Interest in Missionary Vocation - May 2009

An e-mail I recently sent to a young lady considering entering our missionary training program; she is also considering the religious life – she wonders about the term “vocation” as it applies in “lay missionary voacation.”

Dani -

I think you have raised an important matter. Over the years the Church certainly has emphasized the big three vocations: marriage, the religious life, and the priesthood. And these are often lifetime vocations (but certainly not always - more and more religious are taking their vows in stages, and marriages are ended by death of a partner...).

I have come to realize that the old way of thinking (big three vocations) regularly leads to a misunderstanding about our calls to the apostolates. Many laity end up with the impression that only the priests and religious are called to serve God, and that married people are only expected to stay married and care for their children. Or single laity think that they can only serve the Lord if they become priests or religious.

Today, it is clearer than ever that all of the laity are called (have a vocation) to the apostolate, and that different priests and religious have different apostolates, depending upon the gifts, talents and "calling" of the Lord on each person's life. Here we are certainly speaking of "vocations" but not the "three" so often mentioned.

The call of God to serve in foreign missions has always been considered a wonderful and special vocation. And recent Church teaching declares constantly that the laity are called to the missionary life, and that this calling to the lay apostolate is received from God, and that the special grace to enter the lay missionary vocation is rooted in Baptism and Confirmation. In recent decades a good number of lay missionary saints, single and married, have been canonized, and today there is an enormous growth in the numbers of Catholic lay missionaries. While priestly and religious vocations in the West continue to decline, there is an impressive increase in all lay apostolate vocations.

My advice to you is that you don't get bogged down in semantics. Be a religious if that is God's call to you. Remain a single lay woman, if that is the Lord's call. And be a missionary, for years or for life. If you believe the Lord is calling you to the missionary life and to marry and mother children, begin your missionary life and pray you will meet a man to marry you who wants to be a missionary too. (This has happened for some of our missionaries.)

In FMC our missionaries do not take vows. We hope many will make this their life's work. Others have left FMC to serve the Lord in other ways. We trust that they will continue to serve the Lord faithfully in new apostolates. One young lady served as a missionary with us for several years, then left, got married, and returned with her husband; both serve as missionaries today, along with their children.

Dani, God is your Father, He knows you very well and He has a plan for you - seek and you shall find, ask and you will receive, knock and the door will be opened to you. We invite you to be a lay missionary with us; here you will be challenged to live a holy, missionary life, and your life will bear fruit for God's glory - is the Lord calling you to FMC? That decision is entirely yours.


In Jesus, Frank

Frank's Note to Missionaries - March 18, 2009

Beloved Brothers and Sisters - I miss all of you so much and long to be with you when the Lord will make that possible. Please love one another for me. A couple of weeks back Joseph and Ms. Genie brought a medical mission team to Ecuador; by all accounts it was an amazing mission: they got along fine as a mission team, treated hundreds of patients, preached the Gospel and gave Christian witness, and enjoyed the great beauty of Ecuador.
Genie's son Paul Jordan died while the Ecuador group was readying to fly back home. Paul died calling out to the Lord for help and we know God heard his plea. Lots of people gathered at Big Woods for a memorial service - the Holy Spirit was present in a powerful way.
Joseph, Joanie Thompson and Lori Harvey left right away for General Cepeda to staff the FUS mission trip, and are there now. The trip is going well.
Kevin and Sarah and the kids have moved into their new house down the street from the mission house and they really like it.
Kevin and Andréa Brown and the children are here with us at Big Woods. Andrea is planning a jaw surgery and will need to undergo preliminary treatments in preparation fore the surgery. They will probably be here for some time.
I spoke with Brother Albert a couple of weeks back. He was back in Poland after a visit with our missionaries in Cordoba - the visit had really blessed him. He's now renewed his Polish I.D. and Passport and needs our prayers to renew his U.S. visa. He's going to be visiting a Polish parish for week TO TALK WITH PEOPLE ABOUT HIS MISSIONARY SERVICE AND TO FIND PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Then he will visit another parish in Norway for a week. After that he hopes to travel to the Ukraine to scout our a new mission where he and his companions can live and serve for a long period. Then he hopes to return to Big Woods to prepare himself and get other missionaries to accompany him to the Ukraine mission. There's lots for us to pray for in all this! And it sounds like a great plan!
Anthony and Holly are well situated in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Fr. Armando has give them lots to do. Pray that their ministries will blossom and bear abundant fruits. Holly's pregnant again, Praise the Lord. They'll plan to be here at Big Woods when the new baby is born.
Jonathan, Chris and John Paul are doing a great job in their new Saltillo mission - they are also able to help out with the General Cepeda short term groups. Sarah Granger reports to me that she has nothing but admiration for their missionary style and commitment.
Jayne Montgomery is here at Big Woods supervising a group of four volunteers who have come down from Minnesota to work at Big Woods during their spring break - they are also interested in missions. They are painting St. Paul's House. Jayne is waiting for Colby to arrive, and the two of them are flying out to the Philippines at the end of the month; they will be living on a beautiful paradise island; but the mission work will be very demanding and challenging - we need to pray them into the new mission!
Genie and I went to minister in the Dallas area this past weekend. We gave seventeen talks from Thursday evening to Monday morning - it was GLORIOUS!!! We spoke on the Holy Spirit and missions on two radio programs and in two churches. And we got to visit with Susanna, Mike and the boys. We loved it. Pray the Lord will fulfill His Word in the lives of all we ministered to, that His Word will not return empty.
Sarita and Eric are in Wisconsin giving a Confirmation retreat and leading an evening of Praise and Worship - Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all whom they minister to!


