Mission Minded

What does it mean to be “mission minded?”

We try to remind friends and benefactors of the missionaries to be “mission minded.” This means not only to be aware of and supportive of their work in the foreign missions. It doesn’t mean just giving cash to our programs or even simply praying for the missions.

Did you know that every baptized person is called to mission?

That’s right. Every one of us must find ways to bring the Gospel of Christ to those who haven’t heard it.

One might argue that everyone here in the U.S. has heard the Gospel. But have they really? Have they heard it from YOU? More importantly, have they seen it lived out?

Think today about ways you can become more “mission minded.” Do your coworkers see Christ when they see you? How about your family members? Does your life give others a reason to want to follow Jesus?

Here’s a tip: put a smile on your face. Joy is attractive. Others will want to know why you are happy and peaceful. When they see the difference in you, they will be open to hearing the Gospel – even if you don’t use words to share it with them.

And you will be on your way to becoming a missionary yourself, right where you are now, where God has placed you.

create

Creativity is arguably the best proof we are expected to give of having been made in the image of God. Yet, the notion of carrying within us God’s image tends to be a vague concept to be relegated to the storage room where we put most of what we hear in church on Sunday because it resonates little with our real life and its unrelenting challenges.

Creativity, if given a chance, will find a way to free itself from the confinements of a safe, risk-free lifestyle, of conformism, of trite, common loci, of false façades, of the stale venues of disengagement. It springs up unexpectedly from the field where the seeds of the Gospel have found fertile soil. It grows best with the help of improvisation, spontaneity and child-like imagination, provided that it is not held back by the menace of crippling mistakes, and is totally free of fear of embarrassment.

Creativity reminds us that we cannot play it safe when it comes to exercising stewardship of God’s plentiful talents entrusted to us. A conscience that is bogged down by an unhealthy sense of guilt and stifled due to the depletion of those energies that are drained by obsessions and compulsions is ill-equipped to overcome the doldrums of life, the grinding of daily routine and the temptation of putting off anything daring and bold.

What is life without the spice of creativity? Creativity makes the gift of ourselves to others that much more attractive and appreciated. With creativity we can transform birthdays into unforgettable events, make one feel truly special, impact an otherwise flat life with a unique compliment; we can light up the shadows stretching over the gloomy outlook of a depressed friend; we can dispel boredom and improvise a celebration for some wild reason, or no reason at all.

What is there that creativity cannot handle? With creativity a mom can even find clever ways to disguise loathed vegetables into something yummy for her kids’ dinner; she can spruce up the living room with old stuff from the attic and turn anything burdensome into a fun game. We should give free rein to our creativity to see it grow doing good.

For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12.
Fr. Dino S. Vanin, Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, Detroit, MI

Mexican Town Mission

Mexican Town is a small community in southwest Detroit. It’s an ethnic enclave like many others in urban areas: a collection of homes and businesses owned and operated primarily by folks who share a particular ethnic heritage. Mexican Town is, obviously, Latino. It is at once a little Mexican village and a modern Detroit neighborhood. Even though my dad worked nearby for 30 years, at the Clark Street Cadillac plant, I never ventured there until I was in my early 20s – and then only to dine at one of its authentic restaurants. Yesterday I arrived there as a photographer, and left as a pilgrim.

We (myself and outreach coordinator Giovanni) ended up in Mexican Town at the request of Fr. Ken, PIME’s regional superior here in the U.S. He’ll be visiting Milan for a conference in August, and he asked us to prepare a presentation about PIME’s work here in the States. While PIME Missionaries are first and foremost foreign missionaries, they also work here in the city. Fr. Noel has worked at Holy Redeemer. Fr. Ken was recently appointed pastor of St. Hedwig and St. Francis d’Assisi, assisted by Fr. Ravi. Both churches are parishes here in the heart of the southwest corner of Detroit. Once large Catholic communities of mostly Polish heritage, they are now mostly attended by the Hispanic Catholics who live in the neighborhood. Masses are said in English and Spanish. Much has changed in the over 100 years since St. Hedwig’s was founded. What remains are beautiful buildings with ornate altars, serene statues, and glossy pews of polished hardwood. What remains is faith, accompanied by challenges.

