One Family in Mission: Tapping the Soul of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Annual Meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Chicago – April 28, 2010

Mission: Thinking and Acting with the Church

Overview of Presentation

Brief presentation of pre-Vatican II Foundation of Catholic Church’s

Mission since Vatican II– Focus on Church documents– Focus on mission ad gentes and

proclamation – Within broader context

Mission: Thinking and Acting with the Church

Mission before the Second Vatican Council

Mission as Salvation of Souls

“The one who believes . . . and accepts baptism will be saved; the one who refuses to believe . . . will be condemned” (Mk 16:16)

Strong scriptural foundation One of oldest models of mission

Mission as Salvation of Souls

Church as the Ark of Salvation “Outside the Church, no salvation”

– Cyprian of Carthage (3rd century)– Pre-Vatican II: Not official but operative

theology – Vatican II: Did not this statement

Ransoming “pagan” babies Weak understanding of God’s grace

at work in the history and cultures of all peoples

Mission as one activity of the church

Mission as Planting the Church

“. . . to plant the visible Church wherever it is not yet planted, that is, to bring the means of salvation (faith and sacraments) within the reach of all souls of good will” (Pierre Charles)

Scriptural foundations– Paul’s ministry

Tradition– Augustine of Canterbury– Irish monks – Jesuit Reductions– Pre-Vatican II examples

Mission as Planting the Church

Establishment of the Church– Normally Western pattern

Church and colonialism– Speaking out on behalf of local people– Church Christianizes and civilizes

Link with colonialism

Missionary also as ambassador of “higher culture” (paternalism)

Mission was geographical

Pre-Vatican II Mission

Not disparaging pre-Vatican II missionaries

– Total life commitment

“Children of their time”– Colonialism– Theology– Human limitations

On-going challenge of God’s spirit – Acts of the Apostles– Throughout the Church’s history

Vatican II: Mission as Participation in the Mission of the Triune God (Missio Dei)

“The pilgrim Church is missionary by its very nature. For it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that it takes its origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father” (Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity [Ad Gentes (AG)], 1965, 2)

Second Vatican Council: Major Shifts

God’s mission as the beginning and the end

An expanded understanding of the church & the world

A new understanding of the nature of other religions

God’s mission and the Church

Mission exists because of

the very nature of God God has always been

in mission through the Spirit Jesus calls the disciples to continue his mission Church is “missionary by its very nature” (AG 2,

cf. Lumen Gentium [LG] 1) Link between church, mission and baptism

New way of looking at the world

The whole world is already graced– Church is not a haven from a

sinful world, but a partner with God in bringing salvation and reconciliation

Church not equal to Reign of God The world, like the Church, has

both grace and sin “Signs of the times” (Gaudium et

Spes [GS] 4): God’s activity in the world

God’s grace also in other Christian denominations and in all cultures

New way of looking at other religions

Possibility of salvation for all people of good will (LG 16)

Other religious ways possessing “a ray of that Truth which enlightens all” (Nostra Aetate [NA] 2)

Presence of the Spirit who “in a manner known only to God, offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery” (GS 22)

God stirring in the hearts of followers of other religions and other “seekers”

Understanding of Mission

“The specific purpose of this missionary activity is evangelization and the planting of the Church among those peoples and groups where she has not yet taken root” (AG 6)

Missionary activity among the nations distinct from pastoral care and work for Christian unity, but these two activities “are most closely connected with the missionary zeal of the Church…” (AG 6)

Understanding of Mission

“Therefore, though God in ways known to Himself can lead those inculpably ignorant of the gospel to that faith without which it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6), yet a necessity lies upon the Church (cf. I Cor. 9:16), and at the same time a sacred duty, to preach the gospel.” (AG 7)

Broader Context – Mission in variety of ways (AG 6)– Gospel as “a leaven of liberty and progress in

human history…a leaven of brotherhood, of unity, and of peace.” (AG 8)

– Secret presence of God among the nations (AG 9)– Witness, preaching, and forming Christian

communities (AG 11-18)