We realize our salvation one day at a time. We walk with Jesus one day at a time. We can only serve as missionaries and show God's love for others, and care for those in need and preach, and engage in the spiritual battle one day at a time. There are always great struggles, but only one day at a time. Then there are the glorious days of triumph and victory in the Lord!
This is the day of our salvation, now is the time. Do all you can for Jesus and God's children today; don't worry; be steadfast; keep your eyes fixed on Jesus - He has won the victory for us and for all who will come to believe in Him. Be Holy one day at a time, it's totally doable, one day at a time. Let's pray for one another each day, and for our benefactors and all the Church, let's pray that the Gospel will reach all mankind in these days. Let's pray for a springtime of Evangelization and for a new Pentecost and outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

I love you so much, in Jesus, Frank

Newly Commissioned Missionaries February, 2009

New FMC missionaries, commissioned in January: (left to right)Jayne Montgomery, Jonathan Weiss, Erin Ugran, and John-Paul Papuzynski


Family Missions Company has sent out 4 new missionaries to serve in the work of evangelization. Jonathan Weiss (Ohio) and John-Paul Papuzynski (Florida) have teamed up with Chris Alexander (a 2008 missionary from Texas) to start a new FMC mission in Saltillo, Mexico.
Jayne Montgomery (Nebraska) has teamed up with Colby Dupre’ (a 2008 misisonary from Vinton, LA) to continue Colby’s misison on Camiguin Island in the Philippines – the young women are serving as teachers in a small start-up Catholic high school.
Erin Ugran (Colorado) is planning to serve in General Cepeda, Mexico.

Missionaries Joined in Matrimony - February, 2009

Kevin Granger and Sarah Summers have both been serving as misionaries with Family Missions Company. On January 3, 2009 they were married at St. Anne’s Church in Cow Island. They are serving as full time missionaries in General Cepeda, Mexico.
Many missionaries serving with Family Missions Company are married couples with children. Some FMC missionaries who begin as singles later marry another FMC missionary and the two continue their missionary service as a family.

Frank's Note to Missionaries - January 2009

Precious Brothers and Sisters - WHEW!! It has been busy (at times hectic) and blessed these last several months: finishing the Intake formation process with the mission trip to Gral. Cepeda - which coincided with a medical mission trip and a group from Maryland (on the way back one of the FMC vans broke down outside Houston); returning in time to organize the Donor's Dinner and finish and mail out the SERVE newsletter; preparing for Christmas (all of my children and grandchildren, some missionaries and other guests were with us at Big Woods); then preparing for Kevin and Sarah's wedding (which was extraordinarily glorious!); the day after the wedding Joseph and other missionaries left for Gral. Cepeda with a ULL short term mission group; in the middle of all this, Genie's son Paul was in the hospital in intensive care, and we were scrambling to install the St. Paul's House on premises here at Big Woods; and after the wedding we had two priests and a seminarian from Spain staying with us at Big Woods for a week, along with almost all the FMC missionaries who came for Kevin an Sarah's wedding.... Genie earned several purple heart medals!

