Mission cooperation at Scarboro

By Fr. Jack Lynch, S.F.M.
March/April 2011

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The missionary work of the Church involves a great deal of cooperation and collaboration and this is taking place among the different mission societies. In the last 10 to 15 years, Scarboro Missions has developed a program to assist in the formation of missioners from other societies. It is the generous support of our many benefactors that has made this program possible over the years. We have not only prepared Scarboro candidates, but also members of mission sending organizations in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. We would like to present some of those who are presently with us at our central house in Scarborough, Ontario.

Fr. Idara Otu is a member of St. Paul's Missionary Society of Nigeria, a young community with more than 200 priests. Fr. Idara was working in Sudan and is presently in residence with us while he pursues studies at Regis College in Toronto. He will complete a licentiate in theology focusing on the Social Thought of the Church. Once he completes his studies he will return to Nigeria as a member of their seminary staff in Abuja, Nigeria.

Fr. Nahum Gutierrez, a member of the Guadalupe Missionaries of Mexico, has already completed a licentiate in theology in France specializing in interreligious dialogue. Fr. Nahum has been with us since September 2010 and is completing studies in English. He has been assigned to new mission work in China as part of a team of three Guadalupe missionaries who will begin studies in Mandarin later this year.

Standing L-R: Secheol (James) Park, Scarboro missioner Shawn Daley, and General Council members Frs. Jack Lynch and John Garten. Seated L-R: Alberto Puente Colunga, Nahum Gutierez De La Torre, Jimin Kim, Hyungjoon (Paul) Kim.

Frs. Hyungjoon Kim, Secheol Park, and Jimin Kim, priests of the Korean Mission Society headquartered in Seoul are presently studying here as part of their formation for future mission work. Frs. Hyungjoon and Jimin have been assigned to Catnpeche, Mexico, to continue their formation in Spanish and will be living with the Guadalupe Missionaries of Mexico. Fr. Secheol will be working with the team of Korean missioners in Papua New Guinea.

Fr. Fernando Arango is a newly ordained priest of the Yarumal Missionaries of Colombia. He is presently doing a refresher course in English before returning to the pastoral team in the Diocese of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Two more members of Yarumal will be ordained to the priesthood on Pentecost Sunday, June 12, and will arrive at Scarboro Missions in August for further studies in English. They have been assigned to mission work in Asia—one in Thailand and the other in Cambodia.

Sr. Maria Elisa is a member of the Missionaries of St. Theresa, better known to us as the Teresitas. They are one of three religious communities of women founded by Bishop Miguel Angel Builes, founder of the Yarumal Missionaries. Their mother-house is located in Medellin, Colombia. Sister Maria lives with a community of Notre Dame Sisters while studying English in Toronto. She is a nurse and will join six other Teresitas presently working in the interior of Kenya, all of whom were sponsored by Scarboro and enjoyed the community life and support of the Notre Dame Sisters while studying English in Canada.

In September a priest from the Society of St. Thomas the Apostle of India and a diocesan priest from Malawi will stay with us while doing postgraduate work at the Toronto School of Theology.

We are most grateful to all of you, our benefactors, for your very generous support which makes possible our collaborative effort. Our sincere thanks to all of you.

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