MOVING FORWARD IN HOPE:
1) We have a long and valuable tradition in sending missionaries. In the past we have shared in the Missions of Zaire, Indonesia and South Africa, and today in the Philippines and India. We also released one to work in Rome for the Mission Commission.
2)
i) Since the early eighties we have sought to keep alive mission awareness, and to fund SCJ missions through Mission Appeals. Many of us have engaged in this.Acknowledging the past and present work, we must continue to be open to the missionary call, even in spite of smaller numbers, and even if it calls for the sacrifice of person(s) to the Missions. We should give even in our poverty.ii) The last Provincial Team allocated £10,000 a year, over and above any other funds gathered, to the Philippine Mission, and more importantly as an affirmation and encouragement to Jerry. This will come up for review.
iii) Over the years, communities and our returned missionaries have sought ways to make known and support our SCJ Missions, e.g. Landrover(s) for Zaire, wells for Cameroun, sewing machines and typewriters for the Philippines.
iv) Another worthwhile project, the gathering and sorting of used spectacles for the Third World.
v) We have a secretariat for the Missions, presently run by Jim Matthews.
vi) Plus other projects in the parishes which support the Third World, Cafod, Trocaire etc.
Ad Gentes:
"The Mission ad gentes is still a current need. The specific nature of this mission ad gentes consists in its being addressed to non-Christians. It is therefore necessary to ensure that this specifically missionary work that Jesus entrusted, and still entrusts, each day to his Church does not become an indistinguishable part of the overall mission of the people of God, and as a result become neglected or forgotten.
Despite this, today we can and must speak about the mission ad gentes within our countries, that have already been evangelized, and in our cities, but without forgetting or neglecting the missions beyond our milieu. The Pope makes an appeal to open ourselves to the universality of the Church, avoiding every form of provincialism and exclusiveness. One of the dangers is that the older Churches, involved in new evangelization, may think that their mission is now at home and thus they may risk slackening their drive towards the Christian world..." (The Mission Ad Gentes, In the life of our Institutes, p 30 ff).
Proposals:
1) To encourage and support those initiatives taking place at local level by individuals and communities.
2) In any Provincial Apostolic Plan to keep before us an openness, encouragement and acceptance of 'missionary' activity in the Third World by member(s) of the Province.
3) That the Province for the next three years continue to support the Philippine Mission by an annual grant of £10,000.
4) To encourage and support any member who wishes to spend three months, six months in one of our SCJ Missions.
5) In the light of the Pope's remarks about the mission Ad Gentes within our own countries, could we organize some special, practical effort along these lines as a Millennium project?
6) Other Proposals?