I belong neither here nor there, but wherever God wants me to be.[1]
In an article that was posted on the internet about a year ago, Father Mario Di Carlo stated: The missionary dimension of the Congregation of the Mission already appears in its official name and emerges as a fundament requirement from St. Vincent’s experience and teaching.[2]
In fact, the first article of the Constitutions of the Congregation state that the vocation and the purpose of the Congregation is to follow Christ evangelizing the poor.
Father Mario Di Carlo explained that Vincent insisted on the fact that the Congregation was not an outside entity but was a part of the Church. For this reason and in light of the Extraordinary Missionary Call that has been made by Pope Francis, our Little Company has decided to be present with the fruits of the journey that was begun last year.
In 2017, the Superior General invited the whole Congregation to sustain, reinforce and increase our presence in the International Missions. He asked the confreres to consider the missionary call to minister in the missions ad gentes.
Father General then made the following promise: Holy Father, the Congregation of the Mission, after having prayed, reflected and studied the various possibilities for said Congregation and based on your invitation that was extended to the Universal Church, we are filled with joy and happiness … a joy and happiness that has been given to us through God’s mercy. We are happy to announce, your Holiness, that by October 2019, our Little Company will have sent 1% of its members (approximately thirty confreres) to minister in the missions ad gentes.
This promise was concretized during the March 19th visit of the members of the Curia with Pope Francis. On that occasion His Holiness was presented with a symbolic gift: a poster of the 1% … thus renewing the promise of thirty confreres.
Up to this date, twenty-five confreres have responded to the call. We need only five more confreres in order to maintain our missions and to be able to rejoice that more people have responded to the call to serve their brothers and sisters who are poor.
What does it mean to respond to this call?
Responding to this call means saying: Yes, here I am Lord! It means to reveal one’s willingness to serve in this manner by communicating with the Visitor … and then wait. A simple “yes” to God and God will provide the rest.
The missions that need new missionary resources are the following:
- Angola
- Bolivia, El Alto, Kateri, and Huayllani, Cochabamba
- Punta Arenas
- Chad
- Tunis
- Alaska
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Tefe in Brazil
- Mozambique
- Cuba
- Costa Rica
- Honduras
On our official website you will find more information about each of these international missions. Furthermore, it is important that we achieve our objective.
Those who are unable to serve in the missions ad gentes are invited to pray for vocations and for the missions. Those who are involved in formation and pastoral ministry are invited to inspire and touch the hearts of young men and women. Those who have doubts and are unsure about the missionary calling are invited to communicate with us and to speak with your spiritual director.
May Saint Vincent intercede on our behalf so that God the Father might guide us in the same way that he guided his Son, Jesus!
Translated:
Charles T. Plock, CM
Eastern Province, USA
[1] Vincent de Paul, Correspondence, Conference, Documents, translators: Helen Marie Law, DC (Vol. 1), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 1-14), James King, CM (Vol. 1-2), Francis Germovnik, CM (Vol. 1-8, 13a-13b [Latin]), Esther Cavanagh, DC (Vol. 2), Ann Mary Dougherty, DC (Vol. 12); Evelyne Franc, DC (Vol. 13a-13b), Thomas Davitt, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Glennon E. Figge, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), John G. Nugent, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]), Andrew Spellman, CM (Vol. 13a-13b [Latin]); edited: Jacqueline Kilar, DC (Vol. 1-2), Marie Poole, DC (Vol. 2-13b), Julia Denton, DC [editor-in-chief] (Vol. 3-10, 13a-13b), Paule Freeburg, DC (Vol. 3), Mirian Hamway, DC (Vol. 3), Elinor Hartman, DC (Vol. 4-10, 13a-13b), Ellen Van Zandt, DC (Vol. 9-13b), Ann Mary Dougherty (Vol. 11-12 and 14); annotated: John W. Carven, CM (Vol. 1-13b); New City Press, Brooklyn and Hyde Park, 1985-2014, volume IX, p. 10. Future references to this work will be inserted into the text using the initials [CCD] followed by the volume number, followed by the page number.
[2] https://cmglobal.org/en/2018/11/09/the-missionary-spirit-of-the-congregation-of-the-mission/
