Two By Two Mission In Australia

Christ commanded us to go out and spread the Gospel to all the nations. Members of the Neocatechumenal Way go out as mission families, itinerants, mission communities, and in two by twos. Sometimes, these two by twos last for a week or more.  When we embark on these two by two missions, we do not promote the Neocatechumenal Way.  We announce God's love and mercy. The two by two mission comes alive in Australia.  You can find the article here.
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The experience of announcing the Gospel as detailed in the Gospels of Saint Luke (chapter 10) and St Matthew last month came alive for nearly 200 priests, seminarians and lay faithful from the Neocatechumenal Way who undertook a two-by-two mission to 23 Australian dioceses.

Gathering in Sydney for three days of prayer and preparation before the mission, the 92 pairs, who were chosen by lot, were then given a blessing by Sydney Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Rev Anthony Randazzo.

The men and women – among them 30 from Perth – then went to their nominated destination, spending the next nine days in places they did not know, visiting numerous bishops and priests, but above all speaking to all they met, on the streets and in homes, carrying only the Scriptures, the Breviary and the return ticket.

Catechist of the Neocatechumenal Way for Australia, Fr Tony Trafford, said those who went out all had one thing in common – life, through the word of God, they are receiving by living their faith journey in the Neocatechumenal Way.

“Like Christ, the pilgrims sometimes had nowhere to lay their head, but His love was their guarantee and their support.” Fr Trafford said.

“They all returned safely and with a strong spirit, just like the apostles, saying that they lacked nothing. For us who always want more and more, this is in itself life-changing,” he said.

Those from Perth who went on the two-by-two mission, gathered at Majella Mass Centre last Sunday 30 July to talk about their experience.

Seminarian Matteo Verdi, from Redemptoris Mater Seminary Perth, said his was a very beautiful mission where he saw how much God provided in his time of need.

Now in his eighth year of study, Matteo did his two-by-two mission in the central and western suburbs of Brisbane, meeting several priests who provided accommodation and food.

Matteo went on to explain that he and his companion also met a number of people who were going through traumatic life events, praying with them and announcing to them the love of God in the face of their suffering.

“To see the providence of God for me gave me a lot of peace and I was able to finish the pilgrimage with a solid understanding that when I am open to the will of God, he provides, freely,” Matteo said.

“I was restless and a little bit afraid, but all the people we met were very welcoming,” he said.

Mirrabooka parishioner Angela Arace, who also undertook her two-by-two mission in Brisbane, said for her, the experience was about the importance of relying on God.

“Each day I wondered where I was going to sleep, what I was going to eat and God always provided,” Angela said.

Angela also recalled to The eRecord that she and her two-by-two companion, who was from Darwin, even spent one night outside, but were provided with accommodation for the other nights.

“I can say that I personally saw the immense love of God, and that the announcement of his love has a power,” she said.

“It was an honour to announce this love; it was all I had with me,” Angela said.

Second year Architecture student Gabriele Arace, the son of Angela, also undertook the two-by-two mission, journeying to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

The 19-year-old said that while the experience for him was quite challenging, it was one that filled his heart with a lot of courage.

“I was able to witness that in the face of all my own ideas and plans for my life and the life of those I met, the love of God and His providence are the most important things in my life,” Gabriele said.

“The experience also showed me the importance of humility, forgiveness and peace,” he said.

At the conclusion of their two-by-two mission, the priests, seminarians and lay faithful returned to Sydney for two days to share their experience in the presence of Archbishop Anthony Fisher before returning home to their families.

Fr Trafford went on to say that the true marks of the missionary were always that he/she was sent by the Church, gave without being paid, and in some way lost his/her life in doing it.

“Indeed, God was faithful, and to suffer a little for the name of Christ was a privilege,” Fr Trafford said.

“They brought an antidote to the word of the devil who makes us despise ourselves and our life: what they had to offer was nothing of themselves, but the love of God for all,” he said.

The experience of announcing the Gospel as detailed in the Gospels of St Luke and St Matthew last month came alive for nearly 200 priests, seminarians and lay faithful from the Neocatechumenal Way who undertook a two-by-two mission to 23 Australian dioceses.