Guest Editorial

Sharing a common vision

By Dean Riley
October 2000

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We are scattered around the globe and some of us have never even met, yet we are inextricably bound together by our faith and commitment as Scarboro lay missioners.

Since 1974, 74 lay missioners have served overseas with the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society. At present, one quarter of the people who serve the Church through Scarboro Missions are lay people. Lay women and men commit to Scarboro for a three-year term. Although an individual may renew for subsequent three-year terms, according to the Code of Canon Law, full and life-long membership with the Society as a lay person is not achievable.

The Scarboro Lay Mission programme has been growing steadily over the past number of years. At present, more laity are in association with Scarboro than at any other time in the past. In total we are 21, with 17 serving overseas and four others assisting in mission administration here at Scarboro’s central house in Scarborough, Canada.

Among us are women and men, single and married, young and old. We are teachers, providers of healthcare, carpenters and social workers. We are working in Latin America with three members in Ecuador and four in Guyana. We are present in Asia, with four members in China and two in Thailand; and we are in East Central Africa with four members living and serving in Malawi. We are scattered around the globe and some of us have never even met, yet we are inextricably bound together by our faith and commitment as Scarboro lay missioners. In a very real way, we are a close knit family of strangers.

In many ways, the notion of a ‘lay missioner’ is a relatively new one. Some of us may have misguided ideas about what a lay person does in mission, or how a lay person lives out his or her mission vocation. In this issue of Scarboro Missions magazine, you will read many articles written by our lay missioners. Our hope is that their stories will provide you with a more accurate vision of the commitment, faith and values we have in common.

In this issue, Barb Deg, now serving in Malawi, reflects on her experiences during the Scarboro mission preparation programme. Mary Lou Howard shares with us her life as an English teacher in Guiyang province, China. Georgina and Paddy Phalen relate stories of their close relationships with students at a rehabilitation institute in Thailand where they live and work. Eric Lagacé writes about his Ecuadorian friend and restaurateur, Victor Hugo, who lives in the Andean city of Riobamba where, until recently, Eric was in mission. Eric now serves in the city of Cuenca, about 150 kilometres to the south.

In addition, Carolyn Beukeboom relates her experiences of saying goodbye to her family in Canada and her insertion into the life of her host family while at Spanish language school in Bolivia. Cynthia Chu reflects on her discernment to go to mission, her application process and the orientation programme at Scarboro Missions. Lorraine Reaume looks back on her years of mission in Bolivia, the time she spent working in Scarboro administration at home and new journeys about to begin.

And finally, Beverley and Ray Vantomme paint for us a wonderful picture of the rich liturgical celebrations of the people of Malawi. We offer you these small treasures as a way of providing a glimpse into the life of a lay missioner. We encourage you to read these stories, allowing them to shape images and ideas and dreams in your mind about the reality of life and struggle of the lay missioner.

In January 2001 we will welcome seven new candidates into our Lay Mission Preparation Programme. They come to Scarboro with hopes and doubts. They come with their talents and their brokenness. They come in a spirit well described by Lorraine Reaume’s words: “I have learned to trust our marvellous God who lures us to new life in mysterious ways.”

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