MISSION UPDATE
United States Volume 15, Issue 3
Catholic Mission Association
Reflections on the 2006 USCMA Annual
Confer ence
By Andrew Thompson, Ph.D., that in todays Church, we have
National Director of the St. Vin- an urgent need for long term
cent Pallotti Center and USCMA missionaries to share their wis-
board member. dom with those engaged in short
term missionary efforts. Simi-
larly, the newer forms of short
This was one of the best term immersion or mission pro-
USCMA conferences Ive at- grams have pastoral insights to
tended in recent years, said share with the long term pro-
presenter Rev. Robert Schreiter. grams. This years conference,
Speakers and participants were held at the University of Notre
like the wise stewards who Dame, October 1-3, 2006, was
brought forth from their treas- the first time in USCMAs his-
ures, things both new and old tory that conference participants
(Matt 13:52). This was most so explicitly reflected on both
appropriate given the title of this forms of mission and challenged
years 25th Anniversary Confer- attendees to Integrate Our Mis-
ence: Celebrating and Integrat- sion Perspectives.
ing Our Mission Perspectives:
Short Term, Long Term, On
Whose Terms? As a conference participant, I
think many of us came away with
a clearer understanding of some
Keynote presentations and small of the issues. In my opinion,
group discussions focused the however, we, the Catholic mis-
themes developed during the sion community, have much
Conference. One of the most work ahead of us. We need to
central concerns addressed was identify strategies for meeting
this challenge. I
wonder if, for
example, we
could pair up
each short term
with a long term
program and,
through a dia-
logue partner-
ship, clarify our
vision of mission
and how we
recruit and form
new members. It
seems we might
need some type
of ongoing dia-
Themes from past Conferences
logue process for
US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
We Pray
that
sharing the respective strengths through the effort
of believers,
together with
living forces of
society,
the new and old
chains which
prevent the
development of the
African continent
may be broken.
of both types of programs before,
realistically, we can begin to In This Issue
integrate our mission perspec-
tives. Reflections on the 2006 1
Mission Conference
Rev. Bob Schreiters opening From the Director 2
keynote asked the question: What 25th Anniversary Message 2
are the theological implications from the President of the
of long and short term programs? Board
He documented the fact that in
the U.S., short term programs Annual Meeting and Resolu- 4
have been growing and long term tions
mission programs have been
Short Term, Long Term, On Center
declining in number. Both devel- Whose terms?
opments, he noted, were rooted
in certain social and cultural The Photovoltaic Project 13
factors such as how people today Celebrating a Response to 14
relate to their own life cycle, the Gods Call
relative ease of travel, the disap-
pearance of life-long loyalty to Mission Appeals Report 14
employers, and society becoming
more complex. He then high- Orbis Books 15
lighted certain theological factors Resources & Upcoming 15
that impinge on lay mission Events
contd on p. 3
MISSION UPDATE
From the Director:
Rev. Michael Montoya, MJ
What a way to start our 25th year! If the re-
cently concluded Conference at Notre Dame
is any indication, then the years ahead prom-
ise to be very exciting. The Conference was
indeed a mirror to what can happen partici-
pants creating space and engaging in honest,
critical, yet respectful dialogue. The sharing
and celebration of the many diverse perspec-
tives of mission that our own experiences
allow us to see enriches and challenges our
own stories of mission. In our world where
polarization seems to dominate the current
thinking, it is hopeful to see that there is
room for deliberate and intentional dialogue
that welcomes everyone at the table. It is with
this same hope, that our dialogue becomes
transformative. Thanks to all of you who
made the Conference a big success!
To paraphrase a dictum in community orga-
nizing, Good conferences regenerate to
actions! The Conference has opened many
new possibilities for creative networking and
collaborations for USCMA. We ask you to
partner with us. As we have repeatedly said
during the Conference, USCMA is not just an
office in Washington DC. USCMA is us!
Together we are USCMA!
We call on your expertise and your positive
experiences to share with us best practices
in the different areas of mission, be it on a
short-term or long-term basis. That way, we
can create a hub for best practices on our
website. The Dialogue Sessions have opened
the conversations. But we need those conver-
sations to translate into useful information!
We also call on your expertise in the different
languages spoken here in the US so that we
can make our website truly multi-lingual and
have a wider reach of audience in our promo-
tion of mission.
Also this year, we have launched
Transformative Dialogue Project (TDP).
TDP hopes to help promote mission aware-
ness locally through the collaboration and
dialogue of mission-sending groups and indi-
viduals who have had mission experiences. It
envisions a strong network of mission-
oriented groups and individuals in a particu-
lar locality that promotes an integration of the
components of mission (proclamation, justice
and peace, witness, dialogue, and spiritual-
ity). It provides a space and time to share
stories of mission and learn from each others
experiences. With TDP, we hope to put mis-
sion on the agenda of the local church. The
best advertisements to mission promotion are
Page 2
USCMA 25th Anniversary
Message from the President of the Board
Dear Friends in USCMA,
With our wonderful 2006 Conference behind
us, were already looking forward to next
years gathering with you. The Board spent a
day after the conference looking at what we
expect to be our most important priorities in
the coming year.
First among those is building up our member-
ship and participation. As we noted during the
conference, new styles of mission are fast
growing among us, and the people involved in
them have a great deal to offer to and gain
from USCMA if only we could find the way
to let them know that. So, well be strategiz-
ing around that question and asking you to do
the same with us.
Aiding us in the strategizing will be our two
newest Board Members. We welcome Sister
Flotilda Lape, ICM and Sister Mayon Sylvain,
RSM, both of whom were elected at our last
meeting. We are grateful for their generosity
in allowing their names to be on the ballot.
We extend that same gratitude to Sister Joanna
the concrete stories of people that have gone
to mission! We need to harness the beauty
and power of these stories to reveal the rich
potentials they hold for transformation.
By now, you must have received our 25th
Anniversary Annual Giving Campaign. We
ask you to please be generous in your gift to
our Association. We are able to do the work
entrusted to us and create new and relevant
programs with your financial partnership. We
need you to help us achieve the goals we
have set. Your gift does not only affirm our
