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Mission
Appeal
July 12th/13th, 2003
Fr.
George Smiga
Mark
6: 1 - 6
After
Jesus' death and resurrection he ascended into heaven and
there he was greeted by a large group of angels that warmly
welcomed him. After the formalities were over, they began
to ask him about his work. Master, they said, who have you
left behind on earth to complete your work? Jesus answered,
"A small group of men and women who love me." "That's
all?" the angels said in surprise, "What if this
small group were to fail?" Jesus responded, "I have
no other plans."
Jesus'
mission is still incomplete. He depends on us to finish it.
Often when we reflect upon our faith, we think in terms of
personal piety: the comfort our faith gives us in times of
trouble, the peace that can come to us as we trust in Christ's
promises. But faith is much more than just personal piety.
It is also a call to mission. As Jesus sent out the disciples
in today's gospel, Jesus sends us out to continue his work.
His work of caring for the poor, of healing the sick and proclaiming
God's love to those who suffer.
We know
that faith, which is not put into action, is dead faith. We
realize that if we are truly going to be followers of Christ
we must take up his mission and be servants of others. Now
we do serve. We serve our families, we serve in our neighborhoods,
we are involved in local projects supported by our community
and our church. All of this is good. But it is worthwhile
every so often to remind ourselves that the mission of Christ
is not simply limited to our immediate surroundings. Jesus
wants the gospel to go to the entire world. And we who have
the message of Christ are in some way charged to spread that
good news everywhere we can.
This is
why every year we have a missionary appeal, an attempt to
bring to our attention the worldwide aspect of Jesus' mission.
This year we are fortunate to have Mr. Joe Cistone with us
who will be speaking on behalf on "International Partners
in Mission" after our communion today. What is particularly
appropriate about this ministry is that "International
Partners in Mission" tries to link people who are here
in the United States with specific small-scale projects around
the world. The approach of this organization is to see both
we in the United States and those in other parts of the world
as being partners with one another. Those who give out of
our blessings are not simply givers, but also receivers from
those that our aid helps. This is a particularly important
focus. So I would encourage you after communion today to listen
to Mr. Cistone and to consider your involvement with him in
his ministry. Because "International Partners in Mission"
is one among many opportunities that you and I can fulfill
the mission mandate that Christ gives us. If people are to
know the love that we know in Christ Jesus, that worldwide
mission must be ours. Christ's mission is to all people and
he is depending on us. He has no other plans.
Joe Cistone
from International Partners in Mission:
I am honored
and please to have this opportunity to celebrate with you.
I would like to take a moment to thank Fr. George, Alice and
Anthony and the rest of you for your support and assistance
in allowing "International Partners in Mission"
to be with you today.
It is
somewhat surreal for me to be at St. Noel this morning. I
can remember being your age and a young server at St. Clare
and this priest showed up who all of a sudden was very cool
and very different than anything myself or John Vaccarello
Jr., I know his parents are here, had ever seen before. It
was every exciting for a young boy to be able to become part
of a community in a very different way. And 25 years later
after both of us have spent extended time studying in Rome
and now have many late night discussions about what the prophet
Amos and the evangelist Mark tell us in today's scriptures
about what a Christian is called to do. I am glad to call
Fr. George a friend. Unfortunately, all those years hanging
out with Fr. George hasn't allowed me yet to not rely on my
notes. I apologize for looking down during the presentation.
As you've
heard I am here today to speak to you about one small band
of men and women. "International Partners in Mission"
who for some 30 years have attempted to join Amos in heeding
God's call for justice by entering into partnership with our
bothers and sisters around the world two by two trusting that
we all are indeed part of God's plan.
Humbly
entering into partnership is the core value of "International
Partners in Mission". As our co-founder often said, "It
is not the role of North American Christians to simply to
bring Jesus to the poor and the oppressed around the world
but rather that we find Jesus among them as we join with them
in their struggles for justice and liberation." Or as
St. Francis often reminded his companions, "Preach the
gospel always, but only when necessary use words."
IPM was
founded in 1974 by a small band of committed men and women
who took Mark and Amos' message with all seriousness. In the
almost 3 decades since, some 12 million dollars has been distributed
to hundreds of communities around the world in increments
of $2500 to $10,000 with 90 cents of every dollar designated
to our partners going directly to their work. The support
of countless congregations around the country like St. Noel
and so many individuals and families such as yourselves is
not only what makes our work possible but what makes my job
so wonderful. Being able to meet and share with communities
of faith around the world is an incredible blessing indeed.
Among
our partners around the world I am particularly thrilled this
morning to be able to have two of them with me. Their sense
of mission is clear. Just as our final hymn, here I am Lord
lead me where I must go. Sr. Therese Ohiani from Nigeria is
the coordinator of Speranza II, "hope" in Italian.
