their co m m u n a l a n d p r i vate prayers.

Effective missionary leaders struggle to be faithful to regular times of prayer; they also seek to live reflective,

IX. CAPACITY FOR SOLITUDE.

contemplative lives. They develop the ability to move into br ief moments of reflection—right in the midst of their demanding activities. They exude a spiritual calm and peace. People soon sense that this person not only knows about Jesus, but knows Jesus through a personal relationship of friendship and intimacy. Such miss ionar ies are eas i ly approached for spiritual direction and guidance. Allotting time for quietly listening to God's voice is an important discipline. To periodically withdraw into solitude is most effective for mission. The image of pruning comes to mind. In solitude God will cut away the

Missionaries must be concerned with the whole area of spirituality in the contemporary Church. This includes the many diverse ways that the Spirit acts on the individual and shapes his or her apostolic ministry. Yes, it includes prayer, but it also encompasses all the experiences that one brings to prayer. In reflection one asks: Where am I to find God's Spirit in moments of joy and sorrow, in experiences of frustration and anger, in encounters with forgiveness and compassion, as well as in times of success and fa i l u re ? I n t h e s e d i v e rs e experiences one seeks to remain grounded in the abiding love of God. One seeks to surrender, allowing oneself, like the missionary Paul, to be captured by Christ (cf. Phil. 3:12), to be grasped by the Father in the power of the Spirit. A missionary

the missions newsletter 07u n n e c e s s a r y c l u t t e r i n t h e missionary's life, so as to prepare the p e rs o n fo r a m o re f r u i t f u l e n g a g e m e n t i n m i s s i o n a r y leadership.

Experience shows that missionaries who effectively achieve their goals of evangelization always include practical, concrete approaches in their apostolic strategy. They have the ability to persuade others that something is worthwhile doing; they are also able to conceptualize and communicate practical steps that will foster the completion of the task. Indeed, they pray to know God's will and then to receive the courage to put it into action. In a word, they include “practical-synthetic” and concrete approaches in their overall mission strategy. In Vatican II terminology, they are able to read the signs of the times, interpret them in the light of the Gospel, and even

X. PRACTICAL ORIENTATION.

sacrifice to bring them to fruition. They are comfortable living in a certain ambiguity (characteristic of mission), because they trust God, their team members, and the many ordinary people of deep faith. In the f ramework of “ser vant leadership,” they concretely begin by serving, by implementing practical initiatives to address needs.

FINAL THOUGHTS. On this feast of Lorenzo Ruiz, we can recall that recently the Church celebrated the one hundredth birth anniversary of Blessed Mother Teresa (August 26, 1910-2010). She saw her vocation to be a missionary of God's love; yet, she embodied many of the ten “missionary leadership qualities” discussed here. She put these qualities into practice—all at the service of God's many peoples, whether they were Christians or the followers of other living faiths.

Many of Mother Teresa's pithy, insightful sayings are applicable to missionary leadership. “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” “If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” “Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”

James Kroeger has served mission in a

variety of capacities (Philippines and Bangladesh) since his 1970 arrival in Asia. He completed his Doctorate in Missiology at the Gregorian University in Rome in 1985, and now teaches systematic and mission theology in Manila at the Loyola School of Theology and the Mother of Life Catechetical Center. Two of his recent books are: A Fiery Flame: Encountering God's Word and Once Upon a Time in Asia: Stories of Harmony and Peace (Manila: Claretian Publications and Jesuit Communications).


Episcopal Commission on MissionFun RunMISSIONARY SPIRIT

ON DISPLAYNirva Delacruz

Runners—173 in all—put the vibrancy and excitement of missionary life on display during the Run for Life, Run for the World Fun Run.

A Running Promotion. Seminarians, students, missionaries and religious coming from ten missionary communities and organizations ran around the Quezon City Circle on September 26, 2010 to promote lay mission as a vocation; the event was in celebration of the Feast Day of San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint and a model lay missionary.

Organized by the Episcopal Commission on Mission (ECM), the run brought together people from all over with a passion for spreading the Good News.

Interestingly, several placers for both the 4-km and 6-km divisions for both men and women were not even Filipinos. The run specifically aimed to promote and raise awareness regarding the Catholic lay missionary communities and congregations in the Philippines, including their work and service.

Truly Global Winners. The fact that several of the placers came from different countries seems to show the truly global reach of the Filipino missionary spirit. Tang Jin Kun from China bested other runners with his record time of 17 minutes, 28 seconds for the 4-km, men's division. Gerry Monera bagged second place with 20 minutes, 12 seconds. Father Polash of Bangladesh came in third

with 22 minutes, 43 seconds.

For the 4-km, women's division, Qin Li snatched the top spot at 21 minutes, 48 seconds. Elizabeth crossed the finish line in 22 minutes, 8 seconds. Lastly, Aye Aye Kyu of Myanmar placed third with 23 minutes, 2 seconds.

