The Homegrown Missions

 “Youths or young men who feel a strong desire to toil for the souls of heathen people and who are willing to go afar with no hope of earthly recompense and with no guarantee of a return to their native land are encouraged to write, making their letter personal, to the Editor of Field Afar.” 

This 'call to vocations' was printed in 1911 by James A. Walsh, M.M., editor of the Field Afar. It was a call to join the Maryknoll congregation for foreign missions. The complete story can be found at America here. 

The Maryknoll call to vocations doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties of missionary life; from an earthly standpoint, it looks univiting and without recompense. And yet that didn't stop scores of men and women from enthusiastically signing up to labor in the Lord's vineyard abroad. I would like to see data, but from speculation I don't think this is common today.

When we think of missionaries, we think of going out to foreign nations, evangelizing indigenous tribes maybe, like the Apostles, the great St. Francis Xavier who baptized tens of thousands en masse in the East, or more recently, priests such as Ven Aloysius Schwartz in Korea (check out my friend Kevin Wells' book here). In the modern age, it is less common to equate "Catholic" with "missionary," while the Pentecostals, Mormons, and other evangelicals have stepped in to fill the vacuum left as Catholic clergy age out and the Vatican poo-poos the need for "propheletizing." 

In my mind, though, a missionary's call is simple and straightforward: to bring the Gospel to the people, and the people to Christ. It exists for the purpose of saving souls. When it loses that vision or impetus, it can be very hard, I imagine, to persevere in these backwater hellholes when there is nothing greater to compel one to remain at work there.

Then there is the "New Evangelization" put forth by Pope John Paul II, the call to re-catechize in our own backyards to the modern man who have been baptized but are essential pagans. These are largely "Christian" people who have forgotten the meat of the Gospel; they are very difficult to reach, because they do not see faith or religion as having any role in their lives. I don't know how successful this endeavor has been in making converts--I suspect it is the seed that falls on thorny ground, never taking root. It was a good and noble effort though.

We are not all called to go to India or Africa or the MIddle East, but we are commissioned by our baptism to make disciples of all nations. We can do that right where we are if there is need (and there is), starting in our own backyard. It requires no fundraising, no travel plans, no capital--just time, prayer, zeal, and a willing spirit. 

As more and more people fail to marry and continue to divorce, the rate of loneliness and living (and dying) alone will continue to increase. Especially vulnerable are the elderly who may be shut-ins or forgotten about. They may have literally no one in their life to call, or even pay them a visit. No one may even know they have died until the smell reaches the outside. What tragedy.

What if "missionary work" consisted or identifying these people, beginning correspondance by letter or email, and making periodic visits to listen, help clean their apartment, and share the Gospel with them? This is just one example of doing the work of a missionary in no formal capacity. Of course it could be of great benefit to go "two by two" as our Lord told the disciples. This is just one thought among others. But it gives one a place to start, with souls in one's backyard, as long as one is willing to labor.  Loneliness is going to be a great epidemic in the years to come, and is for many worse than death. 

There is so much we can do as Christians to labor. We can be as creative or simple as we like, but we must be obedient and willing to do the work. We don't have to go to faraway lands, unless that is where God calls a person. We can start in our own backyard doing the work of mercy. A soul is a soul is a soul, and a life a life, that some might be saved.