September 17, 2017
Hi. I am Deacon Matt Dulka, with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. For over the past 20 years I have been a mission educator in the U.S. and I'd like to share with you our reflections for Catechetical Sunday this year.
To begin, I ask you to take a moment and think about someone in your life who has shown you love. For many of us, this may be our parents or grandparents. For others it might be a friend or perhaps even a random stranger who reached out to us when we were in need.
This is why I ask you to remember this person in a special way today: This weekend, as Church throughout the U.S., we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. So why would we associate those people who taught us love with Catechetical Sunday? The reason is that it is the job of the catechist to accompany us and form us to better understand who God is. And, put in the simplest terms, God is love. Catechists teach us about love, God's love.
The theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday is “Living as Missionary Disciples.”
What does it means to “live as a missionary disciple?” In parishes I often ask folks to raise their hands if they consider themselves to be a disciple, or a follower of Jesus? Most raise your hands. Then I ask how many consider themselves to be a missionary? Usually only a few hands go up. For many of us, we grew up thinking of ourselves as disciples, but not as missionaries. The missionaries were those courageous men and women, like the Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers and Sisters who went off at a young age to foreign places to bring the Good News. Our job back home was just to pay and pray.
Pope Francis reminds us that it is not that simple. He tells us that we are not only disciples but also missionaries. In fact he says you can't separate the two. And, that we all become missionary disciples when we are baptized. The catechists have their work cut out for them, to help us truly live out our baptismal call to be both missionaries and disciples.
Being a missionary disciple isn't as difficult as it sounds. In fact, that's what we were created to be. We are hardwired for that. God is love and God’s mission is to share that love with us. When we accept God's love, and let it take root deep in our hearts, the most natural thing to do is to share that love with other people. When we share that love with other people, we are participating in God's mission as missionary disciples.
Since our founding over 100 years ago, Maryknoll has been involved in forming and accompanying catechists to do this work of missionary discipleship in dozens of countries around the world. Over 40 years ago, Maryknoll pioneered a three-year formation program to train catechists in rural Tanzania to be pastoral workers. Today, in Cochabamba Bolivia Maryknoll runs a cutting edge missionary discipleship center to train Hispanic leaders and catechists from all over Latin America for service throughout world.
Our work in forming missionary disciples is not limited to overseas. We also work here in the U.S. helping catechists become better missionary disciples. Through our formation programs and immersion trips, we accompany and form Catholic school teachers, parish catechists, formation leaders, deacon couples, young adults and others. Our goal is to help them better connect their local ministry in the parishes and dioceses with the broader global mission of the Church. Through these programs they are able expand their horizons to integrate global solidarity and Catholic social teaching into their local programs of forming missionary disciples.
Let me give you a local example of how this works. Matt Gray is a catechist in Pleasanton, California who works with RCIA ministry. Matt has been through our missionary discipleship program. He has also gone on several of our mission immersion experiences, including our domestic trip to work with the homeless in the San Francisco tenderloin, as well as overseas trips to Haiti and Juarez, Mexico.
Particularly during his trip to Haiti, Matt had to leave his comfort zone and cross both geographic and cultural borders. In taking this risk, he encountered people who truly live on the margins in one of the poorest countries, where after many years they still grapple with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. As he encountered the people and listened to their stories of both struggle and hope, an interesting exchange happened.
Matt didn’t physically build or fix anything when he was there. What happened was a far more profound and enduring transformation. Matt came back and shared this insight: “Haitians experience first-hand what we preach: A faithful God who never abandons His people; His love is stronger than human misery.” Matt was transformed by encountering God through the faith and hope of the Haitian people.
For the Haitians that Matt encountered in the clinic, orphanage, parish and school he visited, they came to know through Matt that they are not alone in their struggles. They realized that they have brothers and sisters as far away as Pleasanton, California who care about them and are connected with them in the bonds of missionary discipleship. They were affirmed and experienced God’s love through Matt.
The fruits of this encounter were brought back by Matt to the parish as he incorporates these stories of global solidarity in his parish RCIA ministry. Also, Matt continues to make connections between here and there. Earlier this year, Matt and others from the parish, worked with Maryknoll Affiliates and a group of Buddhists in Hayward to make hundreds of protein rich meals that were sent to feed hungry Haitians.
Matt’s experience is just one of hundreds of stories I could share with you about how catechists help us live as missionary disciples. I just came back this past Wednesday from leading a group of U.S. parish ministers on an immersion trip to El Salvador. With a long history of oppression, El Salvador still recovers from the civil war in the 1980’s that resulted in the martyrdom of Blessed Oscar Romero and countless catechists who preached love during a time of horrendous violence. Today Salvadoran catechists continue the never ending ministry of forgiveness, reconciliation and peacemaking that we just heard about in today’s readings.
Missionary discipleship only happens in the context of community, working together. We need your partnership and your help in forming missionary disciples both here in the U.S. and in other countries, who are grounded in global solidarity.
I invite you to join us in broadening your own horizons and deepening your solidarity with others around the world. Visit our website at www.maryknoll.us to learn more about joining one of our local missionary discipleship formation programs or participating in a life changing mission immersion trip or short term mission experience, like Matt did.
In closing, we want to thank all of you in this community who share God’s love with others, from those who do it everyday at home and work, and in our schools and neighborhoods, to those who work more formally in faith formation as parish leaders and catechists. Together as missionary disciples we are building God's kingdom of love.
Peace,
Deacon Matt
Deacon Matt Dulka coordinates Maryknoll's mission education teams and efforts in the U.S.
Hi. I am Deacon Matt Dulka, with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. For over the past 20 years I have been a mission educator in the U.S. and I'd like to share with you our reflections for Catechetical Sunday this year.