Fr. Ken told us that in years past, there were so many attendees at Sunday mass that a second church was required in the basement, so that two masses could be said at one time to accommodate the faithful. He told as that the rectory could house 15 priests; the convent, 40 nuns. We felt a little melancholy as we were given a tour of the Church’s interior. It could seat 1400 people, but Father explained that now about 100 people attended Mass on any given Sunday. We were also affected by the beauty of the architecture, artwork and decor. In a time when Churches are called “worship spaces” that often resemble auditoriums, this was a treat for our spirits. We understood the goal of those who had sacrificed to build the churches so many years ago. They wanted to draw believers into a relationship with God that recalled their own smallness and God’s greatness; one that provoked a sense of awe and the sacred.

The community has indeed changed, but these are still sacred spaces. And those who worship here are still a blessing to their neighbors, still a sign that God is working among his people. The challenges that Polish immigrants faced a century ago were of one kind; the challenges here in Southwest Detroit today are different. There is poverty and decay. There is also hope.

We drove through the city, stopping to photograph homes and businesses that reflect these challenges. We ate at one of the restaurants I frequented over 20 years ago. A good sign, no? The food is still as delicious as I remember it, the lunch crowd just as bustling. Alongside busy restaurants and stores there were warehouses and homes begging for demolition. Some were destroyed by fire, only their charred shells remaining, others were withered by neglect.

I know nothing of politics and laws of economics. I don’t really know why so much of our city so closely resembles the underdeveloped nations our missionaries serve. I do know that, as I photographed the beauty and the desolation I saw, I felt very much as I did as I took pictures on the streets of a small, poor town in Brazil last fall.

The churches and the homes and the businesses – on the outskirts of a large American city or in the middle of the Amazon jungle – have much in common. They are populated with people in need. And in my own neighborhood, my suburban city that is not rich and not poor, my neighborhood that seems so simple yet is so filled with abundance – there too, people are needy.

We all need the reminder that we are loved. We need each other. We need Jesus.

From the glorious interior of the old brick churches that stand strong, to the broken houses that once were homes, to my own backyard, where my children play in safety, Jesus in needed. Oh, how we need Him. We need mission, and missionaries, to bring Him.

I left Mexican Town refreshed. I was reminded that there is work to be done, and that participation in that work is an extraordinary grace – a blessing that endures whether buildings stand or fall.

costly love

It’s Wednesday of Holy Week. Last year I discovered it’s also known as “Spy Wednesday.” Today I did a bit of research and found it is also the day that the following episode occurred, as written about in the book of John.

“Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’ He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’” John 3:3-8

With an intimacy and humility almost beyond imagining, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet and then wipes them with her hair.

She gives him something precious. Not just the oil, which is indeed costly. Something costs her much more than this.

It costs her something to kneel before Him. It costs her something to lavishly spill the oil, not worrying about how messy it is, about what Martha will say when she has to clean it up. It costs her something to literally let her hair fall, covering him and uncovering everything about her.

She is loving Him unabashedly. She is not ashamed to love him. She is not embarrassed by her tears. She gives all to him – the messiness of her sins, her broken humanity – and asks only that He forgive her, and allow her to serve.

It is almost Good Friday. Then we will recall that Jesus gave all for us as He died on the Cross. Can we try to love him more completely? Can we “poor out” the expensive oil that we are holding on to? Can we be unafraid to “fill the house with fragrance” – to let everyone know of our love? Can we “let our hair down” and reveal all to Him? He already knows everything about us. But He wants us to give of ourselves freely – He will not steal our love from us.

Place yourself in the place of Mary of Bethany today. Tomorrow, you can join her as she remains in the background alongside Martha, serving Jesus, preparing His last meal. On Friday, you, with Mary, will cling tightly to Jesus’ Mother as you stand at the foot of the Cross. On Saturday, you will weep and hide and wonder how it can be that He is gone.

And on Sunday morning, He will come to you. Before all others, He will stand at your side and remind you of His promises.

Begin today by following Mary’s example. Give Him your love.

halftime

Let’s all gather in the locker room for a pep talk.

