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Encountering God Through Memories

tatoos-on-the-heart

Today’s encounter with God comes from Franciscan Mission Service’s associate director Mariam Mitry. Before joining FMS in August 2009, Mariam spent eight months on mission in Lusaka, Zambia with the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Lee recommends the chapter titled “Success.”

One of our returned missioners, Lee Lechtenberg, recently sent us a chapter from Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ’s book “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion”.

Titled “Success,” Lee said in his note that said this chapter helped him re-frame his time in mission and realize that he was not a “failure.” He suggested that this would be helpful for the returning class of missioners.

Reading it at my desk, I started to weep as my own time in mission came vividly before my eyes.

Boyle’s words affirmed the Franciscan-style of mission, of building relationships, of journeying with others and of truly being with the people —  a style that cannot be measured through numbers or traditional “success” stories. Boyle helped me encounter God again through the stories that I still hold with me from my time on mission, and through those that our missioners share with us.

We prepare and support lay Catholics for two-year international, one-year domestic and 1-2 week short-term mission service opportunities in solidarity with impoverished and marginalized communities across the globe.

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