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I couldn’t believe my eyes! What was this doing Witness, in imitation of , is expressed in in ? That thought troubled me some thirty a solid life, simplicity of lifestyle, respect years ago standing in the Cathedral of Chartres, for the dignity of all people, and a compassionate fifty 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” ( Paul VI, 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 evangelists sitting on the shoul- Christ, made flesh. To catechize is to ders of 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 “ 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 of , Good News it can be with the conviction and , and the initiate and expectation that God is already present. nurture us as members of the , 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 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 “” means “univer- spicuous at the local level. Evangelization sal”! (See Catechism of the , 2nd begins with witness. It is primarily by the ed. [Washington, DC: USCCB–Libreria Editrice Church’s conduct, by living fidelity to Vaticana, 2000], nos. 849-856.) Even if we never Jesus, that the Church will evangelize the world. leave our homeland, through our and sac- “The witness of a Christian life is the first and rifices, we are . irreplaceable form of mission” (Pope John Paul II, On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Ad Gentes Mandate [] [RM] If every Christian shares in the missionary char- [Washington, DC: United States Conference acter of the entire , then it cer- of Catholic (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 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 ”  Behind bolted doors, St. John notes, the risen (, 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 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 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 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 , we nurture one another. over the whole world. The Kingdom is not ful- filled until it embraces the entire human race: The 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 . “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). 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 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.) Mongolia. “My presence brings them to ask requires both the transformation of authentic cul- questions.” He continues, “These questions tural values through integration in , call me to tell them about the faith, about and the insertion of Christ into the values of Jesus. I introduce the Gospel.” In 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 Stuart O’Connell of Rarotonga are to be guided by two principles: compatibility on the Cook Islands. “Support offered through with the Gospel and communion with the uni- the Holy Childhood Association keeps our versal Church. religious education program running.” Together with the pope, bishops are respon-  A woman confined to her home in the sible for the mission of the Church ad gentes: “All Philippines because of illness tells how the bishops . . . are consecrated not for one diocese missionaries encouraged her to offer her alone, but for the salvation of the whole world” prayers and sufferings for the missions. Their (AG, no. 38). Under the direction of the Holy message changed her life. “I felt useless, but Father, the task of directing and coordinating the missionaries brought me hope. I who never throughout the world the ministry of evangeliza- thought of going out of my little village have tion and of missionary cooperation is entrusted reached other continents through prayer.” to the Congregation for the Evangelization of  Catechists in Louisiana say their work with Peoples, in the Vatican. Confirmation classes help them to grow The leading role in fostering a global mis- spiritually in their own lives. When breaking sionary spirit among the People of God belongs open God’s Word with the youth or while sit- to four societies of the universal Church: the ting with them in the presence of the Blessed Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Sacrament, catechists say, they are challenged Holy Childhood Association, the Society of to deepen their own faith commitments. St. Peter , and the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious. These are the Pontifical Evangelization of Peoples Mission Societies, whose mobilizing motto is “all of us committed to the worldwide mission of “Faith is not something that only happens to Jesus.” To become more familiar with the amaz- each of us individually or privately, within ing outreach of each society, see the Web site

