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 Helping Lay Men and Women Discern a Call to Mission How can a person recognize if God is calling them to work and live simply with the people of the Missions? The Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles offers Discernment Weekends for potential candidates for the Lay Mission-Helpers and Mission Doctors Associations. The weekends are a wonderful opportunity for candidates to learn more about the programs and discern if this is where God is calling them at this point and time in their life. On Friday evening the candidates have the opportunity to meet with Veteran LMH & MDA to hear their stories. Candidates find this aspect of the weekend very valuable and enlightening. They remark that they are inspired by these veteran lay missionaries and get a great sense of our charism. It is helpful for them to meet people who have "been there and done that." Throughout the weekend the candidates receive input on the History of LMH/MDA, Tools for Discernment, Spirituality of Mission, Cross Cultural Challenges, and the practical details of the program. They also have a chance to meet with the LMH staff, ask questions, share meals and pray together. By the end of the weekend, candidates have a better understanding of our program and are given the information necessary to continue with their discernment process. To be invited to attend a Discernment Weekend, potential candidates must first complete a Preliminary Application. Learn more about our program by clicking here. Discernment Weekends for 2002 are: February 8-10, April 19-21, and June 7-9. Is God calling you to the missions? Children in LA and More than 100 Countries Help Children Around the World By Sr. Imelda D'Agostino, HCA Coordinator The Holy Childhood Association (HCA) is very active in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and around the world. This successful activity of Children Helping Children is a result of both well-grounded tradition as well as the efforts of persons we call "Mission Moderators." These persons might better be called "Mission Animators." They carry on the work of Msgr. Charles de Forbin-Jansen (Bishop of Nancy and Toul, France) who founded the Holy Childhood Association in 1843. Deeply affected by the distress of Chinese children abandoned in the streets, he was moved to found a society similar to the Propagation of the Faith, but for children. He was convinced that children rich in faith and love are capable of playing their own part in the Church's Mission — and even of stirring adults to show the same generous spirit. He believed in the dignity of all. The response to Bishop Forbin-Janson's appeal was extraordinary. In a few years, the unique concept of ch  ildren helping children spread not only in France, but all over Europe, then to North America, Latin America, Asia, and in the last 40 years, to Africa. It is now active in 106 different nations.While our children pray for, learn about, and share with their less fortunate brothers and sisters all over the world, what is often not realized is the reciprocity of this activity. For example, recently when I visited Peru I saw children (beneficiaries of our children's sharing) themselves giving all that they could to help others less fortunate than themselves. The Peruvian children also come together on weekends to pray for other children and to learn about them. In Latin American countries the name of the organization is Infancia Misionera (Missionary Childhood). One of our Lay Mission-Helpers came into my office on her return from assignment in Cameroon to tell me about the HCA activity of children there, and about their sharing despite their own need. In Kenya young missionaries have attracted a good number of non-Christians through activities performed in the school. They mostly emphasize the rosary. Talented girls sing songs praising the Lord. They perform plays on how to live in faith. They visit street children and give them a few gifts. They recount that it is God who gives everything. In the diocese of Larantuka, Indonesia the Missionary Childhood has organized a pilgrimage of the Holy Cross through all the parishes of the diocese. The Cross remains in each parish for 10 to 14 days and the children from that parish then carry it to the next one. Along the journey, other children await the passage of the Cross with dances, folk costumes, songs and poems. The Missionary Childhood in twenty European countries has joined the "international coalition to stop the use of child soldiers." The Convention on the Rights of the Child states that, in order to be enrolled in the armed forces and participate in military actions, an individual must be at least 15. They seek to raise this to 18. So each country proposed an awareness-raising activity among their young members of HCA. In Belgium children and young people brought toy weapons which they threw into a large net that took the form of a huge dove, the symbol of peace, in order to express solidarity with child soldiers. (For links to more information on this issue click here.) The most recent Annual Report of the Holy Childhood Association lists 22 African countries, 12 Asian countries, 19 American countries, 20 European countries, and 4 countries of Oceania whose children have contributed to the Holy Childhood Association. These countries also develop their own promotional materials. We have in the Los Angeles Mission Office HCA/Infancia Misionera materials from El Salvador, Ecuador, Peru, England, and Australia. Young Catholics are growing up as members of a global family in a global Church. They are becoming aware of their responsibilities to help create a more just and peaceful world. In 1990 Pope John Paul II, in Redemptoris Missio, asserts that HCA, as part of the Pontifical Mission Societies, is "the means by which Catholics from their very infancy are imbued with a genuinely universal and missionary spirit."  $1,000 College Scholarship Offered Do you know a young person between the ages of 16 - 21 who has undertaken a project that has significantly benefited people in need? The Maryknoll Youth World Mission Award is a $1,000 scholarship given to a young person in recognition of their efforts to organized a project for the needy, either in their own community or elsewhere that has made a valuable contribution. To nominate a young person for this award, submit a typed or neatly printed 500 word description of the nominee's project. Include nominee's name, age, address, telephone number and high school or college name and location. Also, include the names and telephone numbers of two adult references who know firsthand about the nominee's project. Deadline is March 1, 2002. Mail completed information to Maryknoll Youth Award, P.O. Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308. If you would like to post a flyer about Maryknoll Youth World Mission in your school or parish contact Nancy Keels at 800-227-8523 to request posters or flyers. For more information, you can also visit the Maryknoll web site at: http://www.maryknoll.org/k12/youth02.htm Mission Essay Contest Announced The National office for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith holds an annual Essay Contest for high school students on the topic of how a missionary has been an influence in their life. The essay should be received by the National Office no later than March 1st. To submit an essay for this year, include your name, address, name of your high school, and mail to: Society for the Propagation of the Faith, 366 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001. To read about last year's winners click here. Uniting Los Angeles to the Rest of the World Every year, in every parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles a missionary will stand before the congregation and tell the story of the work they are involved with. This M  ission Co-op program is changing the world.In response to these stories, some that make us laugh, some that make us cry, the generous people of our Archdiocese have given, and given, and given. The effect these donations have on the rest of the world cannot be overstated. Our office continues to receive thank you calls and letters from the missionaries thanking us for your generosity, and for allowing them to participate in this program. So, on behalf of all the missionaries who came to your parishes last year, and shared their stories, THANK YOU! At this time, Fr. Dave Ayotte, Director of the Mission Office is currently assigning parishes for this up coming year. We invite you to continue to respond to the appeals that these missionaries make, because you are changing the world! You can visit the Mission Co-op web site to find out who preached at your parish, or to find an individual missionary group who preached. Once the new assignments have been made, you can check back to find out who will be preaching in your parish, this upcoming summer. Read a few of the many thank you letters received in our office by clicking here. Mission Circles, The Circle of Love That Unites Us! Living in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles we are faced with many needs, and many ways to reach out to our brothers and sisters around the world. Being part of a Mission Circle is a way to be truly united!  Mission Circles reach out to our brothers and sisters in the missions by helping a missionary or mission parish with our prayers, and support. These missionaries or parishes in turn, help us by increasing our awareness of their experiences, on a personal — one to one basis. The circle is then complete in this unity and we grow closer to each other, and the rest of the world.For more than 45 years, Mission Circles have provided this unique link between missionaries and the people of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. In 2002, Mission Circles will grow to include options for parishes to develop this one on one relationship with a mission parish, to become united in this personal and concrete way. Would you like to join a Mission Circle? Would your parish like to begin a Mission Circle? Our office is anxious to help you develop this relationship and be part of this circle of love that unites us! Catholic Doctors Serve 1-3 Months and Make a Huge Impact Dr. Brent Burket, who has been serving at Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital for the past two years, with his wife, Dr. Jennifer Thoene wrote to thank the doctors who served short-term this part year, and they note the important contributions made. Dr. Peter Meade, writes to reflect on his short-term experience in Ghana and shares his observations on the good being done there.  Mission Doctors Association will hold a Retreat / Seminar for doctors considering short term mission work, March 8 - 10. For more information and registration visit MDA web site. LMH / MDA Beign Work in Guatemala  For more than two years, Lay Mission-Helpers Association and Mission Doctors Association have been laying the groundwork to begin work in the Apostolic Vicariate of Petin in Guatemala. In January this new work begins. Mitch Tolbert who is a member of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Redondo Beach, and will be serving as a Pastoral Agent together with the Maryknoll Fathers. Mark & Deb Kummer, along with their two daughters Anna, 16 and Elizabeth 11, came to Los Angeles from Oregon for the four-month formation program. Serving as members of the Mission Doctors Association, Mark is a Pediatric Endocrinologist who will be working with more than 90 clinics in the region, and Deb is a teacher who, along with their daughters, will be working at the Asuncion Women's Center, a vocational school for young Mayan women. Commissioning of this Year's Class of Lay Mission-Helpers and Mission Doctors Article in the Tidings about the Commissioning of new Lay Mission-Helpers and Mission Doctors. A Call to Solidarity with Africa U.S. Catholic Bishops call on the Church in the United States to help address the needs of the people in Africa. Click here to view an article on the U.S. Catholic bishops pastoral statement of solidarity with Africa which appeared in the Tidings. The full text of "A Call to Solidarity with Africa" is available at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/africa.htm Crossing Borders Schedules Weekend for January If someone tells you about the taste of an orange, what it looks like, describes how it smells, tells you how refreshing it is, you may have an idea of what an orange is. However, you cannot know how an orange really tastes unless you put a section in your mouth, and feel and taste the uniqueness of the orange.  Most of us have heard about poverty, been told stories about what life is like in Third World Countries, many respond to appeals to help. But without experiencing first hand we cannot really know what it looks like, what it smells like, what the poor really live with and without. Less than 150 miles south of Los Angeles it is possible to encounter the kind of poverty most people only expect to find in Third World Countries. Crossing Borders offers opportunities for parish and high school groups to have this unique opportunity.For most residents of Los Angeles a trip to Tijuana might provide some bargain shopping, good food, with the only difficulty faced being the delays at the boarder. However, just outside the tourist path, one can encounter and experience real poverty, and some of the people who are striving to make a difference. In January, February, and March, Crossing Borders of the Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will again lead groups for 3 day experiences of real poverty shared at the Scalabrini Migrant Center. For information on these weekends, or on how to schedule a trip for your parish or high school group contact David Braun: Office Telephone: (213) 637-7564 Office Fax: (213) 637-6223 Home: (949) 364-5654 / E-mail: missionoffice@la-archdiocese.org Return Missionaries Gather to Share Stories and Foster Community The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is rich with Missionaries, both members of Religious Communities and lay men and women. The diverse backgrounds and charisms share one important link, a love of the missions. Invitations are mailed to these Missionaries to invite them to participate in the quarterly gatherings that are currently being hosted by various Missionary Communities in the Archdiocese. If you are a returned missionary or know of a veteran Missionary who would enjoy receiving an invitation please contact the office. This invitation is also extended to those who are presently serving in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as Missionaries from the many points around the world now reaching out to us. If you know someone who should receive an invitation please let us know. (Link to Mission Gatherings.) |
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