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Mission Congress 2005
Mission Congress 2005 Report
More than 330 missionaries gathered in Tucson, Arizona from October 13-16, 2005 for Mission Congress 2005 Horizons and Possibilities, a major event for the Catholic Church in the United States. Mission Congress 2005 was sponsored by the Catholic Mission Forum which is a collaboration of Catholic  Network of Volunteer Service, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the United States Catholic Mission Association, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Home Mission, Committee on World Mission, and the Secretariat for the Church in Latin America.
Participants came from all parts of the United States and several other countries and represented many cultures including African, Asian, Latin American, Pacific Islanders, Europeans, and North American. Mr. Joseph Enos welcomed the participants on behalf of the peoples of the First Nation. Bishop Gerald Kicanas
welcomed the missionaries to the beautiful desert setting of Tucson.
Sr. Eva Lumas, SSS delivered the Keynote Address. Other presentations that contributed to the richness of the dialogue were given by Dr. Michel Andraos, Rev. John Fife, Rev. Patrick Byrne, SVD, and Bishop Gerald Kicanas. Participants had prepared for the Congress with challenging readings made available to them several weeks before coming to Tucson.
Sr. Irma Isip and Mr. Roberto Chené very capably led the participants representing so many cultures in processes which engaged them in deep listening and dialogue.  Through lively discussion, challenging speakers and celebrative multicultural prayer and liturgies, the participants reflected on the question: "What is the responsible contribution of the Church in the United States in mission with the global community?"
On the second day of the Congress participants visited various communities representing the global community on both sides of the US-Mexico border. There was a felt level of conversion or transformation that the Congress had inspired in the participants. Many expressed the positive effect of engaging with those affected by globalization particularly the 160 participants who had lunch in the homes of families in the Nogales area of Mexico. Even though translators were on hand it seemed that language was not a barrier to communication.
Working in dialogue communities, participants called for a greater understanding and acceptance of other cultures. One of the overall successes of the Mission Congress was a true experience of opening hearts to multigenerational approaches to mission which was greatly in evidence in the dialogue communities. Participants took to heart Pope John Paul II's call to envision new models of mission appropriate to the global context of today's world.
Mission Congress 2005 invited participants to deepen their faith through the telling of stories, challenge  their understanding of mission and borders, reflect on mission as reconciliation and transformation, engage the issue of globalization in the context of building solidarity, and examine the implications of faith and culture.
Participants expressed overall appreciation for the prayer experiences and liturgies which were truly meeting points for faith and culture. They added to and deepened the reflection of all who participated in this desert retreat.
In their closing reports presented by the 10 dialogue communities, participants called themselves to a prophetic response in the model of reconciliation and transformation that the Congress endorsed. Participants reported their eagerness to carry the spirit and insights of the Congress back to their home parishes and religious communities.
Dialogue community responses included:
"The US Church must be sympathetic listeners and take bold and prophetic action, recognize ourselves as a people of hope and compassion."
"Create global networks for advocacy to affect systemic change."
"Be there to learn about other cultures. Be prepared to heal old wounds. Educate ourselves about US economic and immigration policies."
"Work on racism, fair trade, distribution of wealth, diversity of all people, and policy changes for immigration. Learn to use the context to work for change. Do not accept popular worldview of consumerism and the negative effects of globalization because they are not the values of Jesus - we need to be/become prophetic."
"As a community with mission at heart, we need to communicate critical mission issues more effectively to the whole Church -- bishops, diocesan and parish communities."
"Help others bring human faces to mission with face-to-face opportunities like the immersion experiences."
"Use resources to build bridges instead of walls."
"Give laity room to grow and become leaders in mission."
"Celebrate the beautiful things our Church has and work toward communion and unity."
Dr. David Suley of the Bishops' Secretariat for Home Missions encapsulated the responses of the communities: "Mission Congress 2005 made me realize even more that we are truly a global Church that is a welcoming home for countless cultures. We are each called to reach out to the marginalized and voiceless in our world family and to speak of Jesus, our brother, who unites us all. We are a people in mission, and this is our joy."
Participants also called for greater utilization of technology to create a world-wide network dedicated to building awareness of mission issues and allowing users to locate mission opportunities; and greater support for laity in mission. The proceedings of the Congress confirmed the need to use media more effectively to communicate the Gospel message.
Sr. Rosanne Rustemeyer, SSND and Ms. Mary Jo Klick, who served as coordinators of the Congress, expressed gratitude for the willingness of participants to share so personally from their mission experience. "We feel that this was the major reason for the fulfillment of our hopes for Mission Congress 2005. We believe from the experience of the Congress that global community is not only possible but already exists. To become aware of this communion is a graced moment."
The talks by Eva Lumas, SSS and Michel Andraos will be posted when we receive them from the presenters.