work, but it also promotes a sense of owner-
ship to the association. Thank you for your
continued commitment and partnership.
We also ask the Mission Offices in the Dio-
USCMA Staf f
Rev. Michael Montoya, MJ, Executive Director
Ms. Charlotte Cook, Associate Director
Sr. Anne Louise Von Hoene, MMS, Accountant
Sr. Michael Theresa Brauer, SND de N, Administrative Assistant
Questions/Comments re: Meetings & Conferences
Questions/Comments re: Mission Update / Current Topics
E-Mail: uscma@catholicmission.org
US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
Okereke, HHCJ who also accepted nomina-
tion at the convention.
As we welcome the new Board Members, we
also thank the out-going ones, Sr. Mary Paul
Asoegwu, DDL and Rev. Mr. Mickey
Friesen, for their service to USCMA as mem-
bers of the Board.
Those of you who were with us in South
Bend know first-hand that the USCMA office
is under the able and energetic new leader-
ship of Rev. Michael Montoya, MJ. You will
find his message in this issue of Mission
Update, and see how the publication reflects
his contributions to our organization. Please
give his requests for support your serious
consideration!
God Bless you all in this season of autumn
where we see the splendor of the old prepar-
ing space for the quiet of winter and the new
growth that is to come.
Mary M. McGlone, CSJ
ceses to remember USCMA as you assign
parishes for your Mission Cooperative Plans.
We want to share the good things that to-
gether, we as US catholic missioners,
whether working here and abroad, do as we
participate in Gods mission.
Lastly, as you read through this Mission Up-
date, we want you to join us in prayer of
thanksgiving for everything that God has
blessed us with at USCMA. And as we look
into the future, Robert Schreiter in our Peri-
odic Paper reminds us: it is important to
remember that mission is ultimately on Gods
terms. This is not our mission; it is Gods
mission, in which we are called to participate.
If indeed God is calling people into shorter
and long-term mission, then it is up to us to
find ways to make that happen.
meetings@uscatholicmission.org
news@uscatholicmission.org
Web Site: www.uscatholicmission.org
MISSION UPDATE
Reflections on the 2006 USCMA Annual Conference
work. Today the Church affirms the universal
call to holiness (and mission) and no longer
sees laity as peripheral to the life of the
Church. Similarly, today, mission and its
Trinitarian character, is seen as central to the
Church and not a specialized department.
Further, the Catholic community emphasizes
social justice (Lk 4:18-19), the Churchs social
teachings and no longer simply defines mis-
sion exclusively in terms of making disciples
(Matt 28:19-20).
The question of whether or not short term
programs are mission depends on ones
theology of mission, Schre-
iter noted. A member of
the Society of the Precious
Blood (C.PP.S) and the
author of Mission in the
Third Millennium, he then
referred to the four ele-
ments of mission as de-
scribed by SEDOS, namely
proclamation, dialogue,
Teresita Gonzalez de
inculturation and, for the
la Maza, Panelist
poor, freedom from oppres-
sion (see www.sedos.org).
He concluded that God is calling all of us to
mission and we need to find out how to make
our short term and long term programs work.
On the second day, conference attendees were
treated to a panel presentation on four different
types short term programs, described respec-
tively by Ms. Rosanne Fischer (St. Cloud, MN
Diocesan Mission Office), Sr. Mary Medved
(Jesuit Volunteers International), Ms. Teresita
Gonzalez de la Maza (Amor en Accin), and
Ms. Rachel Tomas Morgan (Univ. of the Notre
Dame International Service Learning Pro-
gram). In their descriptions, the presenters
affirmed their programs were:
various forms of immersion experiences in
Gods one mission,
short term missions which build commu-
nity at home and between countries,
often a partnership of laity sharing in a
religious orders charism,
a discipleship training program for laity
who experience intimacy with God
and intimacy with the affairs of the world,
and sometimes based on service-learning
components which include theological reflec-
tion.
This panel presentation was well received. In
subsequent conference sessions, many partici-
Fall 2006
contd from p. 1
pants repeatedly expressed their appreciation women in Church leadership roles, Bishop
for the pastoral wisdom and professionalism Carmody affirmed the importance of laity and
evident in the panelists presentations and in women and indicated certain ministerial ques-
the design of their programs. No one ques- tions were beyond his domain of influence.
tioned to what
extent these
programs em- The prayerful
b o d i e d character of the
mission. conference also
received high
praise. Prayer
Aft er each and music ser-
keynote presen- vices fl owed
tation and the through the three
panel, confer- days which inte-
ence partici- grated and gave
pants used one additional defini-
of two forms of tion to the pro-
Dialogue Session with Robert Schreiter, CPPS
small group ceedings. Many
discussion to dig deeper into the implications found the liturgical highpoint to be the Eucha-
of the speakers thoughts: home communities ristic liturgy in the Basilica of the Sacred
or dialogue sessions (content-specific breakout Heart, with Bishop Carmody as the main cele-
sessions). The home communities facilitators brant and with the accompaniment of the awe
made sure each participant was listened to inspiring fifty-member strong student Notre
respectfully and without interruption. The Dame Folk Choir.
content-specific dialogue sessions began with
a brief presentation which participants had
time to question and apply to their own pas- Eucharist was followed by the traditional din-
toral situation. Each of the home community ner banquet which this year celebrated the
sessions ended with the group coming up with Associations 25 years of service to the
a headline - a phrase which captured the Church and society. Together, we are
flavor of the prior hours discussion. USCMA was the refrain which Father Mi-
chael Montoya, MJ, sounded throughout the
impressive festivities. Twenty-five large post-
A second keynote was delivered by Bishop ers identified the theme of each of the
Edmond Carmody, DD, Ordinary of the Dio- USCMAs 25 annual conferences. Taken
cese of Corpus Christi, together, this display illustrated the emphases
Texas. Based on his given to missionary efforts and how they de-
own missionary ex- veloped over the past quarter of a century.
perience serving in the This colorful and professional review of the
U.S. and Ecuador, he themes of USCMAs conferences, most of
addressed the question which I attended, underscores the importance
of how to prepare and of the work of the USCMA. Father Michael
orient missionaries also focused a spotlight on those individuals
who are coming into a and mission communities who were given
new culture. Tell the awards at each of the prior 24 conferences.
missionary priests they This years award recipient was the University
need to be loving and of Notre Dame Center for Social Concerns.
need to know the Mas-
Most Rev. Edmond Carmody ter was one recom-