She works near Naples, Italy in a program that rescues young
women from forced prostitution. Sr. is currently in Cleveland
this summer completing a clinical pastoral internship at the
Cleveland Clinic. Lucy Nyagah, from Kenya, is a young mother
who is completing her masters degree in Rome at the Gregorian
University. She is in Cleveland this summer to share her expertise
in using radio and television to promote the rights of women
and girl children through a field placement at WCPN and WVIZ.
These
are just two examples of the wonderful people with whom IPM
is currently working in some 40 different projects around
the world. Each of our projects from Cleveland to Naples,
from El Salvador to Kenya reflects IPM's emphasis on partnering
together, sharing hope and empowering one another to seek
change.
After
seminary, my first personal experience of IPM was while I
was serving in an inter-religious refugee center in Rome.
Welcoming those strangers was an unforgettable experience.
I quickly learned a fundamental lesson that IPM has always
held at its very heart. Mission is a two way street. Whether
Bosnian, Ethiopian or Iraqi, the remarkable people who bless
me with their presence their faith and their commitment taught
me more than I could ever give in return. IPM focuses on the
following four principles:
Shared partnership - where mission is a two way street between
projects around the world and donors such as yourselves
Global awareness - that we are part of an interconnected world
community
Personalization - where projects work in direct partnership
with congregations and individuals around the world
Facilitation - of work across boarders of faith, culture and
economic privilege
All IPM
must be projects must be community and faith based. They must
directly impact the lives of women and children. They must
be sustainable and hold the promise of replication. But most
of all each of our projects must be willing and able to enter
into partnership with each of you. This personalized linking
of congregation and project as Fr. George said earlier family
to family is what continues to make IPM so unique. We join
together with others to help ensure that the similar dreams
we all share - to raise a family, to go to school, to earn
a living, to worship in the freedom of our choice and to love
and be loved.
At the
conclusion of this service in the narthex, Sr. Therese, Lucy
and I will be I have an opportunity to talk with each of you
more of IPM's role in the world. But permit me a few moments
to tell you the story of just two of our partners.
Across
Italy today, and yes I did say Italy, over a quarter million
young women have been forced into prostitution. Beauty is
one of them. She was born and raised in a poor village in
Nigeria-a country we should all be familiar with from the
President's recent visit. It is a county very rich in oil,
but where the vast majority of the population lives in abject
poverty. Her father died shortly after she completed high
school. As the oldest daughter in the family she was responsible
for going out and making a living. She was approached by a
local woman who told her of an opportunity to be a babysitter
in Italy where she could make $300 a week. More than the average
annual wage in Nigeria. When she arrived in Italy, she was
met by another woman, not the woman from Nigeria who had promised
to greet her. Her passport and travel documents were confiscated
and she was immediately forced onto the street as a prostitute.
She was beaten repeatedly for refusing to see enough clients.
She fled from one community to the next with nothing but the
clothes on her back in a desperate attempt to free herself
from this human bondage. Finally she heard of the work of
Sr. Therese's community. She, like so many other women, approached
the sisters and is now putting her life back in order. She
is learning Italian and English, has legal status in Italy
and is hoping to attend University this autumn.
In Kenya,
where Lucy is from., a seven year old boy named Steven recently
greeted me when I entered his village. Steven's voice was
almost undecipherable over a constant cough. His cough said
TB, but his diminished size and sores spoke of HIV/Aids. Every
25 seconds someone dies, yes someone dies of aids. Some 17
million people since this pandemic became known. Go to a hospital
seeking a test and you will be asked to pay almost as much
as your annual wage. No clean needle wit you - no problem,
we will simply stick you with the same one we used on the
person before. Steven is one of the lucky ones. Without the
help of our Kenyan partners, which feed, clothe and educate
some 50 orphans a year for $4,200.00, Steven would have been
dead long ago. He is far from cured, but he is free to grow
and a hope for the future. Yes, he and his friends receive
food and clothing and education and medical care. But most
importantly they can imagine a future that was denied their
parents and know that they are loved.
For every
Beauty and Steven around the world that I can recount for
you this morning, there are thousands if not millions or billions
more. Our partners around the world seek not our charity but
our understanding. Our willingness to learn from them and
to work with them to create a world where people of faith
can come together as partners and offer each other friendship
and support. Just like the message of Mark and Amos this morning,
IPM seeks to allow each of us to live as an apostle in our
own small way through personal connections, parishes like
this and individuals such as ourselves go where others fear
to tread. Entering into partnership with people of faith around
the world, sharing our hopes and dreams and living in peace
as friends.
Donations can be made to International Partners in Mission
by making out a check to St. Noel, marking it "missionary,"
and dropping it in next week's collection.
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