Early post-Vatican II Developments

Liturgical changes Cursillo movement Basic ecclesial communities Men and women leaving religious

life and priesthood Why mission at all? Medellin Conference of Latin

American Bishops (1968) Synod in Rome (1971): Connection

between justice and evangelization

Pope Paul VI: Mission as Liberating Service of the Reign of God

“. . . Christ first of all proclaims a kingdom, the Kingdom of God; and this is so important that, by comparison, everything else becomes ‘the rest,” which is ‘given in addition.’ Only the Kingdom, therefore is absolute, and it makes everything else relative” (Evangelization in the Modern World [Evangelii Nuntiandi (EN)], 1975, 8)

Evangelii Nuntiandi: Foundation for Mission

Jesus came to preach, serve and witness to the Reign of God

– Call to conversion/repentance– Parables, actions, and behavior

After his death and resurrection, the disciples experience the Spirit calling them to continue Jesus’ mission

“Thus it is the whole Church that receives the mission to evangelize, and the work of each individual member is important to the whole….”

But the Church “begins by being evangelized herself” (EN 15)

Significant Developments

Reign of God and holistic vision of Jesus “. . . evangelization would not be complete if it did not take

account of the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of people’s concrete life . . . This is why evangelization involves an explicit message . . . about life in society, about international life, peace, justice and development…” (EN 29)

Understanding of Mission/Evangelization

Renewal of humanity – “transforming humanity from within and making it new” (EN 18)

The strata of humanity – preaching the Gospel, but also affecting / upsetting humanity’s criteria of judgment and values (EN 19)

Evangelization of cultures – cultures are “to be regenerated by an encounter with the Gospel…. But this encounter will not take place if the Gospel is not proclaimed” (EN 20)

Primary importance of witness of life – “All Christians are called to this witness and in this way they can be real evangelizers.” (EN 21)

Understanding of Mission/Evangelization

Need of explicit proclamation “There is no true evangelization if the

name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed” (EN 22)

“This proclamation—kerygma, preaching or catechesis—occupies such an important place in evangelization…and yet it is only one aspect of evangelization” (EN 22)

Understanding of Mission/Evangelization

Vital and community acceptance– “visible entry into a community of believers” and

“acceptance of the Sacraments” (EN 23) Involving a new apostolate

– “Finally: the person who has been evangelized goes on to evangelize others” (EN 24) [i.e. Samaritan woman]

Evangelization “is a complex process made up of varied elements…” (EN 24)

– Witness, proclamation of salvation in Christ, liberation (that Christ announced), human advancement (without reduction or ambiguity), conversion of heart (EN 25-39)

To those who never heard the Word (“ad gentes”), while respecting other religions (51-53) and all others

U.S. Bishops: To the Ends of the Earth [TEE] (1986)

“While we are acutely conscious of our continuing need to evangelize in our own country, that challenge, as great as it is, must never cause us to forget our responsibility to share the good news of Jesus with the rest of the world.” (TEE 3)

“This mission to the peoples of all nations must involve all of us personally in our parishes and at the diocesan and universal levels of the Church.” (TEE 3)

Pontifical Mission Societies are principally responsible in universal missionary cooperation – “to awaken and deepen the missionary conscience of the People of God” (TEE 13, cf. AG 38)

Further Development: Response to AG and EN

Concern about an over-emphasis on the holiness of the world, cultures and religions from the trinitarian foundation (Ad Gentes)

Concern about an over-emphasis on holistic mission from Reign of God foundation (Evangelii Nuntiandi)

Seemed to John Paul II that– Church was losing focus on Jesus as unique

savior and judge of culture– Church was losing focus on the importance of the

church in mission– Church was losing focus on mission ad gentes

and proclamation Result: 1990, Redemptoris Missio

Pope John Paul II: Mission as Proclamation of Jesus Christ as Universal Savior

“Why mission? Because to us … ‘this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Eph 3:8)” (On the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary Mandate [Redemptoris Missio (RM)] 11)

Redemptoris Missio: Foundation for Mission

Chapter One: “Jesus Christ, the Only

Saviour” (RM 4-11)– Salvation through “no other name” (Acts 4:12, in RM 5) – Proclaiming Christ while respecting consciences and freedom of

choice (RM 7-8)– Church is “instrument of salvation for all, and sent on a mission

to the whole world” (LG 9 in RM 9)– Salvation offered “to all people of good will in whose hearts

grace is secretly at work” (GS 22 in RM 10)– The Church and every Christian may not keep hidden the

newness and richness of the “Good News” which we received as a gift (RM 11)

