returned missioner
My American Penance and Reconciliation
Editor’s Note: Lifelong missioner, Janice Smullen describes how her way of thinking continues to shift as she learns more about the history of the United States and ways she can live out a journey of reconciliation after returning from mission in Jamaica. I have to admit that I am not a regular attendee of weekly…
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Were You There: Stumbling and Rising
Editor’s note: In a follow-up to his post Libre Soy, recently-returned missioner Jeff Sved reflects on how he sees Christ’s struggles and stumbles on the Way of the Cross reflected in the lives of the friends and inmates with whom he served throughout his ministry. Were you there when Jesus stumbled for the first time?…
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Letting Go of Everyday Life: A Video Reflection
Editor’s Note: In this video reflection, returned missioner Valerie Ellis shares how during her experiences on mission in Bolivia as well as her transition back to the US, she’s had to let go of what she thinks everyday life should look like. [su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbMnhpTwcjA&feature=youtu.be”] Reading this in an email? Watch the video here. Reflection Question: What opportunities are…
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Letting Go Of The Black And White
Editor’s Note: Returned missioner Claire McGarry reflects on how her time on mission with FMS taught her to shift her perspective and have a better appreciation for experiences outside her comfort zone. “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14 I was raised…
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Letting Go: The Freedom to Dare
Editor’s Note: FMS returned missioner and board member Lee Lechtenberg reflects on how a time of great trust while on mission in Bolivia led to a time of great freedom. I lay in bed – falling. In a few days we would be boarding an 11 pm Miami flight south into the darkness. We had sold the house, stored our…
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Letting Go: The Power of Just Being There
Editor’s Note: Returned missioner Claire McGarry reflects on letting go of the desire to “fix” problems and instead using that energy to focus on the importance of accompanying others and presenting them with hope. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galations 6:2 As long as I…
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Letting Go Of Preconceived Notions
Editor’s Note: Returned missioner Claire McGarry reflects on learning to embrace life for what it actually is instead of getting caught up in what she thought it would be. “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” Matthew 11:13-14…
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Comfort and Joy: Bringing the Body of Christ to Others
Editor’s Note: As part of our “Comfort and Joy” Advent/Christmas blog series, FMS board member and returned missioner Doug Garofalo shares some of his experiences from his time on mission in Brazil. At my home Parish of St. Peter’s in River Edge, NJ, there is a ritual at the end of each Mass whenever there is a…
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Simple Prayers
In honor of our 25th anniversary and our nearing World Care Benefit and Celebration, we share a poem with you from our June 1996 World Care newsletter written by returned missioner Fr. George Corrigan. It serves as a reminder to us that we should never be too busy to say a simple prayer to the Lord, and…
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The Search for the Heart – Remembering Margaret
It is with great sadness that we share news of the death of Margaret Hughes, a returned missioner and former board member. Margaret passed away at the age 51 on Christmas Day after a long battle with stage IV breast cancer, leaving behind Eddie, her husband of 15 years, and Thomas, her 12-year-old son. Having…
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New Board Members: Welcome, Fr. Tom Washburn and Thomas McGregor
Franciscan Mission Service welcomes two new board members: Fr. Tom Washburn (OFM), and returned missioner Thomas McGregor! Their invitation and acceptance illustrates the balance and richness of Franciscan Mission Service’s board through Fr. Tom’s pastoral experience as an ordained Franciscan priest as well as Thomas’ experiences as a missioner in El Salvador and Colombia. Bringing…
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Returned Missioner Lorraine Kelley on Mission and Reconciliation Pt. III
This is part of a three part series by Lorraine Kelley: “Mission and Reconciliation” Part I Part II Part III Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, returned missioner Lorraine Kelley (Bolivia, 1994-2002) writes about her faith’s relationship to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and experiences on mission. Mission is a very important…
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Mission Monday: Back to School in Guatemala
Kathy Snider, who served with Franciscan Mission Service from 1998-2000, was so moved by her experience that she decided to return to Guatemala. She continues to live in and serve the remote jungle community in Santaigo Ixcan through her own non-profit, Ixcan Ministries. As students in the U.S. begin the “back to school” season, Kathy…