While on honeymoon in at very exclusive beach resort in Thailand (a gift from Tony and Yvonne Yoe, our friends in Singapore) Kevin and Sarah have several speaking and music engagements. (I still believe the Lord wants to set up a work like FMC to train and send out lay missionaries from Southeast Asia.)

During the holidays, all of the Spain missionaries spent time here at Big Woods, along with the two priests from Cordoba. We had lots of time to talk and pray about issues involving the mission there, which seems to be making headway, but it is extremely difficult to make headway in the nonagon culture of Europe. (We still think the Lord could set up a work there to train and send out lay missionaries.)

FMC will have fulltime missionaries in Saltillo this year, and they will be in a position to relate to our missionaries in Gral. Cepeda.

We think Colby Dupre and Jayne Montgomery will return to Camiguin Island in the Philippines. (Colby's family's rented house burned to the ground over the holidays. And the home and small business of Kristen Istre's family were destroyed by Hurricane Ike in Bridge City Texas. There is a great price to pay by those who seek to present the Gospel to the 2/3s of the people of the world who still wait in darkness for the light of Jesus to dawn in their lives - we face SO MANY TROUBLES AS WE GO FORWARD IN THIS WORK we must all lift a heavy load - it costs everything - "sell all you have, give alms to the poor" - "if any man wants to come after me, he must take up his cross each day".

We must learn to be thankful and rejoice in all we suffer for the sake of the Gospel.
From Poland, Albert will visit the Spain mission; when he gets his paper work in order and funds, he wants to go about in some of the former Soviet Republics; he needs a mission partner.
I hope all of you have read our Christmas edition of SERVE (now available online). Why not recommend it to your friends. We need all hands on board, doing all possible to support this work.

Well, after living amidst all these goings-on and dealing with so many issues, problems and blessed demands, in my personal prayer time this morning, I read from my new Bible - it's my birthday present. I read from Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."

The Lord "makes me lie down", he requires me to stop and take a breather, to reflect and focus on Him. "He leads me beside still waters" - He places me in a peaceful quiet, a still place. And while I am in a still, quiet place He restores me, He puts things in order inside me, and restores and refreshes me. He always gives me everything I need; there is nothing I lack, or will ever lack.

HOLINESS AND CHASTITY - In Mission of the Redeemer, John Paul II without blinking asserts that "THE MISSIONARY IS THE SAINT". We will not be effective missionaries if we are not living holy lives. We must preach with our voices and by the way we act, and dress and live and work and relate to one another and to others.... One of the greatest commandments for living a holy life is that we avoid all sexual sins, even lusting after others. Sexual purity is a presupposition for the missionary life. Missionaries in religious orders VOW to be chaste and pure. We lay missionaries are commanded by the Lord to be chaste and pure.

Our conduct can never raise questions in the minds of those we are trying to evangelize. Impurity between a man and woman, or between two men or two women missionaries should never be even imagined by those who observe us. We must conduct ourselves with modesty and very decently, never giving Satan any opportunity to lead us into impurity and to allow others to imagine any thing disordered in our relationships. Yes, we have deep love and affection for one another, but we certainly do not have sexual relations with one another (unless we are enjoying holy sex with our marriage partners).

Be careful. The way of the world is so deviant as regards sex. Read the Theology of the Body. Observe the chaste singles and couples you encounter, and admire their purity. When tempted, overcome evil by praising the Lord and speaking of Him to others. Pray in tongues to ward off temptation. Touch the poor with the love of Jesus. Embrace the cross. Dance for joy in the Lord. Hold one another to a high standard of pure conduct and conversation. "Be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little ears what you hear. For the good Lord up above is looking down with love. Be careful little eyes what you see." And let us always pray for one another, even with fasting.

Pray for me, and the Pope and everyone.

- In Jesus, Frank

Cancer Free Once Again!