mendation. That way, The Universitys facilities more than met the
even if the priest does not know the local lan- needs of the conference. The large presenta-
guage, he said, the people will recognize and tions and small breakout sessions were all held
respond to his love for them. Carmody illus- in the Universitys Center for Continuing Edu-
trated his points with charming Irish stories cation building. The two conference facilita-
and such light humor that a few of the younger tors, Dr. Rudy Vela, SM and Sr. Caroljean
conference attendees said they appreciated that Willie, Ph.D., moved the attendees through
Bishop Carmody was down to earth and con- their paces with skill and gentility. But they
sidered him the coolest bishop ever. Dont surprised and delighted the attendees in their
walk away from negative people, Carmody Listeners Report by taking each of the home
advised, run! When a few of the more sea- communities short summary phrases, combin-
soned attendees asked pastoral questions about
contd on page 4
US Catholic Mission Association Page 3
MISSION UPDATE
contd from page 3
ing them with an appropriate graphic, and
then
treated
every-
o n e
with a
quick
power
point
review
of the
Sr. Caroljean Willie & Rev. Michael Montoya,
groups collective wisdom.
Because of the seamless flow of all the
above elements, by the time the attendees
convened on the third day, we continued to
have a full audience who showed little sign
of burnout. Dr. Schreiter outlined five
main points in his concluding presentation:
Projections and Challenges for Mission
Today. He made specific recommenda-
tions which older missionaries needed to
keep in mind in order to work effectively
with the typically younger participants in
the short term programs. Those who direct
these programs need to clearly define how
mission applies to their effort. Also,
older adults should recognize that their
implicit objectives, such as to be open and
creative, may not meet the younger partici-
pants implicit objectives such as their
need to learn content, clarify values and
probe their implications. To view Schre-
iters recommendations concerning
issues and future prospects, go to
www.uscatholicmission.org where both of
his conference presentations are found.
His challenges should be of interest to all
USCMA members, not only to the annual
conference attendees.
Father Michael announced the next years
USCMA conference will be 26-28 October
in Austin, TX. The theme will be
Spirituality of Mission in the 21st Cen-
tury. It hopes to build on this years con-
ference experience and will include but not
be limited to how missionary spirituality
can sustain us and help us deal with the
polarities and other challenges we face in
our ministry. We encourage you, as
USCMA members, to please mark your
calendars and, together with your mission
associates, broadly understood, join us to
deepen our spirituality and share your
insights with fellow members and the
wider Church community.
Page 4
Fall 2006
Annual Meeting and Resolutions
Sr. Mary McGlone, CSJ welcomed members paign Against Torture (NRCAT) Torture is
to the Annual Meeting of the U.S. Catholic a Moral Issue. The Resolution encourages
Mission Association October 3, 2006. Those members to use their resources of education,
attending for the first time (and there were preaching and advocacy to eliminate the use
many) were invited to be recognized and of torture which is contrary to both natural
welcomed in a special way. The election of law and human dignity, and in fundamental
Sr. Flotilda Lape, ICM and Sr. Mayon Syl- opposition to Gods salvific love for human-
vain, RSM was announced. Both women ity. Members are also encouraged to pro-
will join the Board when it meets in March mote the endorsement of the NRCAT state-
2007. ment (http://nrcat.org/statement.aspx) and the
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
(CMSM) Resolution Condemning Torture
Michael Montoya, in his Executive Direc- (www.cmsm.org/justice-statements/
tors report, explained the events of the past statement-2006resolution.shtml)
year. The Peace Consultation sponsored by
the Continuing Committee on Common Wit-
ness of which USCMA is a part, held in Li- Calling on our responsibility of stewardship
beria in January was a huge success in terms of creation members passed the Resolution
of faith leaders from West African countries on Global Climate Change. Members are
meeting and supporting urged to familiarize them-
one another in their work selves with the Bishops state-
toward peace and recon- At its core, ment on Global Climate
ciliation. Michael thanked global climate change Change (www.usccb.org/
members for their ongoing sdwp); learn ways of integrat-
membership and wel- is about the future of ing ecological concerns into
comed new members. He
encouraged support from
Gods creation and the our ministry; promote a sim-
ple lifestyle; seek ways of
diocesan Mission Offices one human family. It is educating ourselves and others
in giving opportunities to to make efforts to change
USCMA to speak at par- about protecting both systems and structures that are
ishes. ecologically unsound; conduct
the human environ-
an audit of the impact which
ment and the natural all of our institutions have on
The Transformative Dia- the environment; contact
logue Project is a new environment. Senators and Representatives
initiative to increase the to urge greater US leadership
effectiveness and re- USCCB, 2001
to address climate change.
sources of collaborative
efforts in mission aware-
ness in local areas. The stories of missioners In conjunction with Africa Faith and Justice
shared with one another will strengthen the Network members agreed to call upon the
missioner network and promote more col- U.S. Government, the United Nations, the
laborative initiatives. A pilot project took international community to exert their full
place in south Florida and participants of that influence to educate and mobilize to end
are encouraged to continue their working child trafficking, especially in Africa. Spe-
together. Groups interested in being involved cific actions include urging Congress to ratify
in the Project should contact Fr. Michael at the UN Protocol on Trafficking; urge Con-
the USCMA office. gress to pass two resolutions that support the
establishment of a UN Trafficking, Slavery
and Exploitation Commission; urge African
There is a desire to make the website multi- governments to meet the standards of the
lingual and groups of different ethnicities Trafficking Victims Protection Act and to
were invited to contribute translations of take action against offenders; call on donor
different sections of the site. nations to support African governments ef-
forts against human trafficking.
Members passed three resolutions at the An-
nual Meeting October 3, 2006. The areas of All of the complete resolutions can be seen
need covered topics of torture, climate on our website (www.uscatholicmission.org/
change and the trafficking of children in Af- go/events/annualconference)
rica. The USCMA membership condemned
the use of torture and agreed to endorse the
statement of the National Religious Cam-
US Catholic Mission Association
MISSION UPDATE Fall 2006

