e
begin anew, looking ahead to the
next 50 years. The stories of the
past inspire us to do even more, with our means and blessings.
We are encouraged by how real God’s providence is toward us.
We can only thank God for these daily little miracles.
Inspiring missionary spirit
Pope John Paul II, at the beatification ceremony of our Founder, reminded us that “the whole Church recognizes in the life of Blessed Guido M. Conforti a shining example of a missionary spirit we could call fully pastoral and catholic.”
To be a missionary is to go where you are needed but not wanted, and to stay until you are wanted but not needed.
It is that missionary spirit that encourages Ray and Dorothy to write: “We feel blessed and honored to be part of the Xaverian Family.” It is that same spirit that helped Grandma Phyllis to faithfully pray the St. Francis Xavier Novena over the past 50 years.
That
missionary gift prompted the late Fr. Joe Conley to open the door of his rectory
to many Xaverians to study English, or an anonymous donor from Minnesota to help
our overseas efforts; or the excitement the newly ordained Fr. Ken shares on his
assignment to the Philippines: “I look forward to the opportunity of
ministering to the people and joining the Xaverians already present there.”
Looking ahead to the next 50 years, Mission invites us to see God’s providence
and care for “the little ones” in the world.
Our missionaries recount their stories, and we become part of their
families, as Angie and Rocco from Massachusetts do every time they hear from
their missionary son in West Africa.
And we see God’s loving care in the teary eyes of a long time friend who offers us his spiritual support through his long and painful sickness. Or the monthly check sent by a dear benefactor in Alabama for an orphanage in Bangladesh. Or the words of Lucy who attended the beatification ceremonies in Rome in 1996: “The sensitivity of the Xaverians to many different cultures touched my heart and I felt that I belonged.”
Making the World One
Mission invites more young people to give of themselves wholeheartedly for a lifetime commitment to the Reign of God. The doors of our communities will never be shut for those who want to learn more about our life and service.
If the Lord hints that you can serve God as a priest or brother for the sake of Christ’s Mission, don’t hesitate. Come and discern with, visit our communities in Franklin, WI and Chicago, IL, for an experience of community life. God still calls: will you answer?
Mission calls you to join in the efforts to making the world one. All Christians have received this gift from the Lord, and we share it in different ways with diverse means.
During a procession in war-torn D.R. Congo (Zaire), Christians carried a destroyed crucifix, with no hands, and sang together:
“Christ has no hands but ours, to raise up the fallen.
He has no feet but ours, to seek out the lost.
He has no ears but ours, to listen to the lonely.
He has no tongue but ours, to speak words of sympathy, of comfort and of encouragement to those weighed down by sorrow, pain and failure.”
“You did it to Me”
Will you help us sing the same hymn? Mission provides bridges of support, food, medical care, education and more. No one knows the future, and missionary life is experiencing a great deal of poverty and pain, martyrdom and instability.
A missionary wrote: “To be a missionary is to go where you are needed but not wanted, and to stay until you are wanted but not needed.” The daily news of unwelcome peoples in Asia, expelled missionaries in Central America, struggling native churches in Africa, do shake our faith.
But
Jesus reassured us of two things: “Not even a hair of your head will be
forgotten by my heavenly Father… Every time you shared your food with the little ones of the
world, you did it to me.”
Again, we welcome you to the Xaverian Family!
Thank you for your present support to the Catholic missions; for daring
to believe that a better future lies ahead for the parishes and centers run by
the 900 Xaverians working in 19 countries throughout the world.
The needs will ever be greater. Our response ever more so youthful and enthusiastic. Together we’ll share “glimpses of God’s presence.”
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)