For the 6-km, men's division, Ephraim Vasquez left the rest in the dust with a personal time of 20 minutes, 8 seconds. Kimbert Sarmiento secured second place with 22 minutes, 35 seconds. Yang Zuxin was the third fastest with 25 minutes, 28 seconds.

Grabbing first place with the biggest margin was Princess Guanze for the 6-km, women's

08 the missions newsletter

division with 39 minutes, 8 seconds. The next fastest runner in second place, following her only after a little less than 10 minutes, was Julie Ann Regeneia with 49 minutes, 35 seconds. Lastly, Arlene Prado gained third place with 50 minutes, 35 seconds.

Collaborative Effort of Missionary Groups. Fondacio, Catholic Lay Missionaries, Couples for Christ , Inst itute of Consecrated Life in Asia (ICLA), and the Vicentian Brothers were just some of the communities that participated in the run, making the Quezon City Circle a colorful and spirited sight so early in the morning. The Missionary Servants of the Blessed

Sacrament community had the biggest group with 35 runners.

Father Soc Mesiona, the executive s e c r e t a r y o f t h e E p i s c o p a l Commission on Mission and the National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, evaluated the

run: “Masaya ako kasi 'di ko ineexpect na gano'n 'yung turn out ng participants. Kasi this is the first time, wala tayong basis kung pa'no i-organize. It was very,

very successful” [I'm happy because I didn't expect that we would have such a turn-out of participants. Because this is the first time, we didn't have any basis about how to organize it].

T h e r u n w a s t h e f i r s t collaborative effort of some eight Philippine Catholic lay missionary groups. Bishop Edwin de la Peña of the Episcopal Commission on Mission, who was also present at t h e r u n , e x p r e s s e d h i s enthusiasm for the event; he even talked about having Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao legs for the Missionary Fun Run in the future. The run ended with the placers receiving medals and cash prizes; every runner got a complimentary shirt that had the word MISSIONARY printed on the back. The run may have ended, b u t e v e r y o n e ' s m i s s i o n continues.


10 the missions newsletterEpiscopal Commission on Mission

Fêtes Lay Missionaries Nirva Delacruz

Pope John Paul II spoke about a “Springtime of the Church,” emphasizing the significant contributions of lay missionaries to the propagation of the faith. It is in acknowledgment of this fact that the Episcopal Commission

on Mission under the CBCP held the Consumed by Love: A Missionaries' Ball on September 28, 2010 at the Greenmeadows Clubhouse in Libis, Quezon City. More than 200 missionaries, friends and collaborators dressed up for a night of good music, sharing and, of course, dancing, dancing and more dancing!

Love: Missionary Essence. The gathering was also a chance for the

missionaries to revisit the essence of their vocation—love. Father James Kroeger, MM, one of the top missiologists in the country, gave a twenty-minute presentation on missionary leadership. He quoted Mother Theresa, saying that missionaries are not people who necessarily love in extraordinary ways; they are just people who love without getting tired.

Father Kroeger, who teaches at the Loyola School of Theology (Ateneo), talked about how missionaries should have a capacity for solitude and should know their boundaries when serving people. He stressed that ultimately, evangelizing is about befriending people.

Stellar Performances. The missionaries' ball was a much-needed

and long overdue effort to gather all the Catholic lay missionary groups for some honest-to-goodness fellowship. Despite coming from various groups, missionaries and supporters had a lot of shared fun that night with stellar performances from artists like Top Suzara, Mayumi, and Makisig Morales. The charming brother and sister tag team of Mayumi and Makisig wowed the missionaries, particularly when they sang a moving rendition of You Raise Me Up. Top Susara, who used to be the vocalist for the R&B band Freestyle, made the ladies swoon in their seats with popular ballads.

Popular singing groups Hangad and Bukas Palad, who have rarely performed in public together also sang that night, saying that “it was a true privilege to perform for you, missionaries.” The inspiring Minnie Juan shared her story of how she overcame her blindness through faith and trust in God. The 26-year old Minnie also entertained everyone with a song that best describes her life: Go the Distance. One of the highlights of the evening had to be when the missionaries started doing a train dance on the dance floor as the 29 A.D. Musicionaries sang an '80s medley of hits like Buttercup, Mama Mia and Achy Breaky Heart. Nearly everyone was dancing; no one really wanted

Mayumi Morales

Young Missionaries

Missionaries

Missionaries

Young Missionaries


to go home. The audience was also particularly blown away by the group's version of Don't Stop Believing á la Glee.