Attendance by Church Role
Church Role #
Bishops 3
Religious Brothers 7
Deacons 7
Lay People 94
Priests 65
Religious Sisters 159 |
Total 335
Attendance by Country
Country #
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Bolivia 5
Canada 3
Chile 1
Ecuador 1
El Salvador 1
Italy 1
Peru 2
South Africa 1
United States 319 |
Presenters/Dialogue Leaders
Sr. Eva Lumas, SSS - Faith and Culture
Rev. Patrick Byrne, SVD - Evangelization and the Work of the Pontifical Mission Societies
Rev. John Fife - Ministry and Advocacy at the Border
Dr. Michel Andraos - Reconciliation as Model for Mission in the Context of Globalization
Stephen Bevans, SVD / Carmen Fernandez Nanko - Inculturation & Incarnation
Mary Ann Smith, MM / Beverly Arao, MM - Environment & Mission
Irma Isip / Caroljean Willie, SC - Multiculturalism
Eva Lumas, SSS - Racism
Bishop Kevin Dowling, CSSR - Truth Commissions
Patrick Byrne, SVD / Judy Gomila, MSC - Evangelization
Michel Andraos / Michael Anderer-McClellan - Reconciliation/Peacemaking
Janet Carroll, MM / Sr. Pauline Yu Chun Jing - Witnessing Faith in China
Dr.William Burrows - Fundamentalism and Mission
Erica Dahl-Bredine / Rev. Cayetano Cabrera - Border Ministry
Roger Schroeder, SVD / Gisela Grundges Andraos - Prophetic Dialogue
Eleanor Doidge, LoB / Angela Obu-Anukam - Accompaniment
Roberto Chené / Luzdy Stucky - Creative Conflict and Transformation
Megeen White-Testa / Teresita Gonzalez de la Maza - Emerging Leadership for Mission
Michael Linden, SJ/Jonathan Syndor/Christian Krokus - Inter-religious Dialogue/Mission
Roberto Chené and Irma Isip - Facilitators
Conclusions by Home Community/Dialogue Group
During Mission Congress participants gathered in these groups
several times for discussion and reflections of the talks and experiences.
The group names came from the rooms in which they met.
#1 Ocatillo
-Accompaniment
-Help laity by giving them room to grow and become leader in mission
-Share what we have learned w/ our parishes
-Mission education in parish schools
-Advocate for those in need in our parishes, and set an example for others.
-Celebrate the beautiful things our Church has and be unified.
#2 Accacia
-Advocate for Justice
-Have mutual giving and receiving attitude in mission
-As a Church, we need to call world to get back on a moral compass
-Challenge Bishops to find way the Church - the whole Church - can be missioned
-Dialogue - Faith needs to go beyond logic
#3 Manzanita
-This group lived the model because of diversity of group. This says that we are able to change together by understanding and accepting each others culture
-Reconciliation necessary for personal conversion
-Work on racism, fair trade, distribution of wealth, diversity of all people, policy changes for immigration. Learn to use context to work for change.
-Do not accept popular world view of consumerism and negative effects of globalization because they are not the values of Jesus - we need to be/become prophetic.
#4 Sagewood
-Passion for mission is shared through story and experience.
-Local resources include missioners from the area.
-Recognize the cultural diversity within the community and provide venue for sharing.
Butterfly Poem& (See below)
#5 Cholla
-Taking back to the communities/areas what has been learned at MC 2005
-Involvement of others
-Regain corporeal/ spiritual balance
-Can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the large number of issues and magnitude of them - "Just eat what is on your plate"
-Problems with some kinds of diversity is a systemic problem wherein Church/society resist engaging in prophetic dialogue
#6 Cottonwood
-Need to communicate to bishops/diocese/communities critical issues in the world of mission
-Listserve for immigration/ border issues, etc
-Support fair trade
#7 Ironwood
-Help others with face to face opportunities like the immersion experience
-Use resources to build bridges instead of walls
-Bring human faces to mission
-Globalization has its positive aspects, but when it begins to value money more than people, missioners must be there to alert people
#8 Mesquite
-Be there to learn about other cultures
-Be prepared to heal old wounds
-Educate ourselves about U.S. policies, both economic and immigration
-We are a home for all people
#9 Presidio
-We are people of hope and passion
-US Church must be sympathetic listeners and take bold and prophetic action
-Utilize technology to keep people aware of the mission issues
-Try to relate better to other Church entities
-Would like a large number of U.S. Lay Missioners to participate in the CAM III Gathering in Ecuador in 2007
#10 Redwood
-Create global networks for advocacy to affect systemic change
-Re-frame the message so it can be heard by a greater range of people on the political spectrum
-Have courage to speak truth to others
Butterfly Poem
Butterfly Butterfly
Why are you cold
I feel the wind sand and stone
Needles of the cactus plants
Blown to safety among the bald
Butterfly Butterfly
Why so high
The wall is so big
Can I get over or die
Butterfly Butterfly
What do you see
Bodies falling for liberty
From Twin Towers - from the wall
From airplanes from radar stalls
Butterfly Butterfly
Why so much hope
I met people at the Mission Congress
Who through me a rope
Speaking out the truth in charity
Bringing light to violence and abuse
Go home now and have no excuse
Butterfly Butterfly
Listen to me- I was
Once a caterpillar longing for my cocoon
Along came an acorn
And almost squashed me
I squiggled and squirmed
Was told I had germs
But nothing was going to stop me
I cried out to the Sun
Are you the One to
Hear me - It's within
Yourself - Rise up
And come
Butterfly Butterfly
Why so still
I bow before the Blessed
Sacrament as in a trance
To lead the young and
Old together into a dance
A dance of life
Without strife
Abandon to the Father
& one to the Son
In the Spirit Uniting
Mission Congress 2005 -- Preparation Booklet
Preparation Booklet
1. Introduction
2. Foundations for Mission in the 21st Century
3. Voices for Mission: Engaging a Globalized World
A) Voices for Mission
We include here the sets of questions
that missioners were asked to reflect
on in writing their stories.
-- Process:
Missionary Narratives Process
Core Narratives Process
-- Stories:
Core Narrative Stories
Missioner Narratives Stories
B) Identifying Common Threads
C) Theological Reflection
4. Themes
Mission Congress 2005 was sponsored by
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Catholic Mission Forum, a collaboration of:
U.S. Catholic Mission Association
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Committees on Home Mission and World Mission (USCCB)
Secretariat for the Church in Latin America
Pontifical Mission Societies
Annual Meeting
USCMA held its Annual Meeting during Mission Congress 2005. Three Resolutions were passed by the membership:
1. Resolution on Uganda
2. Resolution On Behalf of the Stranger: A Mission Response to Immigration Reform
3. Resolution on UN Millennium Development Goals
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