Spanish Mission Family in Tanzania

 The following is an article about a mission family from Spain who moved to evangelize in Tanzania.  It's always inspiring to hear stories from the mission families and itinerants.  You can find the following article here.

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A Spanish missionary family’s love story with Tanzania

When God called them, they answered, and followed His prompting to serve.

Maria and Juan Pablo are a Spanish couple and members of the Neocatechumenal Way. For several years, they’ve been missionaries in Africa, specifically in Arusha, Tanzania. Today, the city has 416,000 inhabitants.

Maria explains how she recognized the call to go to another country to spread the Gospel:

“I felt,” she remembers, “that the Lord was calling me to keep nothing for myself, to give Him that little corner of my life that I had held on to, where I was afraid the Lord would enter. I felt in a strong way that God was calling me to surrender myself totally to him.”

Fear, then courage

Maria admits that initially she was afraid, and decided not to talk about it with her husband, Juan Pablo. Months passed before she decided to share her feelings on the subject with him.

That conversation started a process of discernment that the two of them shared. After a few months, during a Neocatechumenal meeting, Juan Pablo and Maria stood up to offer themselves as missionaries to go to whatever part of the world needed them. Thus began the wonderful love story of this Spanish couple with Tanzania.

Life in Tanzania

In the mornings, Maria and Juan Pablo’s children go to the school run by the Augustinian Missionary Sisters. They’ve already learned Swahili, adapted to the country’s educational methods, and made local friends. At their home, a local woman works as a nanny for the children so that the couple can go work at the parish in the afternoons.

On the occasion of the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October and World Mission Sunday (which was celebrated on October 18 this year), Juan Pablo has wanted to sent a clear message: “I would like to tell everyone how important it is that the Church be missionary.”

“The Holy Spirit always calls us out of our comfort zone to proclaim the Gospel,” he says. In order for the Church’s missionary work to be possible, he asks everyone to help, each to the extent that he or she can, “according to their own circumstances.” He emphasizes that “the important thing is to be united in prayer.”

Donations that bear material and spiritual fruit

Just this year, the Catholic Church has sent $56,000 to Arusha, where Juan Pablo and Maria live, so that the diocese can function and to provide support for local catechists, who go where the missionaries cannot reach. In addition, the funds help promote the diocese’s communications.

Juan Pablo and Maria do not charge for the work they do. The funds come from the donations made by millions of people from all over the world during the World Mission Sunday campaign, and are managed by the Pontifical Missionary Societies (PMS). In this way, over the last 16 years a total of $1,826,502 dollars have been sent to Tanzania, an average of more than $114,000 a year.

These funds have made it possible for the Catholic Church’s work in the country to grow. The number of parishes has gone from 17 to 39, and the number of schools has grown from 1 to 281. What’s more important is that the number of baptisms has gone from 1,926 to 46,500. Schools, parishes and baptisms are growing, and that’s good news for the whole Church.

Pope's Comment on Same-Sex Union

Much controversy has surrounded over Pope Francis' comment on same-sex unions.  In the first place, it is important to note that the Pope emphasized that it is a civil union law, not a marriage recognized and defined by the Church.  According to news report, Pope Francis is quoted as stating: 

"Homosexual people have the right to be in a family.  They are children of God," Francis said.  "You can't kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this.  What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered."

Marriage is a sacrament instituted by God and a union between one man and one woman. A civil union between two gay men or two lesbian women is not considered a marriage as defined by the Church nor recognized in the Catholic Church.  Archbishop Michael was correct when he said that the Pope's comment does not alter the Church's ban on same-sex marriage (See article here).  Pope Francis was not declaring that the Catholic Church allow same-sex marriage.  He was  saying that the government should allow a civil union law for homosexuals.  Civil marriages or unions are not recognized by the Church.  

As a matter of fact, if a heterosexual couple who are Catholics were to marry in court, their marriage would also not be recognized in the Catholic Church.  Catholics who marry in a civil court could not receive holy communion.  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

 CCC 1631 This is the reason why the Church normally requires that the faithful contract marriage according to the ecclesiastical form.  Several reasons converge to explain this requirement: 

• Sacramental marriage is a liturgical act.  It is therefore appropriate that it should be celebrated in the public liturgy of the Church; 
• Marriage introduces one into an ecclesial order, and creates rights and duties in the Church between the spouses and towards their children;........

I find Pope Francis to be very compassionate toward homosexuals and atheists.  After all, who are we to judge when we are all sinners ourselves?  Christ is the only one who can judge, and He sat and ate with the cheating tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners.  Nevertheless, how we show our love and compassion toward our brother will also be judged by God. 

Bishop Anthony Apuron did not endorse same-sex union.  He fought against its legalization and won. In his fight, he also showed compassion by telling the truth. The truth is not always easy to bear, but it is better to know the truth so that one can decide on their own, knowing all their options.  After all, God is the truth and tells us the truth, but He does not force us to follow the truth.  Therefore, these are the facts: The 2000 data by the Center for Disease Control showed that sexually transmitted diseases continue to rise among gay and bisexual men (see the report here).  There are also data showing that depression and suicide are higher among homosexuals (See news report here).  It is because that I care about my brothers and sisters in the gay community that I cannot endorse something that would bring harm to them.

While it is true that Pope Francis did not go against Church teaching, one should be extremely cautious of the civil law one endorses.  Sometimes, we think a civil law passed by the government is good but eventually can cause more harm and misery than good.  

