Of old hands and angels

An invitation to share the experience of mission

By Fr. Brian Swords, S.F.M.
January 2004

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article

Here in China, when new Scarboro missioners join our team, we usually assign one of the team to be their 'guardian angel', a support person to show them the ropes and to answer their questions.

If those individuals who feel called to serve in mission are made aware of this built-in support and security, I believe they will be willing to continue their journey in faith with less trepidation.

Members of Scarboro mission teams overseas support each other. Maybe you could share this fact with someone whom you feel is responding to God's call to be in mission? Some are called as priests, others as religious, and still others as lay people. The call is unique and the response is shared. Passing information along causes no harm and people may store what you have told them for future use.

Going out of one's own culture and geographic locale is still fundamental to our faith. It is an indispensable aspect of our Catholicism. We are incomplete; we need others as they need us. Together we make up those who have been redeemed. Together we forge God's family, the children of God.

My 20-year journey in response to God's call has taken me to the Far East-the Philippines, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Myanmar. I have lived and worked in developing areas as well as developed ones. I have stretched my palate with spicy local dishes and exotic foods such as snake and dog. Language has been a challenge and it is wonderful when I am finally able to speak to people without a translator.

In my pilgrimage I have come to appreciate that being 'with people' is the quintessential aspect of mission. In China, this translates into presence. The government of China accepts people as teachers and is beginning to open up to nongovernmental organizations. However, it has a strict position not to allow religious into the country to evangelize. Therefore, Scarboro missioners serve in China by teaching English. We are employed by universities and colleges as part of their foreign language faculty.

Being a quiet, prayerful presence here has altered my outlook, broadening my perspective. Hopefully this is in a way that enhances and contributes to a greater realization of what it means to be truly catholic or universal.

Should you feel called and wish to afford yourself the service of 'old hands' or 'guardian angels,' we welcome you to come and further explore the nature of your call in the environment of mission here in the Far East.

Return to Table of Contents
Print Article