Periodic Paper #3
Short Term, Long Term, on Whose Terms?
Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S.
Catholic Theological Union
USCMA Annual Mission Conference
University of Notre Dame
October 1, 2006

Introduction

I am grateful for the invitation to participate in the USCMAs annual conference, especially so because of
the theme that has been chosen. The gathering of people at this conference provides a wonderful opportunity
to explore the many sides of the question about the term of missionnot only in matters of effectiveness
achieved by varying amounts of time in mission, but also what are the theological and missiological implica-
tions of different lengths of service in mission. In this address I hope to explore some of them, and look for-
ward to what promises to be an engaging discussion in the coming days.
As a way of getting started on this topic, I will make this presentation in four parts. The first part will be a
brief sketch of some of the data that are available on differing lengths of mission. This will set the scene for
the second part, which will look at what cultural factors contribute to even considering different lengths of ser-
vice in mission. Are there factors, unique to this country, that need to be taken into account as we look at var-
ied terms of mission? This will lead into the third part that will explore the theological and missiological rami-
fications of short- and longer-term mission. A fourth and concluding part will try to draw the various strands
of this discussion together and pose some questions that deserve further examination. The phenomenon of
short-term mission raises a host of interesting questions. My hope here is to explore a few of them.

The Profile of Missionary Service Today

The last decades of the twentieth century saw a remarkable change in the patterns of missionary service
emanating from the United States. On the Catholic side, mission had heretofore largely (but not exclusively)
been the province of religious orders. Missionary orders had been founded during the nineteenth and through
the first half of the twentieth century whose sole purpose was foreign mission. These joined others who were
already in the field. After the Second World War, many religious orders in this country that had not been en-
gaged previously in foreign missionary work at all began to take it up, especially in Latin America at the be-
hest of Pope Pius XII. Beginning in the 1970s, the numbers of missionaries being sent out by all of these reli-
gious orders began to plummet dramatically as the number of candidates for those orders declined. By the
mid-1970s, another phenomenon began to manifest itself.
Shorter-term missionaries came increasingly on the scene. Most of these were laypeople, although there
were also some diocesan priests and religious men and women in their ranks. The numbers of these have con-
tinued to increase. The length of service was clearly set in defined terms of time, most of which could be re-
newed. The scene changed considerably as missionaries were sent out for several months to three years. Dur-
ing this period of time there have emerged missionaries who have consistently renewed their periods of service
so that there are now term missionaries who have served more than twenty years.
US Catholic Mission Association Page 1
MISSION UPDATE
On the Protestant side, the number of international
missioners coming from the mainline churches has
continued to drop. The overwhelming majority of
international Protestant missioners today coming
from the conservative end of the spectrum
evangelicals, Pentecostals, and fundamentalists.
Most of these are supported by independent mission
agencies with no denominational affiliation or are
sent by individual congregations.
Just what does the scene look like today? For this
I am relying on the most recent survey done by the
Catholic Network of Volunteer Service, and pre-
sented at their national conference in November of
2005. To be sure this is a survey of those programs
that are members of the CNVS, but that organization
provides by far, to my knowledge, the most compre-
hensive picture that is available to us. Moreover,
86% of the member organizations responded to the
surveya surprisingly large num-
berso it offers us the best snap- So in terms of
shot of the current scene available
to us. sheer numbers,
Let me give some highlights
from that report. In 1983 there both short-term
were 65 volunteer programs affili-
ated with the CNVS; in 2005, there and long-term
were 212. That is nearly quadru-
ple the number involved. In 1992, missioners are
there were about 5,000 lay mis-
sioners/volunteers; by 2004 there
were over 10,000. The bulk of
substantially
these lay missioners (about 90%)
are involved in domestic programs. under the age of 25.
The CNVS survey reports that the
number of international volunteers reported has been
dropping since 1999 from a high of a little over 1100
to a little under 900, a drop of nearly 20%.
Regarding term of service, about 75% of these
overseas missioners serve for 12 months or less. Of
that 75%, about half of these volunteers served three
weeks or less, and about 40% served 9-12 months. A
little over 60% of all volunteers are female, with
slightly under 40% male. They are overwhelmingly
(nearly 85%) Caucasian.
Given that the term of service may run from a
week to a year for 75% of the missioners, it is not
surprising that over half are under the age of 20. The
Page 2 US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
shortest service opportunities are aimed at summer
and school break time. A quarter of all volunteers
are between the ages of 21-25; this no doubt repre-
sents many of the post-college programs that are
conducted by religious orders. Indeed young people
between the ages of 21 and 25 make up more than
half of all long-term (defined as 9 months or more)
service. Interesting too is the fact that more than
90% of all long-term missioners complete their term
of service. In 2004, more than 40% of long-term
missioners renewed their term of service.
Seventy percent of all long-term missioners have
at least four years of college. For shorter periods of
service, slightly over half have a high school educa-
tionagain, showing the fact that the short-term
missioners tend to be under 20.
What kind of service do these missioners provide?
For the short-term missioners, over
half provide social services. For
long-term missioners, the largest sin-
gle block, provide education (i.e.,
general, not religious, education).
So what emerges from this pic-
ture? Let me sketch out what seem to
me to be salient points. I begin with
the larger context. According to the
2005-2006 figures from the U.S.
Catholic Mission Association, there is
a little over 6,500 U.S. missioners
working internationally. Of these,
just over 1400or not quite 20%--
are lay missioners. The women-to-
men ratioroughly 6 to 4is about
the same for both religious and lay
missioners.
There has been extraordinary growth in short-term
missioners, with half of these under the age of 20.
For long-term missioners, the age group 20-25
makes up half of those serving a year or more. Sev-
enty percent of these have had at least four years of
college. So in terms of sheer numbers, both short-
term and long-term missioners are substantially un-
der the age of 25. In one way, this is not surprising:
once these missioners begin families long-term ser-
vice becomes more complex as decisions have to be
made regarding the well-being of children. One
hundred sixty-two missioners working in the short
MISSION UPDATE
term reported being married, while 154 married mis-
sioners were working in the long term. Sixty-four
short-term missioners reported have dependent chil-
dren, while just 18 long-term missioners reported
having dependent children. Thus only about 7% of
lay missioners serving in both short-term and long-
term are married.
Cultural and Social Factors Affecting the Term of
Service
As we begin to reflect on what are the implica-
tions for mission, it could be useful to begin by pro-
viding a cultural and social frame for these reflec-
tions. Are there things in the cultural and social en-
vironment of the United States that help us under-
stand better what is going on in mission? I would
like to reflect on three of these.
The first of these is changes in our understanding
of the life cycle. At the height of the industrial age
in the United Statesrunning roughly from 1880-
1970those who entered the job market outside the
home were likely to engage in the same kind of work
for most of the rest of their lives. This was partially
explained by the level of education; most people had
relatively limited education until the end of that pe-
riod and so could not move around easily in the job
market. There was in some trades and professions as
well a sense of loyalty to ones employer who in turn
would be loyal to the employees. Henry Ford was
one of the pioneers in this, raising working class
wages in his factory and being repaid by lifelong
fidelity of the workforce. This even stretched across
generations. In its heyday IBM (Big Blue) tried to
do much of the same.
The volatility of the employment scene that has
resulted from globalization and technological ad-
vances has changed all that. There are now some
who say that those entering the workforce must be
prepared to change their professionsnot just jobs
within professionsthree or more times over their
working life. As the median age of the population
has risen, people no longer think in terms only of
work and retirement. The work possibilities become
more variegated.
What does this mean for mission service? If one
US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
starts to look at ones life in segments of time, some
period can be allotted to work like mission. For the
preponderance of young people who participate both
in short-term and longer-term service, it can be seen
as part of a larger preparation for ones working life.
For those in high school, having such service on
ones rsum is helpful in seeking admission to elite
colleges.
I do not of course want to reduce the motivation of
young people to these factors. Their desire to serve is
certainly much more complex than that. But these
factors cannot be overlooked. That in both of these
groups (the short-term missioners under 20, and the
21-25 age group serving long-term) more than eighty
