CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF MISSION

Scarboro Missions celebrates Louise Malnachuk, its longest-serving lay missioner, for her love and commitment to mission and to the people of China. Louise received the following tribute at a celebration of Scarboro's China missioners during the Society's XIth General Chapter in August 2002.

By Fr. Michael Traher, S.F.M., and Beverley Vantomme
October 2002

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Louise came to Scarboro Missions after working 'on the fringes' of Northern Canada, in the Inuit community of Arctic Bay, as a nurse and midwife. She left her career, her golf clubs and her green Camaro to walk in mission with Scarboro Missions.

After a one-year mission preparation program, Louise left for Taiwan and Hong Kong. There she studied Putongua (Mandarin) for almost two years before accepting her first assignment in China, working alongside Scarboro missioner Fr. Brian Swords.

Louise accepted the risk of being the first Scarboro lay missioner to China. She grew to understand and reflect a new way of being in mission. Grounded in her faith, she offers a quiet witness of presence and loving service to the Chinese people.

Despite her love for China, after the 1987 Assembly and Chapter Louise accepted the responsibility of helping to coordinate Scarboro's Formation-Education Department with Fr. Frank Hegel. They worked with new lay and priest candidates training for mission.

In 1988, Louise teamed with Fr. Mike Traher to promote vocations across Canada in university and college campuses, as well as in parishes and high schools.

Returning to China in the early 1990s, Louise's trust in God, commitment to mission, to the Chinese people and to Scarboro Missions continued to grow. During her many years in China, she was at times the only Scarboro presence there.

Louise embraces the challenges of being a lay person in a clerical Society, and the struggles to be accepted and understood in her total commitment to the mission of Christ with Scarboro Missions.

Louise again generously accepted to return to Canada to coordinate the needs of Scarboro's Lay Mission Office from 1997 to 1999. She then returned to China where her heart continues to call her.

We celebrate with Louise her 20 years of being a lay missioner with Scarboro Missions. This is a remarkable record of not only being the longest-serving lay missioner, but also one who has reflected in her life a great loyalty and love for the Society, for mission, and for the people of China.

Louise's mission life is one of humility, compassion, integrity, reflection, energy, joy and vision. We thank God for Louise. May she be blessed and graced.

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