It is with deep joy and gratitude that I can report to all who have been praying for me that for the second time in my life I am healed of cancer: I was healed of prostate cancer three years ago, and this time I have been healed of cancer in my right breast. In both instances the cancer was detected and surgically removed; the doctors then proclaimed me “cancer free” and no follow-up chemotherapy or radiation or other medicines needed. Both times when cancer was diagnosed, Genie and I contacted our friends around the world and asked them to pray for my healing; I asked believers to lay hands on me and pray for my healing; when people said to me they would pray for me I responded, “Let’s pray now”; and I went to the priest and asked to receive the Sacrament of Healing (receiving it as often as any major juncture in the treatment occurred) – I was actually able to feel the special graces that came my way through all the prayers – and I believed the Lord was at work through the medical care and medicines I received, and I asked the doctors, nurses, and technicians if I could pray with them that the Lord would use them as ministers of His healing for me and all their patients – and I have been healed from cancer twice! The “Big C” is really not the dreaded Cancer; the Big “C” is Jesus CHRIST! “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world – every knee must bend and every tongue confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord, in faith, ask in agreement together. Receive the Sacrament of Healing; ask your friends in faith to lay hands on you and pray for your healing, pray with the health care professionals. Your God is bigger than your diseases.

We had reported to most of you that there seemed to be a possibility that we would be given a large facility in a nearby city that could have given us resources to greatly expand our ministry here in Acadiana. Well, that whole thing fell through. Things didn’t line up. I am convinced that it wasn’t the Lord’s will for us.

FMC begs for your fervent prayers and sacrifices for our missionaries and for those to whom they are sent.

I hope you got to view the recent EWTN program on “Life on the Rock” which interviewed Sarita, David and Judge about our mission work – it was unbelievably good!! Please feel free to view it – along with other FMC videos, on the company website: http://www.fmcmissions.com/

In Jesus’ Great Love – Frank

A LETTER TO FRANK FROM A PRIEST FROM THE PHILIDELPHIA AREA HOW WENT WITH HIS PARISHIONERS ON AN FMC SHORT TERM MISSIONS TO GENERAL CEPEDA:

What an awesome youth group we have! Twenty-nine of our young members and seven adults have just returned from a week-long mission trip to General Cepeda, Mexico. I was extremely privileged to be with them.

We spent the week with members of Family Missions Company – a faith-filled lay Catholic ministry that trains and supports lay Catholic missionaries in various parts of the world. They have a permanent missionary base in General Cepeda, a small town in an impoverished are of Northern Mexico. That is where the Family Missions welcomes groups that would share in their work on a short-term basis. Thirty-six of our parishioners took advantage of this extraordinary opportunity.

Each day we started with an hour of prayer and faith sharing on the Gospel passage for the day’s Mass. Everyone commented on how absolutely amazing it was that each day’s Scripture focused on some aspect of Jesus’ commission to his followers to be missionaries of the Gospel. It was as if God had prepared everything to help us understand and embrace this important aspect of the Christian life.

Then, after breakfast, we split into 6 groups: Some were assigned work projects like rebuilding roofs on adobe houses and painting; some visited desperately poor homebound persons; and some came with me to celebrate Mass at one of the “ranchos” – little villages in the outlying area around General Cepeda. These villages survive, for the most part, on subsistence farming. They may get to have Mass – at best – once a month, so the Family Missions Company took advantage of having a priest with out group to offer Mass wherever I went (one every morning and one every evening). It took between a half hour and hour or so to drive each one.

We then came back to the mission house and had our main meal at 2 PM followed by a much appreciated siesta. At 5 PM we split into 3 groups to ravel to different ranchos (there are 46 ranchos under the responsibility of the on Catholic priest in town). Each group, when it arrived would locate the little chapel of the rancho, ring the bell and then send small groups to knock on doors of the very humble homes and invite the people with the words: Les invitamos a la capilla para oracion (or, Misa). The people of the ranchos had no foreknowledge that we were coming; many would just drop everything they were doing to come to the chapel to spend the evening in prayer.

There was always a time of worshipful singing; the full-time missionaries would give a teaching; I would celebrate Mass and preach (gulp!). Afterwards, at each of the ranchos, several members of our group would give short testimonies of their faith and then people would be invited to come forward if they wanted prayer for any special intention. Our youth group members responded to these requests with faith and humble love. These kids seemed to mature right before my eyes. I was extremely proud of them.

Throughout the week, whenever a serious need was made known, our kids showed a tremendously generous spirit in offering alms. I think that this was in part a response to the phenomenal sacrificial witness of the full-time missionaries – all with families who nonetheless offered everything for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. They kept sharing examples of how God could not be outdone in generosity to those who offer themselves to Him.

