Embarking on a new journey

Five participants complete Scarboro's 2008 Lay Mission Preparation Program

November/December 2008

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L-R: Kate O'Donnell co-coordinator of Scarboro's Lay Mission Office along with Mary Olenick (far right), celebrate with new missioners Leslie Paranuik, Sr. Ann MacDonald, Sr. Anie Montejo, and Patty and David MacDonald after they completed Scarboro's Lay Mission Preparation Program. L-R: Kate O'Donnell co-coordinator of Scarboro's Lay Mission Office along with Mary Olenick (far right), celebrate with new missioners Leslie Paranuik, Sr. Ann MacDonald, Sr. Anie Montejo, and Patty and David MacDonald after they completed Scarboro's Lay Mission Preparation Program.

Sr. Ann MacDonald, Sisters of St. Joseph
"...I make this commitment today, knowing that I have the loving support and prayers of my community, the Sisters of St. Joseph, my family, my friends, my parish community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Windsor, Ontario, and the Scarboro Missions community...I believe that the Spirit's power and love working within me can do infinitely more that I can ask or imagine. So it is with this belief and God's grace that I say Yes to this call."

As I reflect on how I came to be living in Mzuzu, Malawi, as a Sister of St Joseph, I am reminded of one of the sayings of our founder, John Pierre M.daille. In "The Maxims of Perfection" he writes: "Never go ahead of grace by an imprudent eagerness, but quietly await its movements, and when it comes to you, go along with it with great gentleness, humility, fidelity and courage."

When I decided to engage in a discernment process with members of my religious community and with parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, I knew that I would gain some clarity to the question that had been in my mind and heart for the past few years: Where is it that I am to be at this time in my life as I enter my 60th year?

With prayer, reflection, the support of my community, along with the encouragement of my family and the parish family, it became clearer over the months that I was being called to live out my Baptismal commitment in a deeper way. I see this call to live and work as a Scarboro missioner as an extension of my Baptismal call, which is a call to be a disciple and to serve the dear neighbour wherever I am sent.

At her parish missioning ceremony, Sr. Ann MacDonald is blessed by (L-R) Kate O'Donnell of Scarboro Missions, Christine Toffolin, pastoral minister, and Fr. Nelson Cabral. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windsor, Ontario. At her parish missioning ceremony, Sr. Ann MacDonald is blessed by (L-R) Kate O'Donnell of Scarboro Missions, Christine Toffolin, pastoral minister, and Fr. Nelson Cabral. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Windsor, Ontario.

The missioning ceremony on May 25, 2008, brought together family and friends, members of my religious community and my parish community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Scarboro missioners. It was a day of grace as I was blessed and anointed for mission among the people of Malawi for the next three years.

In his homily Scarboro's Superior General Fr. Jack Lynch said: "Our gratitude for the gift of life and salvation must be expressed by the way we live. To be a witness to the gift of life and the love of God is not something optional but should be the distinguishing mark by which we are known as Christians."

I pray that I may be this witness as I walk with the people of Malawi.

Anie Montejo
"As a global citizen, I, Anie Montejo, face the challenge to listen to my call as a Christian missionary through the charism of Our Lady's Missionaries. I ask God's blessings that I will be aware of God's presence in each person, time, situation, and place, and be able to recognize the sacredness of everything I encounter in my journey."

Our Lady's Missionary Sr. Anie Montejo took part in Scarboro's 2008 Mission Preparation Program and is now serving in the Philippines.

Leslie Paranuik
"...I stand before you and commit to this call with gratitude for the support that has been given to me by my family and friends, my parish of St. Edmunds in Stoco, Ontario, and by the Scarboro community."

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched they must be felt in the heart..." Helen Keller

The above quote has captured in words my first impression of Malawi. Being sent on mission to Africa has been a dream since childhood and now has become a reality through the Scarboro Lay Mission Program. Malawi is known as the warm heart of Africa and this is so true as I have felt warmly embraced by the people since my arrival in the city of Mzuzu on June 15, 2008.

New missioner Leslie Paranuik with a friend in Malawi. New missioner Leslie Paranuik with a friend in Malawi.

In my first weeks here, it became apparent that my name, Leslie, was too difficult for the people to pronounce. In a conversation with a seminarian, he told me a good name for me would be Chimwemwe, which means joyful. It is a sight to behold when I tell people my name is Chimwemwe – they smile from ear to ear.

This feeling of warm acceptance comes in very simple ways: from children playing in the schoolyard who call out, ''Mzungu, Mzungu (white person), Hello!"; from youth walking home after school who greet me with words such as "Hello, how are you?" and "Welcome!"; from women walking with children on their backs and who greet me with smiles, nods, and appreciation when I attempt to speak to them in Chitumbuka, the local language.

Shortly after I arrived here I was asked to talk to the students in Scarboro missionary Fr. Jim McGuire's Form Three religion class at Marymount Secondary School for Girls. The students asked many questions. You find out very quickly that teenage girls are the same all over the world just with subtle differences in their culture. The students kept thanking me for coming to Malawi and were so excited that I would be staying for two and a half years. It was great to talk with them. They even sang the Malawian national anthem, and I in turn had to sing our Canadian anthem.

I look forward to the coming two years and many more chances to fully experience both the culture and life of the Malawian people.

David and Patty MacDonald
"...We go to Guyana as empty cups, willing to be filled with God's grace. We pray that we will utilize our gifts and talents to their greatest potential and answer God's call to live humbly and to be a presence for those in need. We will strive to continue the good works of Scarboro missioners who have gone before us with their 50-plus years of service throughout Guyana..."

New missioner David MacDonald (R) assists Terry in distributing rice, flour, sugar, peas, and cooking oil to more than 200 families weekly. This is part of the Sisters of Charity outreach to the poor in Georgetown, Guyana. Terry, an employee of the Sisters, serves as a driver and helps with other duties. New missioner David MacDonald (R) assists Terry in distributing rice, flour, sugar, peas, and cooking oil to more than 200 families weekly. This is part of the Sisters of Charity outreach to the poor in Georgetown, Guyana. Terry, an employee of the Sisters, serves as a driver and helps with other duties.

We arrived in Guyana, South America, the last day of May 2008 in heavy rains. It is now the end of July and there is still heavy daily rainfall. However I welcome the rain, as it's a cool blessing in this hot, humid climate.

My wife Patty and I were greeted upon our arrival by a fellow Scarboro missionary, Miriam Wheeler, and welcomed into her home in Kitty, Georgetown. She proved to be an invaluable guide in our efforts to obtain the necessary documentation to work in Guyana for an extended period – a long complicated process.

Shortly after our arrival we were told that Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity could use our help serving the poor. It is amazing to work alongside the Sisters in the soup kitchen, feeding the hungry, distributing rations to more than 200 families weekly, visiting the sick, helping in the daycare for low income families, or working with the elderly in the mission house.

Adapting to our new culture is an ongoing process. As Guyana is bursting with an energy of buying and selling, traffic in Georgetown, the nation's capital, seems to follow its own set of unwritten laws. Horse and wagon, mobile venders, mini buses, and cars all flow seemingly without incident – a bewilderment to the newcomer. Everyone seems to be hustling to make a living in a noisy, confusing, hot atmosphere that zaps my energy if I linger too long.

Through service, I have witnessed the faith of Guyana's peoples and that is a beautiful sight. In this country people suffer hardships that I have difficulty getting my head around. The degree of poverty that many are forced to endure are crimes against humanity and there is no valid reason for it to continue. As we walk humbly among the Guyanese people, may we learn of their resilience and faith, and may our presence be a witness of God's love.

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