3 www.onefamilyinmission.org. As part of this “one as a consciousness-raiser. Pope Benedict XVI family in mission,” all are urged to foster the mis- publishes monthly mission intentions that sionary zeal that is so central to the Christian can be included in the parish bulletin or used life. The Church’s universal mission is about in other creative ways. Remember to pray forming and informing through catechesis, pro- for missionary vocations and the missions moting vocations “ad gentes,” and encouraging before classes or parish meetings. Make the cooperation in the work of evangelization (see prayer more personal by getting from your AG, no. 41). local mission office names of people in your (arch)diocese serving outside the United Resources and Activities States. Consider praying for a particular part The following is a practical checklist of things of the world by country or continent. Use you can do to increase personal awareness and the Internet to search for a few facts regard- support catechetical encounters: ing mission areas’ population, food and water issues, religion, education, and health con-  Reflect on the theme of mission in the cerns to inform prayer intentions. Scriptures and church documents. What  Visit www.worldmissionrosary.org to learn comforts, challenges, or confuses you? Pray about the mission initiated by with that. Fulton J. Sheen in 1951. Plan a  Subscribe to Mission Magazine. It is a free pub- parish or school event with a “living world lication. The magazine is also available in bulk mission rosary.” Promote the connection with a study/discussion guide for junior and between continents and colors of bead (yel- senior high school students, RCIA programs, low for Asia, white for Europe, red for the or other parish organizations. This sixteen- Americas, and so on). There are endless pos- page magazine, published three times a year, sibilities for promoting awareness, with plenty carries up-to-date photos and succinct articles of good information on the Web site. Hail of general interest. For a subscription, call Mary decades could be represented by colored (800) 432-2222 or e-mail mission@propfaith. T-shirts or wide ribbons, or in some other org. Read other mission magazines as well. Are way. Use a bulletin board or a “page fence” such magazines available on the parish pam- (a chain-link fence with plastic cups wedged phlet rack or in the school library? Use mission into the holes) for a public display. magazines to supplement catechetical texts  Talk about the meaning of sacrifice. and to teach “Church-in-mission.” Encourage the People of God to “offer up”  Contact the local diocesan office of the something in the name of Jesus for the Pontifical Mission Societies. What can the strength and courage of foreign missionaries parish plug into? World Mission Sunday is and those they serve. the second-to-last Sunday of each October.  Enduring physical suffering, doing difficult Brainstorm about what can be done to make things without complaining, and giving World Mission Sunday a more vibrant liturgi- monetary offerings (perhaps through the cal celebration in your parish. Perhaps invite sacrifice of a candy bar or one less music a returned missionary to speak in the CD) are all forms of sacrifice we can offer in or classroom. Use world artifacts to recall our union with the crucified Christ in the spirit cross-cultural connectedness. Pray the inter- of the Gospel. Discuss what financial gifts cessions in several languages. (Similar ideas can accomplish to promote evangelization work well for the solemnities of Christ the and human dignity. Given as a class or a par- King and .) ish, the group’s offering of $5 can support a  During Sunday liturgical celebrations, regu- seminarian for a day, while $25 can help feed larly include an intention for world missions a lay catechist for a week, $75 can provide

4 for religious instruction, and $100 can — www.usccb.org/wm. Best mission practices help a mission church make repairs. from the USCCB’s Committee on World  Fast-food containers can make great props Missions, for dioceses, parishes, classrooms, for reminding young missionaries that forgo- etc. ing a sundae could help buy medicine for a — www.iamamissionary.org. Sixty-second sick child. stories that are lessons from the missions,  Are you familiar with missionary ? Do found in the “Publications and Media” sec- some research about the holy persons who tion of the Pontifical Mission Societies’ first brought the faith to your (arch)diocese. Web site. Become familiar with their joys and struggles. — www.themissionreport.org. A blog with Realize that only slightly more than a hun- reflections on missionary journeys. dred years ago, the United States was con- — www.youtube.com/pmsusa. Video footage sidered mission-dependent—that is, in need from the missions. of financial support from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. In addition to these Web sites, various Web sites  Visit the Web site www.onefamilyinmis- of religious congregations can offer a treasure sion.org to learn specifically about the Holy trove of mission information. For example, both Childhood Association (HCA). Explore the Columbans (www.columban.org) and the the different sections, such as “What’s New Maryknoll Fathers (www.maryknoll.org) have Now?” or “HCA for Educators/Catechists.” online adult faith formation materials for mission You will find downloadable, print-ready education, as well as exciting kid-sized projects. materials that you can use for catechesis The prophets foretold the coming of the about missions. Print out the calendar with . The evangelists recorded the public life suggestions for mission education: stories and and, through the power of about missionary saints, prayers, facts, and the Holy Spirit, passed on to us his mission. “The “fund”-raising ideas. Let the young missionar- present century thirsts for authenticity. . . . Do ies go directly to www.hcakids.org for creative, you really believe what you are proclaiming? Do kid-friendly mission animation and cross-cul- you live what you believe? Do you really preach tural appreciation. Become an HCA member what you live?” (EN, no. 76). May our ministry and get the bright and informative newslet- of catechesis and evangelization be a mosaic of ter, It’s Our World. Little ones will delight stained glass shining brightly “ad gentes.” in Polly Parrot, the HCA mascot. They can even write to Polly or participate in one of Article by Sr. Judith Gomila, MSC the contests.  Use the Internet to research the phrase “10/40 window.” This term was coined in 1990 by the Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush to refer to those regions in the Excerpts from Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents edited by Austin Flannery, OP, copyright © 1975, eastern hemisphere located between 10 and Costello Publishing Company, Inc., Northport, NY, are used with 40 degrees north of the equator. Look at the permission of the publisher, all rights reserved. No part of these maps turned up by the Internet search, and excerpts may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans- mitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, be astounded by the data available. Did you photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without express written know that more than 3,000 groups of people permission of Costello Publishing Company.

are still waiting for the to be translated Copyright © 2009, United States Conference of Catholic into their language? Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. Permission is  Visit other Web sites of interest, including hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non- commercial use. the following:

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