The SFO and the mission "ad gentes"

Why the mission of lay Franciscans "ad gentes"

How can lay Franciscans work for the mission "ad gentes"?

Give the little that you have

Announcement to cooperate with the Ce.Mi.SFO

In September 1998 the Secular Franciscan Order instituted the CE.MI SFO (Missionary Center, SFO) to animate the missions in the local Fraternities, form animators and co-ordinate the missionary drive ad gentes of lay Franciscans. In these three words lies the synthesis of the program that the National Centre wants to propose to all the Fraternities of the Italian SFO to rediscover a renewed obligation of lay Franciscans, within the theme of evangelization, for a concrete sign of collaboration "in building up the Church as the sacrament of salvation for all..." (Gen.Const. Art 17) "fostering an open and trusting dialogue of apostolic effectiveness and creativity." (Rule Art. 6)

Why the mission of lay Franciscans "ad gentes"?

Because of the general obligation to become involved so that the proclamation of salvation may become known and accepted by all men everywhere (Codice Diritto Canonico 225 ) and also to proclaim Christ by their life and words (Rule Art. 6), ready to promote common initiatives...to collaborate in spreading the Gospel, removing the causes of marginalization and serving the cause of peace (Gen.Const.Art 98) by Secular Franciscans in that through baptism and profession they are witnesses and instruments of her (the Church's ) mission. (Gen.Const. Art. 17)

Today much is said about charitable service and social justice, as being privileged areas of new ways of endeavour for laymen. But John Paul II in his missionary Encliclica "Redemptoris Missio" has always declared from the beginning that "missionary evangelization is the prime service that the Church (therefore also laymen) can offer to everyone and to all humanity in today's world". (R.M. 2)

How can lay Franciscans work for the mission "ad gentes"?

As is revealed in the Acts of the Apostles, the mission in the Church was originally seen as being a community effort of the local church which needed "missionaries" to go forth to new frontiers.

Based on this experience, but moved by the force of the mandate of the Resurrected One given to the Christian community gathered together in the Cenacle the Eleven and those who werewith them (Lc 24,33) the Church has called the laity to rediscover the missionary dimension of their own vocation. In the same decree ad gentes the Church Council invites laymen to participate as witnesses developing in themselves and in others the knowledge and love for the missions,, developing vocations in one's own family, in Catholic associations and in schools, distributing pamphlets of all types so that the gift of faith they freely received may be communicated to others. (AG 41b) Not only, wherever possible, the laity should be ready to cooperate more closely with the hierarchy, carrying out special missions to announce the Gospel and spread Christian teaching. (AG 21c)

Give the little that you have

What is the attitude that our fraternities should assume in regard to the universal call : "go you also"(Mt 20,4) to the mission ad gentes? How could we answer positively, even with the many difficulties, internal and external, in the life of our Fraternities ?

Lets stop for an instant to reflect on the biblical passage of the multiplication of bread and fish :

And when he landed, Jesus saw a large crowd, and had compassion on them...And he began to teach them many things...(And then he said) "You yourselves give them some food." And he took the five loaves and the two fishes...and gave them to his disciples to set before the people...and all ate and were satisfied and they gathered up what was left over, twelve baskets full of fragments, besides what was left over of the fishes. Now those who had eaten were five thousand men. Mc 6,34-44

We shall be able to experiment the abundance of God's love they all ate and were satisfied only in the measure that we give generously of our poverty five loaves of bread and two fishes moved by the huge number of men and women (about 4 billion) who still do not know Christ, people with no shepherd and in the way we shall decide to collaborate with the Lord without calculation you yourselves give them some food.

The Ce.Mi.SFO Italy intends to begin new forms of missionary cooperation with the SFO Fraternities or foreign Franciscan communities, interested in the SFO, to search for areas to work in as lay Franciscans or together with Italian international volunteers. So, whoever is interested in co-operating with the Secular Franciscans write to the address below providing information about a social-ecclesiastical reality that has to do with :

a. General information about the participation of Christians and/or Franciscans in community life;
b. Brief news on the social-political reality of the country or zone concerned;
c. Social and ecclesiastical services which need the cooperation of lay people and Franciscan families;
d. Economic necessities asked of the Ce.Mi. or offerings from the mission to welcome lay Franciscans available to carry out temporary or long term service;
e. Proposals of concrete projects for a nucleus of lay Franciscans and the possibility of providing a meeting place for the mission.