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Mission Monday: Friends from the Streets of Bolivia to the Seats of the United Nations
While abroad, our lay missioners are invited into the community to share in the local peoples’ lives, culture, and ministries. This leads to strong bonds, so missioners who are able stay in touch with the community and go back to visit. Lay missioner Ginny Dachenhausen on mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia from 2007 to 2010. Ginny…
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Lifelong Accompaniment: Being inspired by our Returned Missioners
For more photos from our returned missioner retreat, please see our online album. Domestic Volunteer Sarah Hoffeditz writes about her experience last weekend as the Franciscan Mission Service staff joined some of our returned missioners in Colorado for a retreat we host every three years for those who have served with us. Their stories were…
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Mission Monday: Why We Do Re-Entry
Rhonda Miska, who co-facilitated two re-entry retreats at Franciscan Mission Service this January, talks about the importance of the re-entry process on returning missioners. Co-facilitator Rhonda Miska singing during morning prayer with returned missioners Catherine Giller and Nora Pfeiffer, both of whom served for three years in Bolivia. When I explained to my friends and…
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Mission and Motherhood: Growing in God
Patty Sollmann, returned missioner and mother of three “I compare my mission experience to motherhood, and the impact that motherhood has on one’s life,” says Patty Sollmann, who served in Guatemala from 1992 to 1994 as part of FMS’ second lay mission class. “Both have stretched me and challenged me to embrace God’s plan of…
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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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“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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International Women’s Day 2012: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty
FMS missioner Emily Ward (Bolivia, 2006-2009) with women in the Tantakun bakery of Mineros San Juan in Ushpa-Uspha, Bolivia. Happy International Women’s Day! Today, organizations and individuals across the world recognize that securing peace, social progress, freedom and the enjoyment of human rights depends on the participation, equality and development of women. The United Nations…
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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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Prayers for Christmas: Generous Heart and Perseverance
Dan McNeil on mission in Novosibirsk, Siberia (1992-1995) Today’s prayer comes from returned missioner Dan McNeil who served in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Russia from 1992 to 1995. “My prayer for the New Year is what I pray nearly each day: Lord, help me to be good soil; ready to receive you with a generous…
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Prayers for Christmas: Life and Health
“A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” – Matthew 2:18/Jeremiah 31:15 Massacre of the Innocents On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, the Church remembers the boys under the age of two near Bethlehem who were killed in Herod’s fury. Two…
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Prayers for Christmas: Silent Night
Today’s prayer for Christmas comes from Rhegan Hyypio, FMS program director and returned missioner who served in Brazil from 2005 to 2007 and Bolivia from 2007 to 2008. “May we truly hear the cry of the poor, hungry, sick, afflicted and marginalized in our midst this Christmas. And may we respond in love, acting with…
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Prayers for Christmas: More of God, Less of Us
John the Baptist spent his life announcing the coming of Christ. When Jesus was beginning his public ministry, John said “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). John had done his job in baptizing with water, and it was now time to step aside for the one who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit.…
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Prayers for Christmas: The Poor and Tolerance
Fred Cain in Brazil “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” – Responsorial psalm appointed for today. Our prayer for Christmas comes from Fred Cain, one of our returned missioners who served in Brazil from 1999 to 2001. “This Christmas, I am thankful for the reminder that Jesus is among us in the guise…
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Prayers for Christmas: Comfort and Hope
Kathy Snider on mission in Guatemala, 1998 to 2000. Today’s prayer for Christmas comes from returned missioner Kathy Snider: “My prayer for Christmas is for those who have experienced loss of a loved one due to death or separation, of home due to natural disasters or foreclosure, of food and due to drought and poverty,…
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