Everyone in our group was deeply affected by the whole experience. I will let two of our teens speak for themselves:

“Wow, what an incredible trip! All the joy, laughs, fun and faith packed into a week of mission. I learned so much from this trip because of all the time spent with God. Some of the experiences we shared were roof building, painting, evangelizing, singing and spreading the faith with others.
I feel so much closer to God from this trip and it will always be in my memories. Because of all of God’s love that was poured into my heart, I have to say that this mission trip was an OUTSTANDING experience.” - - Ryan Murphy

“On previous mission trips I have been shocked and angered by the poverty of the people. While I was definitely moved by the lack of material riches in General Cepeda, my reaction their living conditions was quite different. Instead of focusing on the poverty, I was able to see the people. Instead of feeling pity, I felt inspired by their faith. While I definitely came home with a feeling of appreciation for what I have, I also came home with an awareness of what I lack – the complete faith in and reliance on God that they people of General Cepeda have.

Their humility and compassion made me recognize and commit to improving [my own] spiritual life.” - - Ani Lockard

On the last day we were asked to share our reflections on the whole week. All were deeply touched; many described it as a “life transforming experience.” Even our hosts commented on the extraordinary blessings on our group. I am confident that our parish “missionaries” will be sharing more of their stories with you in various contexts.

On their behalf I conclude with a special word of thanks to all those who financially, or in other ways, supported this mission to Mexico. You too will share in all the graces received. There was a very special anointing on this trip; I suspect that God has a special calling for our parish. Let’s keep listening for His voice so that we may respond faithfully to whatever is in God’s heart for us.

Fr. Domenic

A note by Frank to missionary Sheila Agresta of the Cordoba, Spain Team: The Blessings of Down Time

You are a wonderful person - a wonderful human being and a wonderful Catholic missionary - you are a great credit to FMC. I love and admire you little sister - Thank You!

I think the report you have sent is so excellent, covering many important matters the right way. Clearly you are thankful for all the good things the Lord has been doing there, and you are seeking and discerning about the things the Lord wants to do in the future; and you are concerned for the well-being of your team members. You're a great person, doing a great job!

Our family did enjoy a peaceful downtime together in Pensacola at the time of Sammy Romero's wedding - we swam in the sea, with the grandchildren, and we sailed, and we got to know our future son-in-laws brother and family better. Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers.

I think that it's very good that you and Bridget are having downtime; we can't let ourselves get addicted to work, work, work, and running, running, running. The Lord will STOP us from time to time, and have us be silent and still, waiting patiently, waiting on HIM to speak. He tests our patience and obedience, and lets us understand that, as missionaries, we are nothing and can do nothing without Him showing us what to do and then opening the doors for us to do it, and providing the energy ( Holy Spirit power) and resources to do it. Handling downtime well is a very important virtue for the missionary evangelist.

As you said, be at peace and enjoy the downtime when it comes - enjoy your house-sitting with the nice swimming pool; have a holy rest. You and Bridget enjoy your time together; maybe y'all should take a weekend trip you've thought about but haven't had the time to enjoy before; be good friends to one another and with Jesus.

Remember that Maria and Kristen may need downtime when they return from Calcutta.

I like the idea of the FMC team developing some new works (approved by the pastors). Consider the gathering of young people at your house for fellowship and prayer - - become a Basic Ecclesial Community together, see what the Lord will do, build strong faith ties and engage in some apostolate together - maybe in time some of these brothers and sisters will want to be missionaries with us. What about the students who went to Calcutta with Maria and Kristen? Do they want to go forward? Do they need follow-up?

Y'all had that Andalusian youth conference. Do any of those youth need follow-up. You could form different BECs with different people with different needs.

And, of course, the team can identify the marginalized, neglected poor and develop an ongoing work to serve their needs. Remember how important it is for us FMC missionaries to find Jesus with the poor.

Come and See begins Tuesday. Five persons are scheduled to be here. It looks like we will have seven singles here for Intake in September, plus the Rojo family.

Sheila, please do pursue your dialogue with Fr. Scanlan about payment of the FUS students' loans. Please let the Browns and Luczaks and Bridget know where the ball lies and what they can do. I suggest you move on this as soon as possible, so that the others are not held in limbo.