Redemptoris Missio: Foundation for Mission

Chapter Two: “The Kingdom of God” (RM 12-20)– Liberation and salvation have both “physical and spiritual

dimensions” (14)– “The Kingdom cannot be detached either from Christ or from the

Church” (RM 18)– The Church at the Service of the Kingdom (RM 20)

Chapter Three: “The Holy Spirit: The Principal Agent of Mission (RM 21-30)

– “The ultimate purpose of mission is to enable people to share in the communion which exists between the Father and the Son” (23)

– Mission ad gentes for missionaries and all Christian life (27)– Spirit affects “not only individuals but also society and history,

peoples, cultures and religions.” (28)

Significant Developments

Building upon earlier foundations– Has Kingdom of God and Trinitarian

dimensions of AG and EN

Christo-centric emphasis– Affirming Jesus as universal Saviour– Affirming the role of the Church– Affirming mission ad gentes and proclamation– Mission is ultimately a religious task– Mission is ultimately ecclesial activity

Understanding of Mission

Chapter Four: “The Vast Horizons of the Mission Ad Gentes” (RM 31-40)

Three situations of one mission– To people and contexts where Gospel is

not known – “mission ad gentes in proper sense of the term” (RM 33)

– Pastoral care in Christian communities– “New evangelization” or “re-evangelization”

to those no longer Christian

Boundaries not clearly defined (34)– Non-Christians in traditional Christian

countries (34)

Understanding of Mission

Chapter Four: Parameters of the Church’s Mission Ad Gentes (cont.)

Territorial limits (RM 37)– Not hindered by geographical boundaries– But some well-defined places and peoples

New worlds and new social phenomena– Cities, youth, migration, poverty

Cultural sectors: the modern equivalents of the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-31)

– Such as, communication, peace and liberation, scientific research and international relations

“The Church proposes; she imposes nothing.” (RM 39)

“Open the doors to Christ!” (RM 39)

Understanding of Mission

Chapter Five: “The Paths of Mission” (RM 41-60) “Mission is a single but complex reality … a

variety of ways” (RM 41) “The witness of a Christian life is the first and

irreplaceable form of mission” (RM 42) “Proclamation is the permanent priority of

mission” (RM 44)– Response to real-life context of people (RM 44)– The Word of God (RM 45)– Christian conversion and baptism (RM 46-47)– Forming Christian communities (RM 48-50)– Ecclesial Basic Communities (RM 51)

Understanding of Mission

Chapter Five: “The Paths of Mission” (cont.) Incarnating the Gospel in Cultures (RM 52-54) Dialogue with our Brothers and Sisters of other Religions (RM 55-57)

– Although it is possible to be saved outside the church and explicit faith in Christ

– Church’s mission is still to witness to and proclaim Jesus as universal savior

– “Dialogue does not dispense from evangelization” (55)– “Each member of the faithful and all Christian communities are called to

practice dialogue” (57) Promoting Development by Forming Consciences (RM 58-59) and

Charity: Source and Criterion of Mission (RM 60)

Collegial Responsibility for and Cooperation in Mission (Chapters 6 & 7)

Bishops, Episcopal Conferences, and Particular Churches Missionaries, religious institutes, diocesan priests, institutes of

consecrated life, catechists, variety of ministries. “The mission ad gentes is incumbent upon the entire People of God”

(RM 71) Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples The leading role for missionary promotion and formation of the

People of God belongs to the Pontifical Mission Societies. (RM 84)

Mission: Thinking and Acting with the Church

Church is missionary by nature Foundations for Mission

– Trinity (Missio Dei) (AG)– Kingdom of God (EN)– Christo-centric (RM)

“Mission is a single but complex reality” (RM 41) Priority of mission ad gentes and proclamation (RM) “This mission to the peoples of all nations must involve all

of us personally in our parishes and at the diocesan and universal levels of the Church.” (TEE 3)

Primary responsibility of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Mission: Thinking and Acting with the Church