percent of the participants are Caucasian points to the
fact that a certain level of privilege gives them the
option of thinking in these terms.
A second cultural and social factor that deserves
attention is the distinctive feature of the age cohort
under 25. These young people have self-designated
themselves as millennials, inasmuch as they began
coming of age at the turn of the millennium. The re-
search that has been done on this age group finds
them more altruistic, more intellectually curious, and
more at home in cross-cultural and interracial settings
than the two previous age cohorts (usually known as
Generation X and the Baby Boomers). This openness
can be partially accounted for by the fact that at least
the older members of this age cohort came of age in a
time of economic prosperity and relative stability (the
years of Bill Clintons presidency). Annual surveys
of college freshmen support this general finding
about altruism and ability to live with difference, with
the added note that Catholics in this group tend to be
especially well represented in these statistics. To be
sure altruism, curiosity, and ease with difference do
not characterize all Catholic young people, but it cer-
tainly is a salient factor. A supporting factor from the
CNVS survey shows that among those who go on to
graduate school after completing their service, the
great majority choose the helping professions
education, social work, theology and medical care.
Across the country, those involved in graduate theo-
logical education have noted in recent years a new
group coming to study theology: they typically have
spent one or two years in some social service after
college, and now want to study theology, at least
Page 3
MISSION UPDATE
through the masters level.
I think that volunteer mission serviceboth short
term and longer termis providing a wonderful outlet
for these aspirations among young people. It provides a
forum that not only expands their spiritual horizons, but
gives them invaluable experience that will help them
shape their adult lives.
The third factor worth considering is the strong tra-
dition of volunteerism in the United States. De Toc-
queville noted it already in his travels through the coun-
try in the 1830s. The idea that volunteerism may be on
the decline was signaled in 2000 by Robert Putnam in
his book, Bowling Alone, where he detected a significant
drop in the amount of participation in shared activities,
due to the aggressive individualism of U.S. society. The
debate that the book ignited ended up presenting a more
nuanced picture. Participation in bowling leagues, card
clubs and the like has indeed declined. But the principal
reason for that decline is the growing complexity of or-
dinary life. People still do volunteer, but for shorter pe-
riods of time and under carefully specified conditions.
A postmodern, globalized society puts a great deal of
strain on volunteering, but it has by no means disap-
peared. A somewhat parallel phenomenon can be found
in wider circles in the growth of new social movements
and non-governmental organizations.
In the United States, the Church is very much seen to
be a voluntary agency, in contrast with the state
churches still found in Europe. There the Church is of-
ten viewed as a department or agency of the state,
whereas here one joins a church out of choice. It is pre-
cisely that U.S. view that many people see as the reason
why secularization is not felt more strongly here as it is
now being experienced in Europe. Put another way, the
culture and tradition of volunteerism helps create a
friendly environment for short-term and long-term mis-
sion service, especially when such volunteer opportuni-
ties is nested in a voluntary agency itself.
All in all, then, one can identify at least these three
factors that contribute to creating a cultural and social
environment within which mission service is bound to
flourish. Other countries outside the United States send
term missioners as well. It is my guess that these are
most likely to catch peoples imaginations when at least
the first of the two cultural factorsa longer lifecycle
with changing employment patterns and a large cohort
of millennialsare in place.
Page 4 US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
Theological and Missiological Factors in Mis-
sionary Service
I turn now to the third parttheological and
missiological factors that are evidenced or may be
in play among those engaging in short-term and
long-term missionary service. By theological fac-
tors I mean changes in ideas in our Tradition that
might impinge upon mission service in some way.
I believe that there are at least three key theologi-
cal factors that deserve our attention here.
Theological Factors
The first is the universal call to holiness that
came out of the Second Vatican Council. In this
vision of the Church, there is no longer a clerical
center with a lay periphery. The most important
sacrament vis--vis our membership in the Church
is not Holy Orders, but Baptism (cf. Lumen gen-
tium, 30-31). Laity and clergy are all part of the
People of God.
This insight has had far-reaching implications.
To some extent, it has erased the boundary be-
tween the laity in general and those who join reli-
gious institutes. But it has also served to make the
spiritual life of lay people more expansive. The
associations that have been set up by religious in-
stitutes to share their charism and spirituality with
others have led more than 50,000 people to enter
these associations. Some lay mission programs
have been inspired by the same desire to share not
only charism and spirituality, but also mission.
Engaging in these mission programs becomes part
of that quest for holiness, for a deeper participation
in the life of Christ and of the Church. Such asso-
ciations have led to a significant revitalization of
religious life, as their membership declines and
ages.
A second theological factor that has shaped
these developments in mission has been the
Church coming to see itself as essentially mission-
ary, and that the whole people of God share in the
mission of the Church and in the world. Mission
is no longer to be seen as a separate department
within the Church. The Church is in its very na-
MISSION UPDATE
ture missionary, participating in the mission in the
world of the Holy Trinity. Thus, mission can no
longer be seen solely as a specialized profession
within the Church, but something incumbent upon
everyone. Lay missioners are hearing that call.
They participate fully in that missionary character of
the entire Church.
A third theological factor has been a rediscovery
of the centrality of social justice to the Churchs ferent from their own? Is calling these short- of fixed-
mission. The growing body of Catholic Social
Teaching, beginning with Pope Leo XIIIs encycli- sures a little more exalted status?
cal Rerum novarum, through the Council and espe-
cially the 1970 Synod of Bishops to the pontificate
of John Paul II, Catholic Social Teaching has moved
social justice to the center of Catholic consciousness.
Nowhere is that clearer than among missioners. If
the Great Commission of Matthews
Gospel (28:19-20) formed the princi-
pal biblical call to mission through
Thus, mission can
the nineteenth and into the mid-
twentieth century, it has been Jesus
no longer be seen
discourse in the synagogue at Naz- solely as a
areth (Luke 4:18-19) that has cap-
tured the imagination of missioners
since the Vatican Council. Confront-
specialized
ing injustice and the struggle for jus-
tice provides a sharp contrast experi- profession within
ence that can suddenly open up the
message of Jesus for people. Espe-
the Church, but
cially for those who have come out of something
a comfortable existence and now see
the suffering and oppression going on
in the world ushers in a call to pro-
incumbent upon
mote the Reign of God. Inasmuch as
a significant amount of short-term everyone.
and long-term mission service fo-
cuses on social service, it provides a natural venue
for experiencing the meaning and impact of Catholic
Social Teaching.
Missiological Concerns
I would like to turn to some missiological con-
cerns, inasmuch as they can be separated from theo-
logical ones. By missiological concerns I mean
concerns that grow out of the practice or experience
of mission that in turn help shape the theory of mis-
US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
sion. There are two that seem especially relevant to
our discussion here.
The first grows out of a question that I have heard
voiced among missioners from religious institutes: Are
these forms of mission (short-term, fixed long-term)
really mission? Put some other ways: Are they au-
thentic forms of evangelization? Or are they simply
cultural or social exposures of people to a world dif-
term experiences simply a way of giving these expo-
Let me try to separate these out a bit. There has
been a continuing debate in missiological circles about
just what constitutes mission. There is a feeling that,
by saying that the whole Church is missionary, every-
thing gets labeled mission. There are those who say
only primary evangelization
preaching the Gospel to those who
have never heard itis the only ac-
tivity that deserves to be called
mission. Pope John Paul II, in his
encyclical Redemptoris missio,
voiced similar concerns. Was proc-
lamation narcissism and potentially
harmful. Presence of large numbers
of short-term missioners (especially
in very short projects) may actually
harm the social ecology of the place,
adding to oppression or injustice
rather than diminishing it. These
critiques have also been leveled at
those who work a year or two years.
These longer-term missioners reap
the benefit of their experience and
then take these benefits home with
them. The poor are left with nothing.
It is understandable how such critiques can be
made. And there have no doubt been situations where
these critiques describe accurately what has happened.
So it all bears a little closer analysis.
Anyone who has crossed a cultural boundary as
more than a tourist knows that one cannot learn an-
other culture or language instantly. Even staying a
year may not be enough to go beyond the
honeymoon period where the difference experienced
in the other culture makes it exotic. But there can
beand have beenother readings of the short-term
Page 5
MISSION UPDATE Fall 2006

