A graced gathering

By Beverley Vantomme
January/February 2003

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Retired Scarboro missioner Bishop Paul McHugh blesses Beverley Vantomme. At the final mass of the Assembly and Chapter meetings, missioners went forward in twos to bless and .send. each other for the service of mission. Retired Scarboro missioner Bishop Paul McHugh blesses Beverley Vantomme. At the final mass of the Assembly and Chapter meetings, missioners went forward in twos to bless and "send" each other for the service of mission.

As my husband Ray and I reflect on our recent Assembly and Chapter experience, we again feel energized, renewed and hope-filled. It is difficult to put into words exactly how this very important gathering of missioners has changed us personally and as a Society. We feel humbled.

We gathered as missionaries; we gathered in a relationship model of doing mission of mutuality, of equality, a model of searching for and experiencing God in each other, a model of mutual conversion a truly missionary experience.

We came to share our personhood, gifts and experience of God among those we pray, live and work with... We came to celebrate our common history, our present experience, and to vision and define our future together.

Many of our missionary priests and lay members we had not met prior to the Assembly and others we came to know better during this time together. We heard many stories and, in a very real way, shared in the missionary lives of those priests and laity who have shaped and defined Scarboro Missions over the years.

We felt proud to be a part of this community as we listened to each other's struggles, personal pain, celebrations, joys and giftedness. It was apparent to us that being in relationship is most important; that entering people's lives is at the very core of who we are as a community of missionaries, whether we are priest or lay, in overseas mission or serving in Canada. We all earnestly witness our mission through lives of love, humility and justice. We all serve the reign of God.

Celebrating the peoples of Malawi (L-R): Fr. Mike Traher, and lay missioners to Malawi, Ray Vantomme, Mary Olenick, and Beverley Vantomme. Celebrating the peoples of Malawi (L-R): Fr. Mike Traher, and lay missioners to Malawi, Ray Vantomme, Mary Olenick, and Beverley Vantomme.

Each of us has been formed by the cultures we mission in, and during this Assembly and Chapter we often had different observations, reflections, opinions and expectations. Yet we were able to share these in a spirit of openness, respect and trust. During the formal aspect of the Assembly and Chapter, we experienced an egalitarian process of consensus and decision-making.

Some tender moments and memories of this graced gathering were the daily attendance and generous participation of many sick and elder priests, often while being in pain; a 20-year lay member having just been diagnosed with cancer and participating with tremendous energy; the social times and singalongs.

Other special memories were the many celebrations of the Eucharist in which the local people whom we serve were celebrated and we remembered those missioners, both past and present, who have served. Our eyes filled with tears as we observed two of our elder priests, Fr. Vic Vachon and Fr. Lionel Walsh, both still active in mission in the Dominican Republic, excitedly preparing and practicing the night before the Eucharistic celebration for that mission.

It is in thanksgiving to our Canadian parishes that we seek to give expression to mission both overseas and in Canada. We are missioned from our local parishes and it is hopefully through these parishes that the bonds of communion between the sending and receiving churches are strengthened.

BEING IN RELATIONSHIP IS MOST IMPORTANT. ENTERING PEOPLE'S LIVES IS AT THE VERY CORE OF WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY OF MISSIONARIES.

My husband Ray and I have been nourished and encouraged by our sending parish, St. Francis Xavier in Camrose, Alberta.

Scarboro Missions is nourished and encouraged by the mission and ministry of our staff and benefactors, past and present, who support and sustain us. Scarboro Missions is blessed and graced by their caring and goodness.

Guided by the Spirit, this Assembly and Chapter has inspired energy, excitement, renewed passion for mission, and hope in our Scarboro community.

Veteran missioners to the Dominican Republic, Fr. Lionel Walsh (L) and Fr. Vic Vachon, at the mass celebrating the peoples of that mission and Scarboro's journey with them. Veteran missioners to the Dominican Republic, Fr. Lionel Walsh (L) and Fr. Vic Vachon, at the mass celebrating the peoples of that mission and Scarboro.s journey with them.
At the Assembly, priest and lay members worked together to set priorities for the future. Guyana missioners Fr. Russ Sampson and lay missioner Magda vanZyl, take part in an exercise to identify areas of priority for the Society. At the Assembly, priest and lay members worked together to set priorities for the future. Guyana missioners Fr. Russ Sampson and lay missioner Magda vanZyl, take part in an exercise to identify areas of priority for the Society.

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