Catholics on a mission

Friday, May. 16, 2014

One question that I often get from young people is, “Do Catholics go on missions?” The short answer is,“Yes, we do!” This answer usually leads to the next question: “How do I go on one?” to which I answer, “You are called to be on one right now!”

The word “mission” comes from the Latin word missio, which means “act of sending,” so going on a mission implies that a person is being sent somewhere for a specific purpose. Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are made members of the Body of Christ and called to be disciples to the world. The new USCCB document Sacraments and Social Mission states, “The baptized must work as disciples of Christ by caring for the sick, the oppressed, the debilitated, and the sinners. We are called to carry out this work not only in our local communities, but also in the global community of which we are also members. In this way, we can extend to all the love, compassion, and mercy of God that we ourselves have come to know.”

A term that Pope Francis uses often, and one that you will be hearing more of in Catholic culture, is “missionary disciple.” In a general audience session Pope Francis had in January, he highlighted how Catholics are all on a mission: “Through baptism, each of us becomes missionary disciples, called to bring the Gospel to the world. Each of the baptized, whatever their role in the Church or the educational level of their faith, is an active agent of evangelization. … The new evangelization should involve … a new central role for each of the baptized. The People of God is a People of Disciples – because we receive the faith – and a Missionary People – because we pass on the faith. This is what makes baptism in us: It gives us Grace and transmits the faith. All of us in the Church are disciples, always and for our entire lives; and we are all missionaries, each in the place that the Lord has assigned us.”

Think of this gift that is entrusted to you each day. How can you live out your mission today?

If you feel called to spread the Gospel message to other parts of the country and the world, there are hundreds of Catholic volunteer programs that you can join for one or more years of service to the Church.

For information about them, visit the Catholic Volunteer Network website, https://catholicvolunteernetwork.org/, or call 301-270-0900.