mission experience. The object of evangelization may at all? Is anything but a lifelong commitment what
not be themthose whom we visit. Perhaps one mission truly requires?
of the most significant feature of short-term mission
even mission lasting up to two yearsis how it can This kind of idea arises out of how mission has
change the lives of those who experience it. Espe- been perceived over the last two centuries. Until
cially when these experiences come in the late teens fairly recently, the expense and duration of travel
and into the twenties, it can mark out a course for an was such that missioners going out from their home
entire life. For those who come as missioners, it may country were making a commitment for lifetime ser-
be the first exposure to poverty, or what our govern- vice. It meant life commitment in another way as
mental policies are doing to others. For the people in well: many lost their lives, especially in equatorial
those settings themselves, they can find a number of climes, as they fell to diseases against which they
important, if unexpected, benefits. In Latin America, had no immunity. The rise of missionary religious
for example, I have seen people there who accept institutes, especially in the nineteenth and twentieth
short-term missioners because it is an opportunity to century, where profession to the religious institute
show them the oppressive results of U.S. foreign pol- constituted a commitment to lifelong mission, only
icy. Their hope is that the missioners will indeed un- strengthened this feeling about the length of term of
dergo conversionand go back to con- service.
vert the United States. For others, who If we are indeed a Such feeling that lifelong mission
had never had a personal encounter was the only mission was supported
with people from the United States, it
missionary also by the missionary spiritualities that
led to revising some of the stereotypes Church, and are served to foster and sustain the mission
they had about yanquis. In still other vocation. As Angelyn Dries has sug-
ways, those who have been oppressed all called to gested in her study of U.S. Catholic
(I am thinking especially of indigenous missioners, to be a missionerat least
peoples here), they come to realize that mission, then the up to the time of the Second Vatican
their own culture is valuable and valued lines between Council--was to live a spirituality of
and that they have something very spe- heroism and/or of martyrdom. If
cial to share with people who may have sender and viewed from that perspective, no mis-
many possessions but lack spiritual sioner can be a sometime martyr or
depth. recipient are short-term heroic figure. But what this
What of course becomes important still pervasive sentiment regarding the
here is how short-term mission is struc- going to become missioner calls us to do is to investigate
tured and supervised so as not to inflict more carefully what underlies the spiri-
more suffering on people who have al- reciprocal. tuality of missioners today, who make
ready suffered far too much. But there Luke 4:18-19 or some other biblical
is also a theological point to be made here. If we are passage the basis of their motivation. Are there dis-
indeed a missionary Church, and are all called to mis- tinctive features to a missionary spirituality today?
sion, then the lines between sender and recipient are Let me make but one suggestion.
going to become reciprocal. Long-term missioners Certainly for the short-term missioner, bridge
often say how mission has changed them, and how builder might be appropriate. The short-term ex-
returning to the United States becomes increasingly perience leads to opening up new horizons which the
difficult. Evangelization runs in many directions. In a missioner can carry back to his or her home commu-
world Church today, it is not simply a matter of send- nity. The experience may serve as the basis of a call
ing churches and receiving churches. It needs to run to a deeper kind of vocation. The fact that so many
in many different ways. of the young term missioners choose the helping
A second missiological concern related to the first professions as their lifes work, rather than simply
goes something like this: Can there be real mission if finding a job which leads to acquiring wealth, is in-
any term or time limit is put on engagement in mission dicative that something like this is going on.