Honoring Those behind the Scenes. The night was also an

opportunity to recognize and honor the eight lay missionary groups that helped organize the ball. Father Soc Mesiona, MSP, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Mission and National Director of the Pontifical Missionary Societies, Clarke Nebrao, event head for the ball, and Father Kroeger presented certificates of appreciation to several groups for their mission readiness and willingness to get involved in an entirely new endeavor. Groups recognized that night were: Fondacio Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Catholic Lay Missionaries; Columban Lay Missionaries; FMAA; Couples for Christ; Vicentian Missionaries; Theresian Association; as well as the FMMA.

In an interview, Clarke Nebrao of Couples for Christ, who served as the event head for the ball, talked about the challenges of organizing such an event: “It's challenging to put everyone together, from different communities, from different backgrounds in their service in the Catholic Church. But, I guess the major success of this event is just putting them together and allowing them to see a bigger picture of how we can promote the missions, especially, the lay missions. Surely, it will be a yearly thing for us to promote the Catholic lay missions and, at the same time, to promote the vocations for the lay missions.” The night wound down with the 29 A.D. Musicionaries singing Still, reminding everyone that the reason for our being missionary is simply God's love. The missionaries' ball was the first of its kind; it will definitely not be the last!

Makisig Morales Minnie Juan

Fr. James Kroeger, MMTop Suzara

Bukas Palad

Hangad


Use Mediafor Mission

Consolata Manding, FSP

By media-use we mean our viewing of television and film, listening

to radio broadcast, surfing the Internet, sending and receiving

emails, connecting with friends and colleagues through cyber

chatting, facebook, sending and receiving mobile phone messages

and others. Every day we spend hours with media. Did we ever

take notice how many hours?

We sometimes or many times get lost with media-use. Did we ever

ask ourselves if our media engagement is worth the time,

considering our other duties and responsibilities to our family and

career?

Media are gifts of God, and the Church recognizes this and even reminds us so that we may take advantage of the opportunities at our disposal. As Christians we are all called to do mission, not in extraordinary activities but in our ordinary life. The Church recommends that we use media for mission.

What is Mission? It is doing good for others in Christ's name and for his sake. He gave examples as he lived his human life among us, and these are recorded in the Gospel stories. He made God present among us. We can make Christ present through our good deeds for others. His example is imitated by Christians and even non-Christians throughout the centuries. Christ continues to live among us with his sacramental presence in the Blessed Sacrament and his spiritual presence within the individual person.

How can we do mission at home with our media-use? The choice of television and radio programs can make a difference among the members of our family if they get updates of events happening in the local area, the country and world at large. A program that provides new information on any subject matter relevant to our current concerns can be beneficial. How can we do mission in the place of work with our media use? Each time we communicate with a co-worker, our manager, and those under our supervision, we have an opportunity to show our

respect and treat the person not as a function but as a unique human being loved by Christ. What a challenge for mission!

How about the use of our mobile phone? Did we ever count the number of times in a day we look at our cell-phone? Not bad if done for a good purpose! Every time we send a text message do we consider the effect on the receiver? Every word we use has an influence on the person who reads it. Being attentive in the formulation of every text message can be an act of mission, if we do it out of respect for the person and ultimately for Christ's sake.

Internet is the favorite media of most people today. The communication flow seems endless. We can do it with much ease, less financial cost, and the message is sent and received in seconds or minutes. This is already a manifestation of God's infinite goodness to humanity. If the communication process is fast, what is the result on the receiver and the sender? There are very good effects and bad ones too. Think of the good news you pass on to others, both in content and your way of communicating, which gives so much joy, not only to the recipient but the sender as well. This is an opportunity for mission. What makes the news good is not only the content but the manner of formulating the information.

We tend to think of media only as a means to pass on and receive information or be entertained. But there are many other possibilities we can explore. The potential for media to educate and provide spiritual enrichment for every person is vast. We as media users can contribute to the education and spiritual welfare of others by being attentive in every message we formulate and send.

Let us then employ media to make people happy, hopeful, trustful, faithful, and lovable; these are a few of the many possibilities by which we can be of service. The communication process is powerful in helping others. Let us use it well for the sake of Christ! It is a mission we can easily fulfill every time we communicate.


Nurturing FAMILIESfor Mission

Anthony Dameg

In his message for World Mission Sunday in October 2010 with the theme: “Building Ecclesial Communion is the Key to Mission,” Pope Benedict XVI said that “He Himself revealed to us that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8) and at the same time taught us that the new command of love was the basic law of human perfection and hence the world's transformation.” It is in Jesus that God revealed Himself concretely to us … [as] a merciful and a loving Father.” As human beings, we first learn the concept of love in our family. We did not only learn our first three R's (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic) from our family; we could also say that our family is our “first school of love” where we concretely experienced unconditional love from our parents and even from the extended members of our family.

