The Great Commission:Ad Gentes I couldn’t believe my eyes! What was this doing Witness, in imitation of Christ, is expressed in in church? That thought troubled me some thirty a solid prayer life, simplicity of lifestyle, respect years ago standing in the Cathedral of Chartres, for the dignity of all people, and a compassionate fifty miles outside of Paris. I was puzzled by a participation in the works of charity and justice: marvelously colorful but pictorially confusing “in short, the witness of sanctity” (Pope Paul VI, stained glass window. It included four immense On Evangelization in the Modern World [Evangelii panes depicting men—would you believe—riding Nuntiandi] [Washington, DC: USCCB, 1975], piggy-back. Now, really! With the help of the no. 41). tour guide, I soon discovered these were the four After witnessing, disciples proclaim Jesus New Testament evangelists sitting on the shoul- Christ, the Word made flesh. To catechize is to ders of Old Testament prophets. tell it like it is. Our faith is strengthened when What a powerful image to recall as we it is shared, whether it’s over a cup of coffee, or unpack the Catechetical Sunday 2009 theme, in the classroom in a remote village in Asia, or “Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word.” in a big city in the United States of America. Theoretically, if that cathedral window were tall “Proclamation is the permanent priority of mis- enough, we modern-day evangelists would be a sion” (RM, no. 44). Whenever we meet another part of that imagery. We build on the shoulders person we ought to take off our shoes, for we are of the past, from earliest times to twenty-first standing on holy ground. When we proclaim the century catechists. The Sacraments of Baptism, Good News it can be with the conviction and Confirmation, and the Eucharist initiate and expectation that God is already present. nurture us as members of the Body of Christ, the Within our homes, parishes, parochial Church. That relationship brings both privileges schools, and catechetical centers—and wherever and responsibilities. Disciples are mandated to we find ourselves in the marketplace—we tell bear witness and to proclaim the Good News of the story of Jesus in words and by example. In Jesus Christ. our everyday lives we are the hands and feet, the heart and mouthpiece, to make Christ present. Background The commission to proclaim the Gospel calls Before we get into the practical suggestions and us to cross county boundaries and state lines. It do-able options for catechesis, I’d like to offer challenges us beyond the borders of the United background information that is not always con- States. The very word “catholic” means “univer- spicuous at the local parish level. Evangelization sal”! (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd begins with witness. It is primarily by the ed. [Washington, DC: USCCB–Libreria Editrice Church’s conduct, by living fidelity to the Lord Vaticana, 2000], nos. 849-856.) Even if we never Jesus, that the Church will evangelize the world. leave our homeland, through our prayers and sac- “The witness of a Christian life is the first and rifices, we are missionaries. irreplaceable form of mission” (Pope John Paul II, On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Ad Gentes Missionary Mandate [Redemptoris Missio] [RM] If every Christian shares in the missionary char- [Washington, DC: United States Conference acter of the entire People of God, then it cer- of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), 1990], no. 42). tainly follows that there is a missionary dimen- 1 sion to every vocation. “The Church on earth In St. Mark’s Gospel, we learn of tough times is by its very nature missionary since, according for disciples, but still the Gospel must be to the plan of the Father, it has its origin in brought to all nations (Mk 13:9-10). the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit” Behind bolted doors, St. John notes, the risen (Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Church’s Jesus appears and offers peace: “as the Father Missionary Activity [Ad Gentes] [AG], no. 2, in has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21). Vatican Council II: Volume 1: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, new rev. ed., ed. Austin The challenge that the Gospels present to Flannery [Northport, NY: Costello Publishing, us is to move outside our spiritual comfort zone. 1996]). I suggest a rather simple analysis of this Jesus’ whole life and teaching were directed missionary dimension of the Christian life. In the toward announcing the Kingdom of God and Church, both “stationary” missionaries and “for- bringing it about. These actions continue to be eign” missionaries are commissioned to continue fulfilled today whenever disciples open them- the mission of Jesus. At the end of Mass the cel- selves to the love of the