What if we did?

All Christians and “not just the few” are called to intensify their missionary spirit and go out to proclaim the joy of the Gospel, said Pope Francis this past weekend in an address to Italy’s National Missionary Congress .
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-all-christians-called-to-be-missionaries-not

Pope Francis reminds us of the call to be missionary which is the responsibility of every baptized christian. 

Our founder Fr. Judge was of the same mindset as Pope Francis. In the original 1930 draft of the MSBT Constitution he said, "Missionary Servants should be so filled with the holy fire that they will communicate it to all those who come in contact with them. Their wish and prayer should be that these (people) become a power for good. To encourage this zeal let them realize that the greatest help a Missionary Servant can offer (to the Church) is the help of spiritually trained Lay Apostles. They will try to realize the power of the faithful for good."

To effect this, Missionary Servants will induce those coming under their influence to pray to the Holy Spirit for His Gifts and Fruits, Wisdom and Fortitude especially, and encourage them to some work of charity or zeal. 

 There is so much need for people to be apostles in their daily life. The good news of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be shared through the lives of those who live vibrantly the call of the Gospel.

What if we did intensify our missionary spirit and proclaim the joy of the Gospel?

What would it look like if we put into regular practice the call laid out in yesterday's reading from the Gospel of Matthew: 

Come, you who are blessed by my Father. 

Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me drink,

a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me,

ill and you cared for me,

in prison and you visited me.

            

Back to Work

So I had most off the past year off. I went on Sabbatical for 10 months! One month was spent in moving and spending some time with family. For three months I lived in a cabin on top of a mountain in Spencer, West Virginia at Franciscan Appalachian Hermitage. Solitude, access to a lovely chapel and daily Mass. Thanks to Sr. Jeanne,  Cathy and the wonderful people of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Spencer I had an unforgettable experience of prayer, peace and rest.

Walking along Colt Run

November Scene

The cabin at the top of the mountain.

The second part of the sabbatical I spend in San Jose Costa Rica at the Trinity Missions Seminary with the Seminarians and the staff of Fathers Edgar Solano, ST, Fr. Carlos Zacharias, ST, Martha Vega, MCA and Cecila and Sandra. Again I was the happy recepient of generous hospitality. 

I was most fortunate in attending a program in Spanish at a great school called Intensa.

My Profesora Mireya Castro was excellent. She tortured me daily with verb tenses and direct and indirect pronouns. Now that I am in Mexico City I realize what a fantastic teacher she is! The staff at the school too, were most helpful. I would recommend this program to anyone wishing to study Spanish at whatever level.

Above are three photos from Costa Rica, the first of some of the Missionary Cenacle Apostlate members, the seminarians and one of the ST priests Fr. Jaime Serrano. Second is the view from the third floor porch where my room was located. And the third a beach scene at Puerto Jimenez.

As I begin my new mission in Mexico City on the MSBT Vocation Formation Team I know I have so much for which to be grateful to the Triune God!