Vol. 75, No. 2 Spring 2017 InIn ThisThis IssueIssue Project Africa: We visit Uganda, Kenya and Ghana Baptisms in Ethiopia Chalice Program at work in Uganda Celebrating Sister Mary Ellen Burns CSJ Elizabeth Shultz: Making a Difference The Society for the Propagation of the Faith National Director’s Message In This Issue… Mission Today Message Spring 2016 Vol. 74, No. 2 Spring 2016 By the time you receive the Pope Francis for her dedication to the Holy Childhood Associa- The National Director’s Message ............... 2 The Society of Saint Peter ......................... 14 spring edition of Mission To- tion and Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. There Mongolia Welcomes First Native Priest day the Universal Church will are mission stories about the projects being supported by you, our Across the Globe ........................................... 4 Grateful Chalice Recipient in Uganda be in the season of Lent, a time donors. These stories are hope filled accounts about the faith com- set apart to give serious thought mitment of missionaries like the Sisters of Loreto whose first sisters Congratulations Holy Childhood Association ..................... 16 to things that the world around arrived in India 175 years ago from Ireland. In this issue, the work Sister Mary Ellen Burns CSJ ......................... 6 One Youth Making All the Difference us refuses to consider. Lent is a of the Pontifical Society of St Peter the Apostle and those helped favourable time to deepen our by it are highlighted. This society supports the training and edu- Baptisms in Ethiopia ..................................... 7 Mission Conversations with the Editor ... 18 spiritual life through fasting, cation of future leaders of the mission church. Through the work prayer and almsgiving, each a of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, seminarians and religious Project Report: Ghana.................................. 8 In Remembrance ......................................... 19 route to holiness offered us by are provided with resources, books, food and housing. Without the Church. At the centre of this support many of our brothers and sisters in mission countries Project Reports: Uganda and Kenya ....... 10 everything is the word of God and during this season of Lent, would not be able to continue this important mission endeavour. Mother Church invites us to hear and ponder more deeply. Pope Francis concluded his Lenten message this year by calling Pope Francis, in his Lenten message, invites us to find inspira- us to express our spiritual renewal by sharing in the Lenten cam- tion and meaning in the story of Lazarus and the rich man, for it paigns promoted by church organizations. Could you lend some Thank you, God, for letting me be born, financial support to them as part of your Lenten Journey? provides a key to understanding what we need to do in order to for giving me eyes to see the daffodils attain true happiness and eternal life. Lent is a time to consider I wish you a happy Lent and a joyful Easter. Know that we keep the critical crossroads of our lives - those times when our faith and you in our prayers and appreciate your ongoing support. leanlean inin thethe windwind life intersects. Peace and Joy, Joan Baez This issue of Mission Today invites us to journey across the globe. Rev. Fr. Alexander Osei, C.S.Sp It profiles Sr. Mary Ellen Burns CSJ, who recently celebrated the National Director. 60th anniversary of profession and received recognition from Missionary Prayer Intentions Remembering the Missions in your Will MArCh – Support for Persecuted Christians: That per- Help the missionaries of the future through secuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material • a specific bequest amount help of the whole Church. • securities bequest • all or part of the residue of your estate APrIl – Young People : That young people may respond • real property (e.g. a building) bequest generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering Photo Credit: Martin Hirtreiter, Wikimedia.org, cc-sa-by-3.0 themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life. In your Will use our legal name: May – Christians in Africa: That Christians in Africa, in The Society for the Propagation of the Pontifical Mission societies imitation of the Merciful Jesus, may give prophetic witness to Faith for Canada, English Sector Editor: Paul Coady reconciliation, justice, and peace. Comments on this issue or other topics Registered Charity BN 12888 2883 RR0001 Missions Today is published four times a Propagation of the