A Journey in Faith

Scarboro Laity in Mission

By John & Jean MacInnis
October/November 2006

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For two weeks this past August 21 lay missioners assembled at Scarboro's central-house in Toronto. Most had not seen each other since leaving for their respective missions, and some missioners were meeting each other for the first time. The gathering was a time to share our stories of the joys, sorrows and challenges of mission; it was a time for community and a time for consensus decision-making.

From this gathering, the Scarboro lay missioners chose Kate O'Donnell and Mary Olenick as the new coordinating team for the Lay Mission Office. This challenging task will include developing and implementing Scarboro's lay preparation program for candidates discerning a missionary vocation; promoting Scarboro Missions throughout Canada; and being the contact persons responding to the needs of Scarboro lay missioners overseas.

Kate, originally from St. Catharine's Diocese, has been in mission in New Amsterdam, Guyana. Mary, from the Archdiocese of Winnipeg, has been working in the Diocese of Mzuzu in Rumphi, Malawi. We congratulate both women for this vote of confidence from the Scarboro lay community. As the present coordinators, we look forward to passing along this important responsibility to Kate and Mary at the end of our term in the spring of 2007.

At our August 2006 gathering the lay missioners agreed to a statement on a proposal for partnership to be presented at Scarboro Missions' next General Chapter in June 2007. The partnership model is hoped to form another chapter in the story of Scarboro Missions' journey with the laity.

In 1974 Scarboro Missions began accepting laity to serve with its priest members in cross-cultural mission. At present we are 23 lay missioners – five serving here in Canada and 18 serving overseas in Africa, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Guyana and Thailand.

During these more than 30 years, Scarboro lay and priest members have served together in various ministries. These include adult education, teaching, health care, prison ministry, pastoral ministry, community organization/education, construction and most significantly presence. The work we are engaged in varies with our talents, yet it is in the simple act of relationship with the people that our journey is most profound. Through our openness to the other we encounter God in new ways.

In this issue of Scarboro Missions magazine, each story reveals a unique experience of God and of our relationships with the people we walk with in mission. From these encounters, we are forever changed. In the feature, Where are they now? three of our former missioners share how their lives continue to be motivated by their cross-cultural experience with Scarboro Missions. We offer you these small treasures as a way of providing a glimpse into the life of a lay missioner: serving in faith, guided by the Spirit.

And so, we continue this wonderful journey in faith, trust and thanksgiving to God for our Scarboro community, for our families, and for you, our friend and benefactor, who make this journey possible.

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