Texas Mission Council [TMC] News Notes
The TMC has completed the work on the GUIDELINES FOR MISSION EXPERIENCES during our 2007 annual conference, and you can find the original set of guidelines here.
We wish to make these guidelines available to all who wish to do short term mission, especially for the many parishes, diocese, and other pious organization that wish to take part in a short term mission experiences and feel the need for some guidance to make the immersion trip meaningful and worthwhile.
The complete set of guidelines is available here.
Developed under the direction of Julie Lupien, a former missioner to Africa and the Caribbean, and an expert in the task of understanding Short Term Mission (a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months), the Texas Mission Council Members dedicated this year’s entire meeting to the task of producing a complete Short Term Mission Immersion Program (STMIP), which the TMC Executive Committee fine-tuned at their tri-annual meeting following the conference.
The STMIP represents the combined efforts of 75 conference members who produced this landmark work of mission strategy. And now we are happy to be able to present it to all mission sending groups, not only in Texas, but anywhere in the country where mission is understood as an integral part of living our faith.
We also wish to invite all who wish to understand the mission of the Church today to join us in the Texas Mission Council’s annual conference for 2008 which will be held Friday – Sunday February 15, 16 & 17, 2008 at the Christian Renewal Center near Houston, Texas.
Complete Information about the conference and details on how to participate will be published in this newsletter in the September 2007 issue as well as being posted in many diocesan news papers.
JOSEF GERARDUS DONDERS
We are happy and proud to announce that Father Josef G. Donders, a member of the Society of Missionaries of Africa (Formerly know as the White Fathers) will be the keynote speaker and director of dialogue at the 2008 conference of the TMC. Fr. Donders has taught at Universities in Europe, Africa, and the United States, as well as authored numerous books on Mission, Peace  and Justice, and the Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II. Perhaps he is best known in the United States as the Finian Kerwin OFM Chair of Mission and Cross-Cultural Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Washington, DC, from 1986-2003. His many books include: Jesus the Stranger - 1979 Preaching and Praying the Sunday Gospels - 1988 Charged with the Spirit - 1993 John Paul II, the Encyclicals in everyday language – 1997. Of special interest to participants in the TMC 2008 conference will be the theme expressed in the 1993 book, Charged with the Spirit, whose subtitle is Mission is for Everyone. Having taught on three continents, and been a long term missioner in Africa, he brings a wealth of information and experience to both long term and short term missioners. And known for his “Down Home”, easily understood style of presentation and the wealth of his understanding of the critical subjects of both today’s missionary activities and its often changing face, Fr Donders seems able to uplift and inspire his audience. More information and on Fr Donders and the 2008 TMC annual conference (February 15-17) will be at this website in September of 2007.
Missioners must learn to appreciate the Customs and culture of the people with whom they live and serve in foreign lands. I rose hurriedly before sunrise in Bachajon, Chiapas in Mexico. I had to deliver an urgent message to Manuel, a catechist, who was returning to his village on the 5:00 a.m. bus. As I rushed down the only street in town, I saw Juan, another catechist. I eagerly exclaimed, “Juan, have you seen Manuel? I need to tell him something that the meeting will be on…..” Juan waited until I stopped for breath, and then, with the exquisite courtesy of his people, extending his hand, smiled and said, “Good morning Sister”.
Sister Marian Pahl, M.M.
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