Mission Co-op 2015

08-30-2015Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

Let me begin with a short walk down memory lane. Growing up Catholic in Stevens Point, I was well acclimated to the diocesan tradition of an annual mission appeal. Among my early memories of going to weekend Mass was being part of the congregation when foreigners came to make appeal for their mission. Foreigners needs to be explained here just a little more. As a child, any priest who was not my Pastor was a foreigner to me.

Add to that, a visiting priest who often spoke with an English accent much different from what I was accustomed to in central Wisconsin. To go on, I remember these mission appeals made little sense to me, probably because Church in general didn’t make much sense to me. I have a vague memory of taking home brochures or envelopes, looking at the pictures of unfamiliar faces, and knowing that these people had a life with much different challenges than my own. Honestly, my outlook of missionaries remained similar to these first impressions until I was in graduate school; but at least my impressions changed. Have yours?

Now fast forward to my earliest assignment in a teaching parish in the outskirts of Baltimore, MD, along with my experience as a priest/Pastor in the Diocese of La Crosse. Mission appeals seem to have a long-standing tradition in most dioceses in our nation. As I had a more mature of the missionary speakers, I really became curious about their experience and work for the Gospel. Honestly, I admire, and perhaps find myself a little envious, of the experiences missionaries have. They overcome a different climate, different people, different food, different language, different belief systems, different a lot of things. They also have a first-hand experience of the dramatic difference they make to individuals, villages and communities. Missionaries, who choose human relationships over all, have the unique opportunity to see God’s work through living the Gospel of love!

I am confident that I do not have to look too far back into my memory to recall missionaries whose work left an impact upon my life. Perhaps you’ve had the same experience. Then, when I’ve chosen to be generous with my prayers and money to the missions, I’ve had the satisfaction that somehow, in some way, I’ve made a difference in someone’s life through support of missionaries. I know how much the Gospel means to me and I can only hope that the work of missionaries will help the Gospel make a difference to someone whom I may never know until our Lord comes back again.

Next weekend, Fr. Jerry Rogers will be at our Masses making a mission appeal. I know that you will listen well to his message and prayerfully consider making a contribution to support his work. If anything, you will join many in admiring the courage and zeal missionaries have to share the message of Jesus Christ. If you are not comfortable making a financial contribution at this time, please join in praying for his mission along with missionaries around the world. With our prayers and God’s help, we will continue to lead people to Jesus by supporting the work of missionaries.

A message from Fr. Jerry Rogers: The weekend of September 5/6 we will welcome Father Jerry Rogers from St. Mary’s Mission on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Northwest, Minnesota. He will share with us the blessings and the challenges that his people face and make an Appeal for St. Mary’s Mission School, the Church’s commitment to justice that holds the hope to better meet the challenges. Father comes to us as part of the Diocese of La Crosse’s Cooperative Mission Program.

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