Mission Families

  
The Way has been evangelizing since it was founded in 1964.  The Way gradually spread from the archdiocese of Madrid and to other Spanish dioceses.  Since then, the Way has continued to spread to dioceses around the world.  Priests are sent to spread the Gospel.  Along with these priests, mission families are also sent to be a sign and a light to many different countries.  How are mission families chosen?  They're actually volunteers.  In the annual convivience (sometimes called a "retreat), the calling is made for anyone who wish to be a mission family.  Couples voluntarily stand up, and that is how they are chosen.  They volunteered to do missionary work.  

This year, several misison families and priest will be sent to establish communities of faith in China, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Finland, and Ukraine, among others.  Each team consist of priests, seminarians, female celibates and up to four families. In countries where 90% of the people have no religious affiliation, larger families were sent out.  These mission families are very courageous for they left home, friends, security, and work to evangelize in other countries.  According to CNS story dated January 12, 2006 (See weblink below):  

Gennarini said the pope's words of encouragement underlining that God will provide is important to these mission families, most of whom have five to 10 children, including infants.  

"What they do is very hard; they leave their country, their home, their work and go to live in very difficult neighborhoods" that are often plagued by drugs, prostitutes and poverty, he said.  

Even though the families have been invited by the local bishop to evangelize a part of his diocese, the mission priest and families will have to start from scratch, he said.  

"There will be nothing; they will have to find work, an apartment," even set up a church, he said.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0600204.htm


One of the sisters in my community was so impressed with these mission priest and families that she actually went to Spain on World Youth Day with only her passport, a few clothing, and absolutely no money.  She felt that if God can provide these mission priest and families, then God would also be able to provide her with the necessities she needed (food and shelter).  And indeed, God provided.  She brought no money and did not starve in Spain. 

One of the things that we were taught in the Neocatechumenal Way is that the reason God brought His chosen people the Israelites into the desert is to show that He can provide for them.  To give up everything to follow Christ in a mission to evangelize is not easy.  Members of the Way are taught to place their full trust in God rather than in money.......something that even I must admit is not easy to do.  Many people think of money simply because everyone can see what money can do.  Yet, we have many saints in our Church history who have given up all wealth and placed their trust in God. Mother Theresa, for example, had nothing, but she didn't starve to death.