Page 6 US Catholic Mission Association

MISSION UPDATE
Put perhaps another way, we should look at how
term missioners and their experience may be point-
ing us to thinking through our missiology in another
way rather than trying to fit the short- and longer-
term experience into pre-existing categories.
Where Do We Go from Here?
What is the future of short-term and longer-term
mission? In this concluding section, let me try to
situate our examination of this question within the
wider context and in light of what has been pre-
sented here. It falls into three sections. The first has
to do with sustaining forms of term mission into the
future. The second revisits the theological and mis-
siological issues just discussed. And the third and
final part addresses the question: on whose terms?
Sustaining Term Mission into the Future
What issues surround sustaining term missionof
the shorter or the longer varietyinto the future?
Here we have some things to learn from our Protes-
tant counterparts, who have been working with term
systems for many years. They have experience with
how the issue of terms can change within the lives of
the missioners themselves. When children reach a
certain ageespecially in secondary schoolfamily
issues may come to predominate over the ministry
issues.
If we look at the current state of Catholic mis-
sion, it is largely (although by no means completely
any more) sustained through religious institutes. As
numbers decline and members age in those insti-
tutes, they themselves are being faced with the ques-
tion of sustainability. We have seen this happening
already with healthcare institutions, with schools,
and with parishes. While mission service organiza-
tions are already being entrusted to lay people to
manage them, the question will be what happens as
the religious institute may be no longer able to pro-
vide the needed financial support. We can already
look to what some institutes have decided to do.
The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers have set up
their lay missioners as a separate, canonically recog-
nized body that could be able, in principle, to con-
US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
tinue should the Maryknoll Society reach a point
where they can send no more priests and brother
missioners. The Bethlehem Fathers (the national
missionary institute of Switzerland) are working
with a structure whereby their lay missioners consti-
tute the overarching institution within which the
priests have a separate place. As we look to
womens congregations, even more creative models
are likely to emerge.
The likely trajectory of the huge spiritual associate
movement among religious institutes might serve as
a cautionary tale here. Most of these associates are
middle-aged or olderthe same age as the members
of the institutes. When those institutes are gone, will
this movement continue? We do not know, but it
would seem unlikely. This may be the same fate for
those term mission programs that depend on reli-
gious institutes, some of which (the institutes) may
not survive.
Although the number of U.S. and European mis-
sioners who are religious will continue to decline,
the number of life-term missioners from the Global
South continues to grow, both within already exist-
ing international religious institutes and in new mis-
sionary institutes emerging in Africa and Asia. It is
with these people that short- and longer-term mis-
sioners from the United States will have to interact.
Will young people especially, and people of all
ages continue to show an interest in mission? That
is certainly to be hoped for, even though we have no
way of predicting the future in that regard. Certainly
in countries where the birthrate is below the level of
replacement of the population, more and more
young people will find themselves having to enter
the workforce sooner. That will have a negative ef-
fect on all but the shortest-term mission experience.
The United States is not yet to that point, thanks to
immigration. But all of Europe already is.
Another feature that may figure into the immedi-
ate future is the intense animosity against the United
States and the impact this may have on U.S. mis-
sioners operating outside the United States. Skills
for dealing with trauma and conflict are increasingly
important in the missioners repertory. The Pew In-
stitute keeps reporting a steadily dropping rate of
favor for U.S. citizens, even among our allies.
Page 7
MISSION UPDATE
Given that the percentage of long-term interna-
tional missioners is already fairly small, this may
come to shrink even further.
The Ongoing Impact of Term Mission on Theol-
ogy and Missiology
As was already seen above, there have been
changes in mission throughout especially the latter
part of the twentieth century into these first years
of the twenty-first. The context in which mission
is done, and the theology of mission that came out
of the Second Vatican Council has changed how
we imagine mission and how we engage in it. A
stronger sense of the Church as essentially mis-
sionary, and the universal call to holiness and par-
ticipation in the mission of the Church has
changed the face of mission today. Consequently,
we should be careful not to try to squeeze contem-
porary experiences of mission too quickly into our
pre-arranged boxes. That the numbers of short-
term missioners have continued to grow so rapidly
may be one of those signs of the times to which
we should be attending. Our missiological strate-
gies should be informed by a praxis that feeds
back into our theology the experiences we are en-
countering.
Whose Terms?
I wish to conclude with the final part of the title
of this conference and this presentation; namely,
on whose terms do we engage in mission?
To a great extent, the terms have been set by the
Holy See and by the religious institutes. The latter
have carried the major part of what had been con-
sidered mission work. As their numbers decline
Periodic Papers are published by USCMA.
3029 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017-1102
Phone: 202-884-9764
E-Mail: uscma@uscatholicmission.org
Page 8 US Catholic Mission Association
Fall 2006
here and in other wealthy countries, they may have no
choice but to cede whatever terms they had been able to
set forth. To say simply that the terms will be ceded to
others engaged in short- or longer-term mission has to
take into account that term mission depends upon an in-
frastructure that sustains it. To the extent that infrastruc-
ture is in place, to that extent that handing on of the di-
rection of mission will be able to happen. We will need
to do two things at once. If, on the one hand, we say all
Christians are to be engaged in mission, then we should
try to bring that about. But on the other hand, this will
not happen if a wider body is not given the resources
and the capacity to make decisions about mission.
In trying to think through these future dimensions, it
is important to remember that mission is ultimately on
Gods terms. This is not our mission; it is Gods mis-
sion, in which we are called to participate. If indeed
God is calling people into shorter and long-term mis-
sion, then it is up to us to find ways to make that hap-
pen.
____________________________________
1
2004-2005 Membership Survey Results. I am grateful to Mi-
chael Montoya, MJ, for making this available to me.
2
Statistics may be found in the executive summary at:
uscatholicmission.org/go/missionersurveystatistics/
missionhandbook.
3
Representative of this literature is Neil Howe and William
Strauss, Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation (New
York: Vintage Books, 2000).
4
These are published annually in The Chronicle of Higher Educa-
tion.
5
Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of
Human Community (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000).
6
The proceedings of this conference may be found in Joseph
Lang and Mary Motte (eds.), Mission and Dialogue (Maryknoll,
NY: Orbis Books, 1982).
7
Angelyn Dries, The Missionary Movement in American Catholic
History (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1998).
USCMA
Fax: 202-884-9776
Web site: www.uscatholicmission.org
MISSION UPDATE Fall 2006

Sustainable Energy for Thousands
The Power of the Sun
photovoltaic project of the Sisters
of Notre Dame de Namur will
provide thousands of people in
Africa with electricity and clean
water for homes, schools and
medical facilities.
The photovoltaic sites to be installed in both Ni-
geria and Democratic Republic of the Congo will
convert sunlight directly into electricity. This
method is environment-friendly, modular, silent,
needing no fuel, non-polluting, requiring easy
trying to study with no or scarce electricity. Medical
facilities are forced to operate with expensive and pol-
luting generators while medical staff perform surgeries
and deliveries with only kerosene lanterns. To alleviate
these problems the Sisters explored sustainable ways to
provide both pure water and electricity.
Sisters in Nigeria and some of their workers were
trained by the engineers so that they will be skilled to
maintain the sites themselves with monitoring via satel-
lite done in the US. They learned the fundamentals of
electricity, basic mechanical drawing and how to work
circuits, batteries and solar panels. Those trained are
now able to build their own teams to build and maintain
their sites as well as train other Sisters throughout Nige-
ria and DRC.