I was delighted to hear of the opportunity the Lord gave you to witness to Bishops and Cardinals during the Rocco conference. God is great!

You mentioned you thought about getting our team to have another regular study time; consider restudying the Mission of the Redeemer together; after this time in mission you will be able to encounter that Word at a new and deeper level. Maybe some who are returning from Calcutta would join with our team in that restudy.

I think you can share this note with Bridget, and I am sending your letter and this response to our other missionaries and the Board.

In Jesus, Frank

PRESIDENT’S LETTER TO DIRECTORS AND MEMBERS - July 2008

The Lord is doing great things – see Summer 2008 SERVE newsletter enclosed. (SERVE is being sent to over 7,000 households throughout the United States. Check out our new website: http://www.fmcmissions.com/)

This year FMC has had missionaries living in Mexico (2 missions), Grenada in the Caribbean, Spain, India, and the Philippines.

Our staff has made pastoral visits to the missions in Mexico, Spain, India, and the Philippines – meeting with the bishops, priests, and people, addressing and participating in various gatherings.
Several months back someone came up to me and asked, “How’s it going?” My reflex response was, “We have so many troubles.” My comment surprised me, but, yes, we can see the Lord at work in all the activities of FMC; and we can rejoice in many good fruits; yet, there are always hardships (troubles) and sacrifices involved in going forward. Time and again we are challenged to step out in faith and extend ourselves beyond the limits of our resources. The Lord knows we can’t do it, but He knows that He can! We offer a few loaves and fishes; and He feeds the multitude.

FMC was recently invited to appear for an interview on the EWTN program, “Life on the Rock.” As a result, we have received many compliments on our work and a large number of inquiries about mission service.

We just ended our annual Faith Camp for youth - a week long live in camp here at Big Woods - lots of games - lots of God’s Word - hard work - steeped in prayer and exhuberant PRAISE!

Tony and Yvonne Yoe visited from Singapore. They still seek a Singapore base of missions into Southeast Asia—Lord, let it be!

This year we trained and sent out our first non-American missionary: Albert Zalewsky is Polish. He has served in religious life a number of years and obtained a release from his order to be a missionary with us. Albert has the support of the Catholic organization in Poland which certifies and commissions lay missionaries. Albert and Luke Prejean (also a former religious brother) are serving in a newly created church parish (“Mother Theresa of Calcutta Center”) in Pune, India.
On trips to India and Europe, I have seen first hand how great the need for Evangelization is in our world today – only the Lord could undertake such a job. Only an unconditional and limitless LOVE can motivate such a work. Only with miracles can the work be accomplished. Only constant and well directed prayer can open the doors, bring about the miracles, give the human energy and stamina needed to carry out the mission of Jesus today. Only a total offering of ourselves in the Lord’s service will prepare us for the constant, long, hard efforts.

Family Missions Company exists to serve this need. We have answered God’s call to fulfill the Great Commission. Each of us is dedicated to praying for our missionaries and those to whom they are sent. Each of us is determined to hear, understand and receive God’s Word and to put it into practice—we are committed to live holy lives. We are committed to discern and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, to live and speak out the Gospel.

We want each of you to assist FMC in practical ways. Pray specifically for one of the missionaries or one of the FMC projects. Make financial contributions — give as much a possible. Share your encouraging words with us. Give us your counsel, ideas and suggestions. Exhort us to keep on and do it right. Make a short term mission trip with us. We trust the Lord will bless and repay you a hundredfold for all you do in this apostolate.

The Lord summons us, the task is URGENT!

Thank you for showing up.

In Jesus, Frank W. Summers II

Frank's Note to Missionaries re: Conversion is the Aim - April 21, 2008

Missionaries - For a couple of weeks now I have felt the urging of the Spirit to remind you of the importance of working for the CONVERSION of those to whom the Lord sends us. The Lord is intent on bringing about the CONVERSION of those to whom the Gospel is preached, and we cannot set a lesser goal for our evangelistic labors."The proclamation of the Word of God has Christian conversion as its aim: a complete and sincere adherence to Christ and his Gospel through faith." Mission of the Redeemer, 46.We must ask ourselves whether we are seeing CONVERSION in the lives of those to whom we are ministering, and what is bringing conversion and what is not; and we want to develop strategies that do bring real conversion and drop whatever doesn't. And we will be ready to shake the dust from our sandals and move on when conversion is being rejected.The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith recently published its "Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization" and exhorts the Church to proceed with a vigorous evangelization of the whole world, "to help all persons to meet Christ in faith, which is the primary objective of evangelization." Id., 2. "In any case, to evangelize does no mean simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one's words and actions, that is, to make oneself an instrument of his presence and action in the world."