In today's fast-changing world, we have a model family who lived a life patterned after the example of the Holy Family. They could be a concrete example of a way that would bring transformation to the modern world. Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin, parents of the Doctor of the Church and Patroness of Mission, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, manifested a faith commitment that was evident in their daily lives. Both went to daily mass at their parish; they supported each other in their work, and to the best of their ability shared their faith with their children (all their five daughters entered religious life).

Although they were busy with their craft (Zelie owned a lace business and Louis was a jeweler), their work did not impede their responsibility of raising their children in ways that showed respect for God and love for others. Their children learned about life by observing on how

their parents loved each other and by their dedication to family life. Love for prayer, self discipline and generous love are strong characteristics of the Martin family. Their home became a place where they could express freely what was in their heart without fear of judgment.

The Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC 1054)) views the Family as: (a) a “Covenant relationship,” established by God in creation, bringing out the “more” of family love; (b) the domestic Church, which through Baptism shares in God's own Trinitarian Communion of Love, and serves as the school of Christian discipleship and virtue; (c) the first and vital cell of society, grounding and nourishing the social virtues necessary for society itself.

The Church challenges every family: “Families will generously share their spiritual riches with other families too. Thus, the Christian family … will manifest to all the Savior's living presence in the world and the genuine nature of the Church, by the love and the generous fruitfulness of the spouses, their solidarity and fidelity, and by the loving way in which all members of the family work together (GS 48)” (CFC 1907).

It is with this belief that we could say that the family becomes an agent of love for the world and the seedbed for vocations to mission. Families need to have a way of expressing concretely their faith in the Risen Christ. The example of parents needs to be consistent and authentic, thus becoming the solid foundation for the character building of their children. This is the legacy given to us by Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin.


BecomingMissionaryFamilies

Jette N. Antolin

The month of October is always a graced moment to recall and celebrate our identity as baptized Christians. It is considered Mission Month and Rosary Month. We are called to proclaim our faith as we tread the path in faithfulness to our mission. We are also to contemplate the story of our salvation through our devotion to the Blessed Mother in praying the Holy Rosary.

This is a call for us to celebrate our commitment in sharing the mission of Christ. We are missionaries by virtue of our baptism, a special gift we received from God. We are missionaries in our own families; we are to be bearers of God's love through the way we relate to our families.

In solidarity with the missionaries all over the world, Catholics celebrate October as Mission Month. Indeed, we are encouraged to share the Good News and build Christ's kingdom. We are invited as members of the Church to unceasingly pray for and support missionaries. We are to continue our journey of faith as Christ's disciples in our contemporary time.

The Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith held a convention at the Ateneo de Manila University on October 9, 2010; it focused on the theme: Nurturing Families for Mission. The event was organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) headed by National Director, Father Socrates Mesiona. The Convocation gathered participants from Catholic and parochial schools within and outside Metro Manila, several religious congregations, and parishes from various dioceses.

The convocation started with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Father Soc Mesiona, with Fathers Alex Abiera, James Kroeger, Nilo Pacuribot, and Lauro Toledo as

concelebrants.

The inspiring homily of Father Soc emphasized our shared responsibility and participation in the mission of the Church. We are guided by the spirituality of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, the patroness of mission. Therese is recognized as patroness of mission because of her love for mission manifested in her prayer.

Coming together as one family, we joyfully remembered the person of Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot, Foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Pauline came from a devout Catholic family where an atmosphere of strong faith and love for God was genuinely present. It was the faith of her mother that became a foundation for her to love God ardently. Her own family manifested its support; they greatly influenced each other. She received a special charism for mission from her loving family.

The family is considered the basic unit of society. It is not only composed of our biological parents and siblings; it is a place where love, understanding and support are experienced from one another. As we reflect on our theme, Nurturing Families for Mission, it is fitting to consider the inspiration we derive from the Holy Family, the model family, and how we can emulate their example. First, the Holy Family provided Jesus an atmosphere of sanctity and learning. It was in his family where he grew in grace, wisdom and age.

Family: Source of a Missionary Vocation.


Secondly, the Holy Family treasured the value of obedience. Each of them demonstrated the value of obedience. Mary was challenged when an angel of the Lord declared that she would become the Mother of God. Mary's “Yes” is complete self-surrender and trust in the will of the Father. It is in her “Yes” that the plan of salvation came to fulfillment. Joseph, who thought of abandoning Mary after he learned that she was with child, obeyed when he was informed by an angel in a dream that what happened to Mary was part of God's plan. Jesus was also obedient to his step-father Joseph and mother Mary. Indeed, the heart and soul of the Holy Family was mutual love and respect through which they manifested their love for God and love for each other.

Pope John Paul II challenged all of us to partake in the mission of the Church. Everyone is called to proclaim the love of God, to begin this mission in the family, the place where our vocation for mission is to be nurtured like a seed planted in good soil. Ultimately, in proper season we will harvest the fruits of our mission.