To begin, I ask you to take a moment and think about someone in your life who has shown you love. For many of us, this may be our parents or grandparents. For others it might be a friend or perhaps even a random stranger who reached out to us when we were in need.
 |
| Missionary Disciples in El Salvador |
The theme for this year’s Catechetical Sunday is “Living as Missionary Disciples.”
Pope Francis reminds us that it is not that simple. He tells us that we are not only disciples but also missionaries. In fact he says you can't separate the two. And, that we all become missionary disciples when we are baptized. The catechists have their work cut out for them, to help us truly live out our baptismal call to be both missionaries and disciples.
Being a missionary disciple isn't as difficult as it sounds. In fact, that's what we were created to be. We are hardwired for that. God is love and God’s mission is to share that love with us. When we accept God's love, and let it take root deep in our hearts, the most natural thing to do is to share that love with other people. When we share that love with other people, we are participating in God's mission as missionary disciples.
In other words, a missionary disciple is somebody who goes forth in joy to share God’s love with others. For most of us, we do this everyday at home, school and work and in our parishes and neighborhoods.But Pope Francis challenges us to keep expanding our horizons and venture out to the places where love is most needed, to the people who have been told that they have no value, to those on the periphery and margins who are suffering. This involves leaving the security of our comfort zone, crossing borders and encountering strangers. He tells us that if we take the risk of doing this, we will not only bring love to others, but that we will encounter God in new and exciting ways, that we find purpose and meaning in our lives, and that we will will experience the deep joy that God intends for each of us. Who doesn’t want more of that?
Since our founding over 100 years ago, Maryknoll has been involved in forming and accompanying catechists to do this work of missionary discipleship in dozens of countries around the world. Over 40 years ago, Maryknoll pioneered a three-year formation program to train catechists in rural Tanzania to be pastoral workers. Today, in Cochabamba Bolivia Maryknoll runs a cutting edge missionary discipleship center to train Hispanic leaders and catechists from all over Latin America for service throughout world.
Our work in forming missionary disciples is not limited to overseas. We also work here in the U.S. helping catechists become better missionary disciples. Through our formation programs and immersion trips, we accompany and form Catholic school teachers, parish catechists, formation leaders, deacon couples, young adults and others. Our goal is to help them better connect their local ministry in the parishes and dioceses with the broader global mission of the Church. Through these programs they are able expand their horizons to integrate global solidarity and Catholic social teaching into their local programs of forming missionary disciples.
Let me give you a local example of how this works. Matt Gray is a catechist in Pleasanton, California who works with RCIA ministry. Matt has been through our missionary discipleship program. He has also gone on several of our mission immersion experiences, including our domestic trip to work with the homeless in the San Francisco tenderloin, as well as overseas trips to Haiti and Juarez, Mexico.
 |
| Matt Gray on his trip to Haiti |
Particularly during his trip to Haiti, Matt had to leave his comfort zone and cross both geographic and cultural borders. In taking this risk, he encountered people who truly live on the margins in one of the poorest countries, where after many years they still grapple with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. As he encountered the people and listened to their stories of both struggle and hope, an interesting exchange happened.
Matt didn’t physically build or fix anything when he was there. What happened was a far more profound and enduring transformation. Matt came back and shared this insight: “Haitians experience first-hand what we preach: A faithful God who never abandons His people; His love is stronger than human misery.” Matt was transformed by encountering God through the faith and hope of the Haitian people.
For the Haitians that Matt encountered in the clinic, orphanage, parish and school he visited, they came to know through Matt that they are not alone in their struggles. They realized that they have brothers and sisters as far away as Pleasanton, California who care about them and are connected with them in the bonds of missionary discipleship. They were affirmed and experienced God’s love through Matt.
The fruits of this encounter were brought back by Matt to the parish as he incorporates these stories of global solidarity in his parish RCIA ministry. Also, Matt continues to make connections between here and there. Earlier this year, Matt and others from the parish, worked with Maryknoll Affiliates and a group of Buddhists in Hayward to make hundreds of protein rich meals that were sent to feed hungry Haitians.
Matt’s experience is just one of hundreds of stories I could share with you about how catechists help us live as missionary disciples. I just came back this past Wednesday from leading a group of U.S. parish ministers on an immersion trip to El Salvador. With a long history of oppression, El Salvador still recovers from the civil war in the 1980’s that resulted in the martyrdom of Blessed Oscar Romero and countless catechists who preached love during a time of horrendous violence. Today Salvadoran catechists continue the never ending ministry of forgiveness, reconciliation and peacemaking that we just heard about in today’s readings.
 |
| Deacon Matt with the U.S. and Salvadoran parish ministers. |
While we were there, we visited a parish where two Maryknoll priests minister. We were able to pair the U.S. parish ministers with local Salvadoran catechists to accompany them on home visits in the community. It was amazing to see missionary disciples from the U.S. go out together with missionary disciples from El Salvador. Just like the Gospel passage when Jesus sent the disciples in pairs to go out on mission, they back rejoicing. Each one mutually enriched, affirmed and transformed by the encounter together.
Missionary discipleship only happens in the context of community, working together. We need your partnership and your help in forming missionary disciples both here in the U.S. and in other countries, who are grounded in global solidarity.
I invite you to join us in broadening your own horizons and deepening your solidarity with others around the world. Visit our website at www.maryknoll.us to learn more about joining one of our local missionary discipleship formation programs or participating in a life changing mission immersion trip or short term mission experience, like Matt did.
In closing, we want to thank all of you in this community who share God’s love with others, from those who do it everyday at home and work, and in our schools and neighborhoods, to those who work more formally in faith formation as parish leaders and catechists. Together as missionary disciples we are building God's kingdom of love.
Peace,
Deacon Matt
Deacon Matt Dulka coordinates Maryknoll's mission education teams and efforts in the U.S.
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