There is a reason why marriage (like most things) comes with restrictions.  These restrictions include: 

1. One cannot marry a young child. 
2. One cannot marry their sibling or close immediate relative
3. One cannot marry a person of the same sex
4. One cannot marry more than one spouse
5. One cannot marry an animal or an object (non-human) 

Same-sex union is not about equal rights, which is what many gay activists want us to believe.  It is about removing a restriction.  And when you remove one restriction, in time another one may be removed.  In fact, polygamy was already brought to the Supreme Court (See article here).   

I agree that as Christians we should be compassionate toward our brothers and sisters who struggle with same-sex attractions.  In fact, we are no different from them.  Even heterosexuals struggle with the sin of lusting after the opposite sex.  Lust is lust regardless of who you lust whether it is one of the same sex or one of the opposite sex.  As Christians we should follow the example of what our Lord has taught us.  God loves the sinner that He gave His life for them.  We also must love the sinner and leave the judgment to God.  

Congratulations to Deacon Honorio “Ron” Valdeavilla Pangan Jr.

Deacon Honorio "Ron" Valdeavilla Panan Jr. will be ordained into the priesthood today at 2:00 p.m. at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna.  He will be ordained by Archbishop Michael Byrnes.  Altougth he is not an RMS priest, he was one of the four seminarians who were at the former St. John Paul II Seminary under Archbishop Anthony.  He will be serving as Guam's priest. Of course, this is not the first time, I have recognized Deacon Ron.  I recognized him when he and Junee Valencia were ordained a deacon (See my post here).  It is important that all the priests in the Catholic Church be in union with their Archbishop otherwise we would end up repeating history.  Congratulations to Deacon Ron. 

Priests and Protests

Some people use Separation of Church and State to tell the Catholic Church to stay out of politics.  Although the words, "Separation of Church and State" is not found in the United States Constitution, the First Amendment does make clear that Government is not supposed to establish a national religion or national church.  It is the American people who chooses their religion.

     

Separation of Church and State is an advantage to the Church because it protects the Church from state control and interference.  The Church can carry out its mission in proclaiming the Gospel and moral values, in denouncing the evil in society, in serving the common good, in working for the defense of life and the environment, in struggling for justice and peace, and in operating social action projects that benefits the poor.  It does not prevent the Church from being involved in the social and political field.  In fact, there is no public law prohibiting church members to run for public office.  Church law prohibits the clergy from running for public office or endorsing a political candidate, but the clergy still have the right to express their views on government policy, such as the closing of churches.  According to Pacific Daily News:

In an interview with Newstalk K57, Fr. Mike Crisostomo, St. Anthony's Church Pastor, said: "As Church people, we want to be able to cooperate...but don't push us too far."

Fr. Crisostomo made the statement before the governor announced she’d allow indoor religious service to resume this weekend. 

Freedom of expression and the right to peaceably assemble in a protest is under the First Amendment.  Everyone has a right to express their social and political views.  This right of free expression also extends to the Church.  

So a big kudos to Archbishop Michael Byrnes for having the courage to open the doors of the parishes, even without government approval.  A big kudos also to Father Mike Crisostomo for publicly speaking out, standing up for his flock in the Tamuning Church and for all the Catholic faithful on opening the parish doors.  And a big kudos to the Catholic faithful who stood at the protests announcing to the Governor to open the doors of their parishes.  Truly, those parishioners love the Mass in their parishes, which is highly evident.  This love for their parish Mass gave them the courage to speak the truth through their peaceful protests and most especially through social media.  It is even more amazing to see some elderly folks standing (and social distancing) in the protest.  Truly, the Holy Spirit is in these people giving them courage despite COVID-19.    

Father Gordon also wrote something similar last week. His article entitled, Police, Politics, Priests, Protests, and The Purge" can be found here.  It is unfortunate that bishops are divided in their opinions regarding Father James Altman who stood up for the truth. Quoting from his blog, Father Gordon stated: 

I wrote a post some weeks ago entitled, “The State of Our Freedom, the Content of Our Character.” It was somewhat mildly critical of Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, because I believed (and still believe) he mischaracterized the reason President Trump appeared holding a Bible in front of St. John Episcopal church in Washington. On the previous night, mobs had virtually destroyed the façade of that church. Neither CNN nor MSNBC nor the major news networks would film the damage so Trump went to stand in front of it bringing the news cameras with him. Even then, CNN zoomed in on Trump so as not to display the damage from the previous night’s “peaceful protest.”

After I wrote about this, one of our readers posted it on one of several Catholic Facebook groups that share posts from These Stone Walls. I have never actually seen any of these groups. I have never seen Facebook either, but I am told that almost instantly someone posted in screaming caps, “YOU’RE A PRIEST! STAY OUT OF POLITICS!” My response to that would be, “Ummm, No.” I should not run for political office, and I should not use my proclamation of the Gospel to endorse a political candidate, but ordination to Catholic priesthood does not cancel out my First Amendment rights.

This came to the fore recently when an outspoken and rather courageous priest, Father James Altman, was disciplined by his bishop for statements that his conscience (and Catholic moral teaching) concluded were true. Then two other bishops entered the fray in defense of Father Altman. Some Catholics pitched their tents at opposite ends of the fray, but the whole affair left me feeling that the Church is alive and well in America, even if suppressed by the growth of socialism. Father Altman concludes that resistance is not futile, and I agree with him. A lot of readers very much liked our recent graphic in “Kamala Harris, Knights of Columbus, Threats to Democracy”:

• “Our duty as Catholics is to know the truth, to live the truth, to defend the truth, to share the truth with others, and to suffer for the truth.” (Servant of God Father John Hardon, S.J.)

Father James Altman now suffers for the truth.