The Center for Mission helps unite individuals, parishes and the entire Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to the universal mission of the Church, which is carrying Jesus’ saving message of love and healing to all corners of the world.
That’s a summary statement from Deacon Mickey Friesen, director.
“I like to say our mission is around the world and around the corner,” Deacon Friesen said as the center prepares for the annual World Mission Sunday Oct. 23-24, when parishioners will have an opportunity to support local, national and international mission activity though a parish collection. “The only geography that truly matters is the geography of the heart.”
“We celebrate that every Catholic is a missionary by his or her own baptism, and is called to participate in God’s mission through their own lifestyle and ministry,” Deacon Friesen said. “Parishioners will have the opportunity to pray and give financially to support the growth of the mission churches around the world.”
In his World Mission Sunday message Jan. 6, Pope Francis drew from the Apostles’ response to Christ’s presence in their lives in Acts 4:20: “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.” The pope went on to say that this calling is a “summons to each of us to ‘own’ and to bring to others what we bear in our hearts.”
The Center for Mission provides opportunities for sharing Christ’s love and his call to service through mission trips, partnerships, school and parish projects and annual appeals. It helps coordinate the archdiocese’s partnership with the Diocese of Kitui in Kenya, the Maronite Archeparchy of Damascus, Syria, and the Diocese of Ciudad Guayana in Venezuela.
The center’s connections to people compelled to help others include Sister Rose Hang Vu of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in New Brighton, whose Friends of the Poor ministry in Vietnam aims to alleviate poverty and suffering in her home country. Sister Rose shared her story and appealed for support recently at St. Patrick/St. Catherine in Jordan, St. Patrick in Edina, St. Bridget of Sweden in Lindstrom and St. John the Baptist in Excelsior. Her talks were part of the Center for Mission’s Missionary Cooperation Plan with parishes.
“I’ve been inspired by Sister Rose’s faithfulness to God’s call in her life; she has been so humble, but brave and resourceful to serve those God has placed in her heart,” said Deacon Friesen.
The Center for Mission also supports missionaries in the field through its Mustard Seed Mission Grant program. Deacon Friesen said grants given to missionaries from the archdiocese, including Jason and Inge Becker, who are serving with their five children in Costa Rica, help cover things like health insurance, family and mission support.
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