Faith & St. Peter the are always welcome.Contact us at: year by the Society for the Propagation of Apostle: Income Tax Number: [email protected] or at the Faith, 2219 Kennedy Road Toronto, BN 12888 2883 RR0001 Missions Today – The Editor - Dear Friends of Missions Today Magazine, Ontario M1T 3G5 2219 Kennedy Road Holy Childhood Association: Income Tax Toronto, Ontario M1T 3G5 For many years now, Missions Today Magazine has been an important conduit for Canadians in spreading the Good News of the work International Standard Serial Number Number: BN 11909 5818 RR0001 being done by missionaries throughout the world. Through its content, we are fulfilling our mission to hope to encourage missionary ISSN 0843-1515 Canadian Publications Mail Sales Telephone: (416) 699 7077 Toll Free: 1 800 897 8865 animation in our readers. 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Help to spread the Good Back Cover Photo: Father Alex Osei C.S.Sp News with your friends and fellow parishioners by passing along Missions Today to them when the opportunity arises. 2 MISSIONS TODAY MISSIONS TODAY 3 lAOS - Three new priests ordained: a historic step INDIA - Increasing Demand for Christian literature for the Church New Delhi – There is demand for Christian literature in In- Across the Globe Luang Prabang - Mgr. Tito Banchong Thopanhong, Apostolic dia and the market is expanding: says Fr. Saju Chackalackal, Administrator of Luang Prabang expressed great joy at the or- Carmelite of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and director for the dination of three priests by saying, “First of all let us thank evangelization and pastoral care of his congregation. the Lord for his great gift: we are very happy for the three new “ Many, both educated people, and the people of villages and priests who will work full time in the small Catholic Church cities, express their desire to obtain and own a copy of the Bible in Laos… for me it will be a great help”. They were ordained in and in particular the New Testament. …a widespread desire a solemn celebration held on September 16, 2016 in Savanna- to have access to Christian literature that helps the faithful to khet, where the Major Inter-diocesan Seminary that provides have a clear and thorough idea about the contents of faith of the formation of Laotian seminarians is situated. Christianity and the Catholic Church in particular”, notes Fr. At the ordination Mass, presided by His Exc. Mgr. Prida Inthi- Chackalackal. rath, Apostolic Vicar of Savannakhet, 54 priests from Laos, Viet- The priest reported that Carmelite missionaries and other nam, Thailand, numerous religious women and over a thousand congregations are asking for additional Bibles and Christian Catholic faithful came from all over the country to participate in literature to give to people, Christian and non-Christian, who the ceremony. sincerely seek to know more about Jesus Christ, he said. Christians make up 1% of the six million people living in Laos, of “ Bibles in English or in local languages are needed and this, whom there are about 45 thousand Catholics. The number of di- according to our missionaries, opens a very significant oppor- ocesan priests in the country with the three newly ordained priests tunity for the Christian community: one must satisfy a thirst goes up to 20, while another 11 are religious priests. This is an for knowledge about Jesus Christ”, the priest told Fides. edited version, taken from Agenzia Fides 09/27/2016. The CMI is a male religious institution, born in the Syro- INDIA - The Sisters of loreto: 175 years on mission Malabar Church. It is the first Catholic religious congregation in South Asia founded in India. Today, its missionaries work in Asia, Brazil, Calcutta - The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), North America, South Africa, Kenya, and Europe. An edited ThE VATICAN - New app on Social Teaching pre- better known as the “Sisters of Loreto”, this year celebrates 175 version, taken from Agenzia Fides 02/13/2017. pared for Young People years of missionary presence in South Asia. “With immense grat- The Vatican - At last summer’s World Youth Day celebrations in itude to God we celebrate the arrival in India of the first sisters, PAKISTAN - Bishop given human rights Award Poland, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, who 175 years ago brought the love of God”, says Sister Anita M. Faisalabad, Pakistan - Bishop Joseph Arshad of Faisalabad, who presented a new app on the Catholic Church’s Social Teaching Braganza, head of the religious Province of South Asia.