Christian Family: Fertile Ground for Mission

We now consider the family of Anthony Rodriguez and his wife Tina. They enthusiastically shared their missionary experiences and narrated how they were influenced by their parents in fulfilling their dreams as disciples of Christ.

It is essential to note that families are permanent relationships, involving marriage, parenting and schooling. They are relationships, because we never cease relating, learning from each other, regardless of individual differences. Marriage is a covenant of love.

Parenting is a process wherein children are guided and molded into full Christian individuals. Schooling in the home is the place where we begin to see, hear, feel and touch the realities of our uniqueness as persons.

Family is indeed the basic unit of society, the domestic Church. Since the very beginning, God has planned the best for the family. Reality tells us that a Facebook

account can become an extended tool in connecting with our families. This fast-paced world has given us many avenues to keep in touch with our families. How often do we really find time to make our authentic presence felt?

A Family is a Family is a Family.

During the Ateneo convocation Anthony shared his own childhood experience. The absence of his father during his early years was significant for him. Each one of us longs to embrace the presence of our family. But, how do we spend our time? Do we really have time with our family? The truth is that even if we possess everything in life, we may still feel like an empty cup without our family, our most valued gift from God. Interaction is lost. This is one truth that we should know: our own experience with our family will bring us closer to God. We are a “small Church” where the fruits of love, kindness, patience, gentleness and forgiveness are present, no matter how imperfect our family may be. There is always room to grow as Christians, because our parents are the evangelizers of our family.

Pope John Paul II said that the mission of the spouses

Anthony Rodriguez


of Christian families is the building of the Church. We decide for ourselves; we decide for our family. Pope Benedict XVI notes that today more than ever, the Christian family has the noble mission to transmit the faith. Thus, parents are the first evangelizers of their children. Recall our family story. What was the first prayer you memorized? The Christian family is a fertile ground for growing as missionaries. Every Christian home is to be a source of love. The Lord is calling us to be missionaries in our own simple ways. Jesus reminds us of the mission of every Christian: go and make disciples (Mt. 28:19). Mission begins at home with our families.

Tina the wife of Anthony, also shared her experience; she was an active member of a youth group. Her parents changed when she became involved in the Church. Her mission experience in Timor-Leste was of great significance in her life. Timor-Leste is a country that has experienced oppression, poverty and invasion. Tina's deep passion for mission was inspired when she was pregnant with her first baby. She believes that we are all called to do God's work. As a child Timothy was hospitalized after birth. Trusting in God's providence and her faith as a mother, baby Timothy was healed. Her challenge to all the youth was: Be an everyday missionary.

The talk of the Rodriguez family ended with a song: “People need the Lord; people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord; people need the Lord. When will we realize that we must give our lives? For people need the Lord.

Family: Important Place to Bring Good News.

Stephen Borja is a full-time youth minister at the National Secretariat for Youth Apostolate of the CBCP. His presentation was done through a game entitled Bahay-Tao. The activity includes these topics: I am a missionary because of my baptism. What is your breakfast? Whom did you eat with? Who is the first person you see when you wake up in the morning? If you were a country, what country would you name your family? I am a missionary because…. What is the first thing you will do in mission work? Mission is most needed in….

The participants enjoyed the activity. It was also a venue for them to learn from others how they are influenced by their own families. The said activity allowed the participants to observe the reality of their family relationships since much of the time a good number are products of absentee parents. Our baptism is the most precious gift we have received. “I am baptized and this is my Christian identity.” We receive bountiful blessings from God; we are convinced that we can also give to others. Our participation in the mission of the Church is the most important gift we can share with our families. We are convinced that we are missionaries and it is our family that is the most important place where we can bring the good news. Reality tells us that there is no family that does not need God. Real joy comes from God. Our families need God; we all need people who will bring us to God. Can you bring God to your families?

Fr. Soc Mesiona, MSP with Stephen Borja

Celebration of the Holy Eucharist


Stephen shared the story of Jesus and the multiplication of the loaves. We know that Jesus transformed a handful of bread and fish into enough food for a multitude. It happened in a place where food was not accessible. There was a miracle by Jesus, because of the young man who shared his food. This is also the first mention of Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee. He allowed people to witness the greatness of God. The child who brought the loaves generously shared his blessings with others. It was an act of unselfish giving. It was a participation in the mission of the disciples.

Jesus fed the thousands; they had plenty. There were twelve baskets of bread left over. All this speaks to us about the immensity and abundance of God's providence. In relation to our call as missionaries, we are asked to give ourselves. There is always within us that call to share, especially with our families. How can we become missionaries to our families? Jesus has been with us all these years. He truly knows our desires and needs; he knows our deepest thirst and hunger to be one as a family. Looking at my own family, what do I see? How does it make me feel? Is there a situation in my family which I am invited to face? What blessings have I received? Have I thanked God for them?

