Lenten Mission Stories
“…born to eternal life” – The Journey Home
We’ve made it. We’ve reached the end of peace prayer petitions and the end of the Lenten season. But while Lent may be over, our work for peace is not. For our missioners, the end of their time abroad does not end their time of service. Like all of us, they are called to lifelong mission and…
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“Pardoning that we are pardoned” – A Guatemalan Healing Ritual
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Forgive and you will be forgiven.” We know that forgiving others begets forgiveness from God, but sometimes we are challenged to forgive ourselves. Or, perhaps our challenge comes not in forgiving but in forgetting or moving on. Rather than foster anger, resentment or sadness, our journey for Easter peace calls…
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“In giving, we receive” – Selfless Sharing in Boliva
Today’s mission story reminds us of the contagion of charity. One person’s giving prompts other people to give, as Emily Ward witnessed while working with poor women in Bolivia (2006-2009).And whenever we give, we receive more in return. While our missioners give two years in service abroad, they receive in abundance from their community the…
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“To be loved as to love” – Saying Goodbye
Part of the journey toward Easter peace is moving away from “me” and toward “thee,” thinking less of myself and more of others — we are trying becoming “Little Christs.” Like Christ, we are called to love. We are to open our hearts with abandon. Our missioners travel abroad to serve with open hearts. Years later,…
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“To be understood, as to understand” – Teacher learns a lesson in Guatemala
Today’s mission story about David LaDuca teaching in Guatemala (2004-2007) illustrates two important characteristics of FMS. The first is that we ask the community what they need — we do not try to force help on them, and we do not want to take their jobs away. The local community knows their needs better than…
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“To be consoled as to console” – Leonel and his father
The students of the rural Unidad Académica Campesina – Carmen Pampa overcome many obstacles to receive a college education in Bolivia. The indigenous Quechua and Aymara peoples have little access to health care or education and survive by farming small plots. Students often juggle the stresses of school with those of helping their family. Our missioner…
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“Where the is sadness, joy” – A survivor in Kenya
Some of the people overseas with whom our missioners walk have witnessed and experienced horrible tragedies from natural disasters to genocide. Filled with memories of death and destruction, these people still found things in which to rejoice, living out today’s petition from the peace prayer, “Where there is sadness, joy.” Fr. George Corrigan, OFM, reflects on one of the…
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“Where there is darkness…” God’s light in Africa
May the following reflection by one of our first missioners, Megeen White Testa, help us ponder today’s plea from the peace prayer that we might bring light to the darkness.Megeen served in Zimbabwe and Zambia from 1991 to 1993 as part of our first class of lay missioners. After returning to the U.S., she served…
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“Where there is despair, hope” – The blind teenager in El Salvador
“Where there is despair, hope” asks today’s line of the Franciscan Peace Prayer. The blind teenager whom Maria Fernandez met on mission had such dispair that when they met, he cried, “I just want to die.” May this story from Maria’s time in El Salvador (2002-2005) remind us how we can accompany people through their darkest times. Even…
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“Where there is doubt” – Proclaiming the Gospel in South Africa
Tim Marcy gives most of the Sunday homilies at his church in Johannesburg, South Africa. His other ministries include working at the antri-retroviral treatment center and visiting the local hospital. “Many people here lead somewhat restricted social lives primarily, I believe, because most homes are walled-in and gated-off, and people don’t casually visit each other. Deacon…
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“Where there is injury” – Healing presence in El Salvador
From 2004 to 2007, Pat Clausen was on mission as a nurse practitioner in Chiltiúpan, El Salvador. She recounts below a time when the community there came together to support one of her terminal patients. In today’s peace prayer petition, we ask to that the Lord use us to bring pardon where there is injury. …
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“Let Me Sow Love” – Death and Life in Colombia
As we work our through the Franciscan Peace Prayer today’s petition is, “Where is hatred let me sow love.” May the corresponding story remind us to honor the dignity of all people through simple gestures of compassion even in the face of chaos. The author, Tom McGregor (mission class XIV), served in Columbia from 2000 to 2002. Colombia has been…
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Reflect on the Franciscan Peace Prayer with FMS this Lent
Journey with FMS this Lent as we pray and reflect on the famous Franciscan peace prayer. On Mondays and Fridays, we will share mission stories that correspond with the petitions of the prayer. Lord make me an instrument of your peaceWhere there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is error,…
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