The Adirondacks in the Fall
Mission Sunday - I remember well my short stay as a missionary - I was so impressed with the missionaries that I met in Peru, South America - I remember the American priests that had joined the St. James Society - many had signed up for five years - and then just stayed - I met one who had stayed for thirty years.
When I think of a true, dedicated missionary - I remember Madre Antonia - a Maryknoll Sister who had been in the Altiplano of Peru - the small community of Yanque - for well over forty years - she died during this past week - her dedication to her people was well known - but her renown spread throughout the whole area - many visitors to the Colca Valley - deeper than the Grand Canyon - a nesting place for condors - would also add a visit to the sisters - I was there once when a group from Lima came - a German group - that included the Ambassador from Germany - and the Ambassador from Austria - they were so impressed with Antonia and her work - each morning beside the Church things were so busy - large pots of soup would be cooking over wood fires - and the people would come with their various containors - to take some home with bread - I enjoyed watching her shoo the children along - they would come for the soup - but then start playing in the square and she would urge them home to get the soup to their families.
I remember a wonderful family I met at language school - a father and mother and three children - who had volunteered several years to assist in a parish in Bolivia - they were such beautiful people - I hope all is still going well for them.
But the ultimate message - is that everyone is called to be a missionary - for a missionary is simply someone who strives to live a good and dedicated Christian life - and touches the lives of others around them by the way they live. May you also discover how to be a missionary - and make this world a better place.
Let us pray - Watch over us all, Lord - and send us, your missionaries - that they may lead us to be missionaries in your spirit. May we join you in this effort to transform our world. This is my prayer. Amen.
Please join me as we say the Lord's Prayer together.
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