The October 10 convocation of the Propagation of Faith was an occasion to celebrate the calling of families to be missionary. It inspired fruitful mission testimonies of families. It invited us to commit ourselves once again in the mission of Christ to bring the Good News to our family and to other families. It challenged us to be faithful to our calling as Christian missionaries.

The afternoon sessions were not only filled with sharing, open forums, games, and the enriching presentations of various schools. Good interaction among participants happened through these presentations. The convocation was a bonding moment for all of us. We were able to witness the creativity and friendship among the participants. It was indeed a blissful and enriching experience to celebrate the “Mission Month” of October.


Mission Directors AssemblyJette N. Antolin

The Santo Niño is the patron of Cebu. The

Catholic Church in the Philippines sees the Holy Child as an example of humility and a celebration of the Incarnation. For four and half centuries, the image of Santo Niño continues to influence the lives of many Filipinos. In the context of this remarkable history, the fifty-seventh General Assembly of Mission Directors of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao joined with the Mission Education Commission members in Consolacion, Cebu on June 21-25, 2010. Their theme was: A Dynamic Philippine Church in Mission. The assembly was organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), guided by the National Director Father Socrates Mesiona, MSP, in conjunction with the Episcopal Commission on Mission Chairman, Bishop Edwin de la Peña, MSP.

The assembly officially began with a Eucharistic celebration presided by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, DD. In his stirring homily, he shared many insights on the challenges of becoming faithful and honest in our commitment as missionaries. Speakers with a variety of expertise where invited to help the mission directors

update their knowledge and skills as missionaries in their respective dioceses and schools.

A Friday evening fellowship was initiated by the PMS Staff. All were acknowledged by region. What made it an exciting and fun-filled evening was the “getting to know you” game. Everyone enjoyed giving stickers. The person who had the most number of stickers with names of his fellow delegates won the game. The much admired University of Visayas Chorale rendered songs as a welcome presentation to the Archdiocese of Cebu. The following day began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which was integrated with morning praise; Bishop Edwin de la Peña, MSP, DD presided.

Current Trends in Mission. Father Alex Muaña, SVD, talked about current trends in mission. He stressed that there are many things that hinder us in fully experiencing the presence of God in our modern times. Factors may include the advancement of Science and Technology and the decline of the “Christian West” Church membership. Other faiths have moved into “Christian” countries in large numbers. Western Christians have felt increasingly

the missions newsletter 19guilty about how un-Christian they acted in the colonial period.

Father Alex noted that these global changes have led to two opposite reactions. There may be an almost complete paralysis and withdrawal from any mission and the ignoring of new trends; others deny the crisis and carry on, using an old colonialist model of mission as if nothing has changed. One may address these changes with the response of Missiologist David Bosch: “The harsh realities of today compel us to re-conceive and re-formulate the Church's mission, to do this boldly and imaginatively, yet also in continuity with the best of what mission has been in the past decades and centuries.”

The Church today has become truly worldwide. However, Catholics are more than only the universal Church; we also try to grow in our awareness of the importance of the local Church, of local culture and context. The Church has also been renewed through various theological themes; these have been rediscovered by various movements and integrated into mainstream Christianity. These themes include: the vivid expectation of Christ's return, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the importance of the laity, decisions of Christian commitment, basic ecclesial communities, and the refusal to identify with the state in violence and war. The Church has also lost its position of privilege in society. She has begun dialogue with the religions and sects that it used to condemn; she builds bridges among various denominations.

The speaker asserted that the institutional Church seems to have regressed in recent years, with a consequent crisis of authority for many people. Clericalism has become more accentuated. At times, the wishes of local Churches regarding Episcopal nominations are disregarded; the exclusion of women from decision-making processes continues.

Recently, missionaries have fallen from the super-spiritual pedestal that had held them from criticism for over a century. A writer sympathetic to mission concludes that missionaries are “not very wise, not very holy, not very patient.” Today in the Church and in mission there is plenty of change to cope with and plenty of mistakes to repent of. Repentance has to begin with a bold recognition of the fact that the Church-in-mission is today facing a world fundamentally different from anything it faced before. This, in itself, calls for a new understanding of mission.


mis

sio

n d

ire

cto

rs a

sse

mb

ly

Mission Vision. The Christian Faith is “intrinsically missionary.” We will never arrive at a perfect definition of mission. If a Church defines mission only in terms of this-worldly activities (e.g., promoting justice), it is not being faithful to the God. The difference between home and foreign missions has become artificial. The difference between “mission” and “missions” is crucial.