With these sites operational it will no longer be neces-

sary to search for firewood and water which can take
hours each day. Boiling the water will no longer be nec-
essary since the
system will pu-
rify it. 11
schools, 4 hospi-
tals, several clin-
ics and residen-
Auchi, Nigeria is the site of the first Photovoltaic Project. tial communities
Auchi is located northeast of Benin City have been tar-
geted in the De-
maintenance. And of course the sunlight is free!! mocratic Repub-
Kimwenza in the Democratic Republic of
lic of Congo and Congo will be the second site.
in Nigeria , 2000
Having clean water for drinking and medical use
students and 100 women and children and teachers. 25
is a dream of so many thousands of people
different sites will eventually benefit.
around the globe. The Sisters have worked
among the poor in many countries for many
years and have experienced shortages of both The sisters have been working with industry experts to
clean water and electricity themselves. They un- develop this system. A prototype was installed and
derstand the im- tested successfully at Cuvilly Arts & Earth Center in
pact these short- Ipswich, Massachusetts during the summer of 2005.
ages have on the
local people. The Sister Lorraine Connell, SNDdeN, has been spearhead-
lack of clean water ing the project since its inception. She is excited about
leads to many wa- the possibilities. This is an opportunity to see that
ter-borne illnesses. things can be better. She looks forward to an improve-
Students face ment in the living conditions for overseas missions
many obstacles sponsored by the Notre Dame Sisters.

US Catholic Mission Association Page 13

MISSION UPDATE Fall 2006

Celebrating the Response to Christs Call

The saint is precisely that man or woman who, responding with joy and generosity to Christs call,
leaves everything to follow him, the Holy Father said at the canonization of four new saints on Oc-
tober 15, 2006. One of these new saints is St. Teodora Gurin (1798-1856). Born Anne-Thrse in
France, she was sent by the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence to Indiana in 1839. The reli-
gious founded St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana in the United States. USCMA congratu-
lates the Sisters on the canonization of their foundress.

USCMA also celebrates the life of and mourns the death of Sr. Leonella Sgorbati, a Consolata Mis-
sionary Sister killed in Mogadishu in September 2006. Her life was also a response with joy and
generosity to Christs call. Our prayers go out to Sr. Leonellas family and the Consolata Mission-
ary Sisters.

2006 MISSION APPEALS

USCMA is grateful to have been invited by five diocesan Mission Offices to participate in the 2006 Mission
Coop Plan. We thank each of these offices and the 12 parishes that welcomed us. The generosity of the pa-
rishioners to whom we spoke has been most gratifying. We give special thanks to each of you who spoke on
our behalf.

Diocese Parish Speaker

Bridgeport Christ the King, Trumbull Charlotte Cook, staff

Cincinnati Holy Angels, Dayton Nancy Bramlage, SC

St. Joseph, Springfield Joan Patrice, S.C.
St. Raphael, Springfield Nancy Bramlage, S.C.

Philadelphia Mother of Divine Grace, Philadelphia Michael Montoya, staff

Our Lady Help of Christians, Philadelphia Charlotte Cook, staff
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Jamison William Christy, C.S.Sp.

San Angelo Sacred Heart, Abilene Jack Whitley, C.S.B.

St. Joachim, Clyde Jack Whitley, C.S.B.

Youngstown Our Lady of Perpetual Help, McDonald Anthony Anomah, C.S.Sp.

St. Joseph, Masillon Anthony Anomah, C.S.Sp.
St. Pius X, Warren Anthony Anomah, C.S. Sp.

Page 14 US Catholic Mission Association

MISSION UPDATE Fall 2006

Resources and Up-Coming Events

Cuban-American Family Photo Exhibit National Tour Presented by Dr. Lawrence Nemer, SVD
The Latin America Working Group Education Fund and the Washington New Haven, CT
Office on Latin America
Telephone: 203-624-6672, x315
Different locations and dates now through April 2007
Email: study@OMSC.org
Check schedule at www.lawg.org/countries/cuba/exhibit--calendar.htm
Preparing for Cross-Cultural Ministry
22nd National Catholic China Conference
January 9 February 7, 2007
November 3-5, 2006
Intercultural Consultation Services
Simpsonwood Conference Center
Kathryn Pierce, IHM
Norwood, GA
San Antonio, TX
Telephone: 973-763-1131
Telephone: 313-341-4841
Email: chinabur@shu.edu
Email: kpierce1@juno.com
Training in Trauma Healing
Orientation Days to the United Nations
November 6-11, 2006
February 7-9, 2007
International Linguistic Center
777 UN Plaza
Dallas, TX
New York City
Telephone: 972-283-1927
Telephone: 212-682-6481
Email: Pat_Miersma@sil.org
Email: Lsiers6720@aol.com
2006 CNVS National Conference
Workshop for Returned Missioners
November 9-12, 2006
February 6-16, 2007
San Antonio, TX
From Mission to Mission
Telephone: 301-270-0900 ext 10
San Antonio, TX
Email: cnvsinfo@cnvs.org
Telephone: 720-494-7211
Overseas Ministries Study Center
Email: missiontomission@quest.net
Week-long study programs
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
November 2006 - May 2007 including
March 9-12, 2007
Challenges Facing Roman Catholic Mission Theology: From the Eve of
and How are the Children?
Vatican II to the Twenty-first Century
Washington, DC area
March 19-23, 2007

ORBIS BOOKS RECEIVED AT USCMA

Dorothy Day Portraits of Those Who Knew Her, Rosalie C. Riegle, 2003
Ecology at the Heart of Faith, The Change of Heart that Leads to a new Way of Living on Earth, Denis Edwards, 2006
Francis of Assisi, Leonardo Boff, 1982, reissue 2006
From Union Square To Rome, Dorothy Day, 2006
Jesus Today, A Spirituality of Radical Freedom, Albert Nolan, 2006
Leo Tolstoy, Spiritual Writings, Charles E. Moore, editor, 2006
On the Move, The History of the Hispanic Church in the United States, Moises Sandoval, revised, 2006
Religion in Latin America, A Documentary History, Lee M. Penyak & Walter J. Petry, 2006
Remembering Henri, Gerald S. Twomey & Claude Pomerleau, editors, 2006
Signs of Peace, The Interfaith Letters of Thomas Merton, William Apel, 2006
Soulsong, Seeking Holiness, Coming Home, Thomas A. Forsthoefel, 2006
The Asian Jesus, Michael Amaladoss, SJ, 2006
The Power of Principles, Ethics for the New Corporate Culture,William J. Byron, SJ, 2006
The Ten Commandments, Laws of the Heart, Joan Chittister, 2006
Voices from the Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World, R. S. Sugirtharajah, Editor, 2006

US Catholic Mission Association Page 15

Mission Update Fall 2006

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