Golden Nuggets on MSP’s 50th

Below are just some of the treasures gathered during the April 29–May 2 50th (1965-2015) anniversary treat of MSP to their mission partners from all over the country.

The partners were blessed with some 12 to more than 50 priests concelebrating daily masses for four days in their seminary house in Tayud Consolacion, in their reclamation area Church and in the Cebu Cathedral. The experience was humbling and heart-filling to see and allow the priests, brothers and seminarians to hover over their every need, to give seats, to marshal and serve them meals/snacks, to make them laugh and to sing love songs to them, all for free!

“I am a loved sinner. Priests are not deprived evangelizers. To be configured to the image of Christ, let go of our ego; allow God to mold us. Simplify life and gain spiritual freedom. Final homecoming is to invite God to empty us, then the realization that we are made for God; He alone suffices. Rediscover, reflect, recapture, relive missionary discipleship. Look to Mary as the icon of discipleship in Her unconditional openness, gentle docility to change, obedience to the will of GOD, and trusting surrender as GOD’s servant.” – Rev. Fr. Roberto Ruben C. Elago, MSP

“We are set apart as priests and supporters alike. Look back to MSP’s past, remember its humble beginnings, and be grateful to God always. You, generous supporters, teach us priests to be generous, too.” – Rev. Fr. Eladio B. Oliver, MSP

“Christ who grows within a priest, Himself, cares for His flock, that priests are mere servants. A priest, as a shepherd under Christ: lays down his life daily through the Holy Eucharist as center of love of his priestly life; must know the sheep entrusted to him, to lead and guide them, not to himself, but to Jesus; should embrace everyone God sends him with the same self-offering he makes for those within his flock; that priest’s hands anointed with holy oil blesses, heals, and forgives; and to wear his priestly garments with the spiritual dignity due his priesthood.” – Bishop Edwin and Fr. Jadraque, Jr. on the ordination mass of Rev. Anton Crema

“Even if I have not led seminarians to change, I am grateful that God changed me. The Philippines is a missionary country with a missionary church, and Filipinos are missionary people. We send the best priests, nuns, lay people on mission because Christ is made known by our Christian ways, and they showcase our country. The domestic helpers also bring the presence of Christ abroad. Even Pope Francis said that we Filipinos are bearers of GOD’s good news in Asia and the whole world. GOD’s hand is upon Filipinos, so let us not be ashamed nor afraid to speak of GOD. The blessed Mother Mary is around, behind, within us in this struggle. MSP has a special task to bring and proclaim GOD’s love for us and the world.” – Most. Rev. Ramon C. Arguelles, D.D.

Fr. James Khroeger talked on how the lay mission program evolved. While the “laity were viewed as passive, subordinate beneficiaries of grace (Vatican 1),” Vatican II’s total ecclesiology promotes a discipleship of equals founded on the ontology of grace with the fundamental equality of dignity.

Through baptism and confirmation, all (laity, clergy, religious) are commissioned to pray and praise GOD, to offer themselves as sacrifice, to bear witness to CHRIST, and to proclaim CHRIST to all (LG 33, 30,10).

The elements of the Church’s missionary evangelization today are the presence and witness of life (our lifestyle teaches others more powerfully than any spoken word); authentic service to humanity through commitment to human liberation (lumads, squatters, environment are just some of the issues); inter-religious dialogue (to respect, learn, and appreciate other peoples’ faith, not to convert); explicit proclamation and catechesis (parents are first teachers of faith in homes); and liturgical life, prayer and contemplation (the better we know Jesus in the mass, Bible and spiritual readings, the better we make Him known to others).

In Pope Francis’ The Joy of the Gospel, he wrote that he dreams of ‘a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything…all renewal in the Church must have mission as its goal (27).

Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus. “Only when a church is in mission can we say we are a Church.”

The Mission Society of the Philippines is forever in need of mission partners. For more information about who they are, you may get in touch with them in their missionary house in Skyline Subdivision, Catalunan Grande. (Bella Sarenas)