Participants were challenged to be aware that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, for all dioceses and parishes, all Church institutions and associations. Mission is a “single but complex and articulated reality” (Mission and Proclamation 2); it develops in a variety of ways. The principal elements of mission are: “presence and witness; commitment to social development and human liberation; liturgical life, prayer and contemplation; interreligious dialogue; and finally, proclamation and catechesis” (Ibid. 2). “Proclamation is the foundation, center, and summit of evangelization” (Ibid. 10). We are called to be about God's Mission, not our own!

Missionaries have different backgrounds, values and beliefs; this is an important awareness for us as we look at the importance of inculturation. Missionaries from other Churches and countries must immerse themselves in the cultural milieu of those to whom they are sent, moving beyond their own cultural limitations. This is not of course a matter of missionaries renouncing their own cultural identity, but of understanding, appreciating, fostering and evangelizing the culture of the environment in which they presently work.

In conclusion, Father Alex stated that mission is a multifaceted ministry, in respect of witness, service, justice, healing, reconciliation, liberation, peace, e v a n g e l i s m , f e l l o w s h i p , C h u r c h p l a n t i n g , contextualization, and much more. He finished by citing a final word from Bosch: “Looked at from this perspective mission is, quite simply, the participation of Christians in the liberating mission of Jesus…. It is the good news of God's love, incarnated in the witness of a community, for the sake of the world” (Transforming Mission 519).

Role of Mission Directors. Father Andrew Recepcion, Mission Director of the Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres, spoke about mission as the heart of the local Church. He began his presentation with some comments on the common perception on mission. It is often thought that

the role of the director is to organize the collection on World Mission Sunday. It is necessary for mission promoters to know the misperceptions of people on mission so as to be able to diagnose the present state of mission consciousness. In light of the existing problems, how do we address such challenges? How can we promote the networking of mission collaborators in other dioceses? In addition, all these salient points must be aligned with the pastoral vision of the local Church.

Thus, the Mission Director can play a vital role in leading people to a deeper missionary commitment. One must ascertain how mission enters into the life of the diocese and animates ecclesial structures. A Mission Director needs to manifest his passion for mission. He is to exemplify how mission is the motivating force of his priestly life. He believes that mission is not something added to his many pastoral tasks but an essential part of his priestly life and ministry. For him it is not simply about dispensing the sacraments and organizing communities; he is deeply aware that he is sent to be a living witness of God's presence in the midst of his people.


mission directors assembly

The Mission Director is a person who is “context-grounded”; he looks at mission not as something abstract and remote but immediate in the life of the people. He uses every situation as a bridge between Gospel and the life of the people to build up community and improve the quality of relationships with people. He is convinced that faith is always experienced in context. The Mission Director is also “Spirit-led,” convinced that the person of the Mission Director is guided by the Holy Spirit and is constantly in search of God's ways at work in the diocese. He remains attuned to the Spirit's promptings in his struggle to find the face of God in his daily life and in the lives of people he serves. He remains constant in prayer and is aware that the life-situation of the people is the starting point of mission work. The Mission Director is a joyful giver wherein he finds joy and fulfillment by sharing his time and talent for mission formation in the Church. He welcomes every task as a privileged moment to do mission.

A Heart for Mission. A Mission Director employs “synergetic creativity,” learning to be a team-player. He establishes a network of relationships and resources for mission animation and cooperation. He maximizes existing local resources creatively for the mission goals. Becoming a Mission Director entails a huge responsibility in the apostolate entrusted to his care. It is a part of his duties to design a mission formation program in line with the diocesan mission plan. He initiates activities in the different parishes of the diocese in collaboration with other ecclesial groups. He strives to promote the four pontifical societies and organize activities that help people understand the four societies.

The challenge of creative and fruitful mission work depends on the attitude of the Mission Director; he needs a clear vision with goals and objectives. He implements, monitors, evaluates, and assesses all programs periodically. He finds creative activities that change awareness and correct misperceptions. He seeks to keep the flame of mission alive in every activity, in every parish, in every institution.

Father Andrew asserted that nothing is past in mission. Every moment brings about a new experience in doing mission with a renewed enthusiasm for the Kingdom of

God. Mission is at the heart of the local Church; it is central to Christian life. Mission is not optional, for it is the life-project of the local Church. Thus, it can be said that the Mission Director is an educator, a treasure hunter, and a guest who gives witness to Jesus Christ—the mission in person—the heart of the diocese.

Following the talk, there was the launching of the OMS-AVP and the re-launching of the PMS website. These activities were accomplished with the assistance of Bishop Edwin de la Peña, MSP, DD.

The third day of the assembly began with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Prudencio Andaya, CICM, DD of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk. In his homily, he implored our Blessed Mother to inspire us more and more to perceive our mission through the eyes and heart of her Son, Jesus.