We’re about halfway through Lent, and I don’t know about you, but I sure could use some motivation. Why am I doing this again? I need a reminder about Who is really in charge of this game.

Those Lenten penances we committed to on Ash Wednesday, as we were filled with zeal and overwhelmed with love for Christ, are now starting to become a little tedious. Does it really mean I don’t love Jesus if I drink that glass of wine? Don’t laugh – I have actually asked myself that question, more than once this week.

I’m not an ascetic, and I’m not overly scrupulous either. I know that Lenten penances we choose for ourselves are meant to take our eyes of ourselves and refocus them on Jesus. They are not magic. If I drink a glass of wine, my relationship with Jesus will not be permanently tarnished. When framed that way, I have to say I’m having a pretty fruitful season, when you consider the many times I’ve wanted a glass a wine and told myself I was not going to have it. (Because I love Jesus more than I love wine; this tiny abstention is all symbolic of that.)

I’ve found myself thinking about my relationship with Jesus a lot, and that is always a good thing. What is not such a good thing is I’m starting to feel bored and am wondering if I even have an inkling of what Lent is really for. So I’m recalling this: it’s about a relationship, and paying attention to it.

Self-chosen penances can certainly be helpful tools, but I’m discovering this Lent that the ones that are presented to us without our consent are much more compelling. I forget this every year. I can give up wine or commit to being nicer to my family, but the real growth comes when I tune into the out-of-my-control crosses that are falling full-force across my wine-less path. If I go without some treat, but don’t handle these sufferings gracefully, I’m not doing much good in the relationship with Jesus department.

I’ve been given several great challenges this Lent, none involving vino. Today I’m taking this halftime buzzer as a reminder that I shouldn’t worry too much about those penances I’ve chosen, and give all my best to the ones God has selected for me. Thinking about it this way might give me the stamina I need for the next few weeks.

He knows my heart – better than I do, in fact. He knows the areas I am hiding from the world, and from myself. He knows where I need to be pushed a bit, where I need to be taught to hold back. He wants to give me the very best spiritual workout possible, and if I stay in the game, trusting The Coach, there will be a super after-party awaiting me.

And at that party, my wine glass will be full.

Now, it’s time to get back out there and play like we mean it. There’s still a lot of work to be done before the season is through. Let’s make it happen! On three: GO SAINTS!

what we deserve

“Get it, you deserve it!”

“You should take that trip. You know you deserve it!”

“You have been through so much. You deserve a break.”

“Treat yourself. You’ve worked so hard. You deserve it.”

We tell ourselves all the time that we “deserve” things. A new car, a pedicure, dessert. Whatever it is – a material thing or even a spiritual good – we convince ourselves that there is something about us that makes us more deserving than the next guy. Maybe we’ve worked harder. Maybe we’ve already suffered through more trials. Maybe we just live in a nicer neighborhood, where everyone else already has the blessing we covet.

We even use this thinking to justify sinful behavior. You deserve some spice in your life, so a casual affair isn’t really wrong. You deserve more pay, so it isn’t really wrong to steal from your boss. You deserve a child, so it’s fine to take advantage of unethical technology to conceive one. You deserve a home remodel, so it’s fine to ignore the real needs of the poor and spend your donation money on yourself.

Think for a moment about what you really deserve.

Do you deserve your good health, your comfortable bed, your job? Do you deserve to be respected and admired? Do you deserve a car to drive to work in?

You may say, “Yes, I deserve those things. I work hard. I’m a good person.”

Are the poor not good? Do the poor not work hard?

Does your neighbor deserve to have cancer? Does your friend deserve to be beaten by her husband? Does that man deserve to be unemployed for a year?

When we feel we are not getting what we deserve, or are getting more than our share of troubles, it is natural to ask “Why me?” Perhaps a better question is “Why not me?”

The bottom line is we have received one thing we clearly do not deserve. We have a God who became one of us so that He could die in our place.

Now, what do you really deserve?

You have everything you need.

share the love

It’s Valentine’s Day, which in the west means lots of candy, flowers, and cards. It also means plenty of money is spent. For instance, in 2009 retailers took in a cool $14.7 BILLION from lovestruck American consumers. That’s an awful lot of conversation hearts and roses.