Father, manifested and ebrant announces, “Go, the Mass is ended.” In given by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Yes, both small-town America and the grasslands of earthly kingdoms are limited to a particular peo- Africa we are sent off from every Mass as “mis- ple or place. But in the Kingdom of God, Jesus, sionaries of the Eucharist.” Fed by Word and the Word made flesh, shares in God’s dominion Sacrament, we nurture one another. over the whole world. The Kingdom is not ful- filled until it embraces the entire human race: The Latin expression “ad gentes,” literally “You will receive power when the holy Spirit “to the nations,” refers to the Church’s mis- comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses . to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Through sion to peoples everywhere, with particular prayer, study, service, and sacrifice we can attention to those who have not yet been embrace global Kingdom ministry, without ever evangelized. That expression provided the leaving home. Latin title for the Second Vatican Council’s In order to witness, the Church needs wit- Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity. nesses. To engage in missionary activity, the Church needs missionaries. The great commis- If we get up close and personal with sion is clear. What to do? Go, make disciples. Scripture, we can make an interesting observa- How to do it? Baptizing and teaching. In whose tion. Jesus gave the Church a “mission ad gentes.” name? In the name of the Trinity. “Go, there- We can identify “ad gentes” from varying points fore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing of view, relating to the pastoral purpose of each them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, Gospel and perhaps even the personality of each and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe evangelist. Consider the following: all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19). In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus sends the Church Stories Abound to baptize and to make disciples of all nations Here are several stories of ways in which (Mt 28:19). Christians have lived out the call to carry on the Filled with the Holy Spirit, as St. Luke Church’s missionary activity. These stories come records in Acts, we are to bear witness “to the from materials distributed by Pontifical Mission ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Really, the mis- Societies, USA, for World Mission Sunday. sion “ad gentes” of the Church is the principle theme in Acts. Every event in the narrative is One local priest of Bluefields, Nicaragua, related to the Church’s universal mission. travels by boat to visit about ten small 2 communities along Pearl Lagoon. He says his ourselves. The Gospel also speaks to society vocation was inspired by missionaries he met itself, with its values, goals and systems. while growing up. “Now I am a missionary Sometimes this means that, as believers, we myself,” he says, “bringing Christ to others in must confront the world as did the prophets of my own country.” After those visits, the par- old, pointing out the claims of God to societies ish catechists continue to teach the people that are blind to God” (USCCB, Go and Make about the faith. Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic “We must be the Lord’s voice to the poor, Evangelization in the United States, 10th anniver- telling of his great love,” says Sr. Christine. sary ed. [Washington, DC: USCCB, 2002], no. Sr. Christine and others in her religious con- 17). In bringing the Gospel to the nations of the gregation manage HIV/AIDS programs and world, the foreign missionary meets different cul- care for orphans in Zambia. tures and embarks on the long process of incul- Fr. Pierre Kitengiie was called out of his turation. (Teaching high school students today native Africa and sent as a missionary to may give one a similar feeling.) Inculturation Mongolia. “My presence brings them to ask requires both the transformation of authentic cul- questions.” He continues, “These questions tural values through integration in Christianity, call me to tell them about the faith, about and the insertion of Christ into the values of Jesus. I introduce the Gospel.” In Easter 2007, various cultures. The Church enriches a culture seventy people were baptized in his mission, in which she makes the Gospel incarnate. Ah! bringing the total number of Catholic con- But the Church herself is enriched by diverse cul- verts in Mongolia to 345. tures in areas like evangelization, worship, theol- “The youngsters here are most grateful for ogy, justice, and charity. Throughout the process the missionary children of the United States,” of inculturation, missionaries and all catechists wrote Bishop Stuart O’Connell of Rarotonga are to be guided by two principles: compatibility on the Cook Islands.