Module Preparation. Another inspiring group activity was the module preparation, conducted Ms. Noena Surmieda. Participants were asked to identify the positive and negative observations and experiences with regards to the use of the Holy Childhood Association (HCA) module. The main purpose of the exercise was to foster knowledge and skills in preparing modules on mission in line with the context of the situation of each respective diocese. The said module presentation was also a venue to foster an understanding of what it means to be a catechist, a missionary in the life of the Church today. An appreciation of the value of this ministry will equip the delegates with competence to promote faith formation effectively. As collaborators in mission, we should bear in mind that goals of catechesis must be integrated in designing the modules. This will help us create meaningful modules for the HCA.

The evenings always saw a variety of socialization activities. The various island groups presented a number and a representative from each group shared his talent. The Visayan Region was proclaimed the winner for group category; Father Rey Jaectin won in the individual presentation.

The fourth day of the assembly began with the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Guillermo


Afable, DD of the Diocese of Digos. It was the feast of Saint John the Baptist. In his homily, the bishop stressed that we are not accidents; we are a part of the great scheme of God's plan.

Mission Directors vis-à-vis the Four Pontifical Societies. Father Socrates Mesiona, MSP, National Director of PMS, presented a holistic background of the Four Pontifical Societies; he spoke of the role of the Mission Director in the implementation of the goals and objectives of the said societies.

Participants were able to appreciate the process of the selection of a PMS Director through the authority of the Bishop. The candidate is assigned to the position of Episcopal Delegate for Mission and Diocesan Director of PMS. With this special function, the Episcopal Delegate for Mission and the Pontifical Mission Societies work closely together.

Since PMS Diocesan Directors have a distinctive role in mission, their task can be described in the following manner: “we represent the universal Church to the local Church, that is, we embody in our activity the universal dimension of the mission of the Church thereby making the local Church a missionary Church.”

Reviewing the importance of the four societies, it is helpful to be acquainted with their role: they are the means by which Catholics from their very infancy are imbued with a genuinely universal and missionary spirit; they are also means which ensure an effective collection of resources for the good of all the missions, in accordance with the needs of each one (missionary cooperation), and they are an effective way to foster a lifelong vocation for mission ad gentes.

The historical background of the four societies was reviewed for the assembly. It was an opportunity to recall how they developed and became known throughout the centuries. The participants were able to examine the foundations of the four societies. One feels a sense of gratitude and pride for the pillars of the four societies, namely: Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith; Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, founder of the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood; Jean Bigard, foundress of the Pontifical Society of Saint Peter the Apostle; and, Blessed Father Paolo Manna, founder of the Pontifical

Missionary Union. These were ordinary people with an unconditional faith and love for the Church. We are inspired by their witness and charism in promoting mission.

Additional Highlights. The assembly concluded with a sumptuous dinner, prepared at the Cathedral Museum garden by the Archdiocese of Cebu. Bishop Edwin de la Peña of the Prelature of Marawi expressed his gratitude to all who worked hard to make the assembly possible. The delegates proceeded to Parian to witness a show called Piyesta sa Parian in honor of Saint John the Baptist.

The fifth and final day of the assembly began with Eucharist presided by Bishop Emilio Bataclan of the Archdiocese of Cebu. He invited us to pray and cooperate with the grace of national renewal that begins with each one of us.

This last day of the assembly focused on the review of last year's decisions. This was accomplished by region. Reports about the general assembly in Rome on May 16-21, 2010 were given by Father Soc. Updated formation accomplishment reports were presented by Anthony Dameg. Suggestions and recommendations were given by groups; they included: the need to localize the name of Propaganda Fide and the Holy Childhood Association; initiation of various activities for the four societies; presentation of the Episcopal Commission on Mission plans; and, the communication by the PMS of its vision and goals involving mission promotion, mission formation and mission cooperation. Elections to the Advisory Council followed.

Everyone had a wonderful and spirit-filled experience. We were more in touch with our vocation to promote mission in our own simple ways. God has been calling us constantly to be missionaries in our family, workplace, community, and in our local Church. The assembly became a profound inner invitation for us to renew our missionary spirituality as baptized Christians. The Holy Father exhorts us to be aware that we are “active participants in the Church's task of proclaiming the Gospel.” The Pope renews his “invitation to prayer and, in spite of the economic difficulties, to fraternal, concrete aid in support of the younger Churches.”

mission directors assembly

Nothing is past in mission work. Every moment brings about a new experience in doing mission with a renewed enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God.

http://pms-phil.org

PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES824 Don Quijote Street, Sampaloc, 1008 Manila, PHILIPPINES

Tel: 731-3208; 781-9518 Fax: 740-3030

missions newsletter 2010 vol. 29

Documents

maturing faith

e n t o f

issue of faith

e n t t o b e missionaries

mature faith

s s i o n

s h o r t

mission fun