The truth is, candy and flowers don’t cut it for many anymore. Expensive gifts like jewelry, dinners at upscale restaurants, spa visits and even vacations are common. It seems the trend, in classic American fashion, says bigger is better. If you love me, show me the money.

I will admit to a love for all things Valentiney. I love candy and flowers – and jewelry and trips – as much as the next girl. But this year, having recently survived a period of unemployment for my hubby – I’m not expecting material gifts. But that’s not to say I don’t want something.

We all want something from those we love. We want to be acknowledged. We want to be appreciated. We want this every day, of course, not just on a holiday designated by greeting card companies or florists.

This morning my husband surprised me with a beautiful photo of my favorite flower that he had printed out from the internet, accompanied by a heartfelt note. It’s one of the better gifts I’ve received from him. In better (financial) times, I’d still hope for a real bouquet, but there is something to the saying “it’s the thought that counts.”

Put a little thought into this Valentine’s Day. Is there a better way to share your love than with a heart-shaped box of candy? I’m not suggesting you stop giving material gifts, if that makes your loved one smile. Just don’t forget that often the best gift of all doesn’t cost a thing.

Some ideas: Wash the dishes, make the bed, or do a load of laundry without being asked. Write a love poem. Offer a back or foot rub. Prepare a favorite meal. Say not just “I love you” but “I admire you. I’m proud of you. I respect you.”

And don’t let it end when the boxes of candy are empty. Keep it up. We need to share the love much more often than once a year.

Happy New Year!

I returned to my office to find many holiday greetings awaiting me in my email inbox. This one was one of my favorites, from Fr. Vijaykumar Rayarala, PIME
Director of the Swarga Dwar Ashram & Rehabilitation Centre in Maharastra, India.

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011.
MAY THE GOOD LORD, GRANT YOU
GOOD HEALTH OF MIND AND BODY,
PEACE, JOY AND SERENITY..
BE COMPANION OF YOUR LIFE IN THIS COMING YEAR

Says it well, don’t you think?

Many blessings to you in 2011 and always.

a gift for Mom

Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day that confuses non-Catholics and regular church-goers alike.

Due to its close proximity to Christmas, many mistakenly think it is about the conception of Jesus. Nope. That would be the Virgin Birth. On this day we are talking about Mary’s conception. Mary was conceived without sin, meaning that while she was conceived in the natural way, she carried no stain of Original Sin. This allowed her to remain sin-free her entire life, making her, of course, the kind of vessel the Savior deserved.

Mary, sinless and pure, can be intimidating. Who can relate to someone who never committed a sin?

I think it might be better that we look at Our Blessed Mother as that – a Mother. She wants us to emulate her, but mostly she wants to love us.

Since it’s a holyday, we’ll be attending mass. It might also be nice to do something small for your Mother. Some light “Mary candles,” white candles trimmed with blue. Maybe you have time for a rosary, or simply a Hail Mary said from the heart.

She would probably love it if you could just do something nice for one of your siblings. She is a mother, after all.

Whatever you do, celebrate the fact that you have a wonderful mother who loves you.

a good man

What is “a good man?” I feel today if someone is not seen as pure evil we might hesitantly say, “Well, he is a good man.” Maybe calling someone a good man is just another way to say that he has not done anything terribly wrong. We sort of meet the minimum requirements of society and the world sees us as good.

The standards need to be raised and we need to strive for something better. In yesterday’s gospel Jesus said, “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10).” What we see as good and suitable might be merely being a strong healthy tree. God calls us to be more. God wants us to bear good fruit and calls us to go above and beyond what is asked of us. Just being idle is not going to cut it.

Thankfully the Church in her wisdom has shown us how we are to bear these good fruits in the first reading from Isaiah with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge and fear of the Lord are our gifts to be used. Learn, through prayer, to see how to use these gifts that we may become a good and holy people in God’s eyes.

Pray today and everyday for the Holy Spirit to show you his will and how to use his gifts.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

-St. Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Giovanni Vitale II, Outreach Coordinator