"...{C}onversion is expressed in faith which is total and radical.... it gives rise to a dynamic and lifelong process which demands a continual turning away from 'life according to the flesh' to 'life according to the Spirit'.... Conversion means accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming his disciple. The Church calls all people to this conversion...." Mission of the Redeemer, 46.

John Paul II says that Catholic missionaries cannot pass over the importance of this call to conversion; it is not enough to help people to become more human or more faithful to their own religion or simply to work for justice, freedom, peace and solidarity. Everyone must be invited to repent and find new life in Jesus.

Recently, I was reporting to a brother that I had found that many Catholics in Asia have more or less learned to suppress their call to evangelization and even brag that they don't try to "convert" the people around them; and my friend said, "Isn't that the same attitude we have here in the States?"

Well, FMC missionaries do work for the "CONVERSION" of souls, abroad and here in the States. Our purpose is to present people with a choice and invite them to make a decision; and when people have made a decision for Jesus, we provide them with the tools they need to follow the Lord as good disciples. We teach them Prayer, God's Word, the Sacraments, how to build and live in Community, and the importance of Service (to engage in the Apostolate, especially caring for the poor and evangelizing).

Look for people who are really converting to Jesus, and attend to their needs in the Church.

Frank's Note to Missionaries re: Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM - Excellent spiritual reading
Genie and I have recently read SOBER INTOXICATION OF THE SPIRIT: FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD, an excellent book on the spiritual life by Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM; he is the preacher to the papal household. Fr. Cantalamessa teaches on the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our journey to holiness and fruitful service to God. He affirms the experience of "BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT", and of "THE CHARISMS", "SPEAKING IN TONGUES" and prayers for "HEALING". As I read the book, I wondered, "Where was this book at the height of the Charismatic Renewal in America?" The Renewal was so Catholic, so rooted in sound doctrine - why couldn't we (the Church, the people who go to churches, me) see that?

I've asked all of the FMC missionaries to read the book. In our last issue of SERVE, I wrote an article on the importance of LECTIO DIVINA. And during Lent Cantalamessa gave a talk to Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia on the same subject. I found the transcript on Zenit, March 7, 2008.

He quotes St. Ambrose (my confirmation saint): "The word of God is the vital substance of our soul; there is nothing else that could give life to man's soul apart from the word of God."He recalls that John Paul II recommended Lectio Divina to all Catholics in his "Novo millenio ineunte" letter (where the Pope outlines an authentic Catholic spirituality for the Third Millenium).

He says we come into contact with the word of God in the liturgy; in Bible schools and with written aids; and through "something that is irreplaceable - personal reading of the Bible at home."

In Lectio Divina there are three steps or successive actions: welcoming the word; contemplating and meditating on the word; putting the word into practice; and for teachers, a systematic study of the Bible. A purely impersonal or academic reading is dangerous, as is a reading without meditation ("fundamentalism").

More than "searching the Scriptures", we must allow ourselves to be searched by the Scriptures, coming to self-knowledge and knowledge of God. Fr. Cantalamessa teaches on the value of Scripture in providing SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: "To every soul that desires it, the word of God assures fundamental, and in itself infallible, spiritual direction." Ordinary and everyday spiritual direction is assured by meditation on the word of God accompanied by the interior anointing of the Spirit. There are occasions when powerful, true spiritual direction comes from prayerful "random opening" of the Bible. He cites the guidance St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Therese of Lisieux received in this way.

"There have been souls who have become holy with the word of God as their sole spiritual director."

He says we must not just read and study the Bible word, we must "swallow" it, so that it truly becomes "the substance of our soul," "that which informs our thoughts, forms language, determines actions, creates the 'spiritual' man." He compares the swallowed word as "the most powerful of life principles", comparing it to the Eucharist.

We must "Be doers of the word and not hearers only." "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

He refers to St. Gregory the Great who wrote that the word of God is only truly understood when one begins to practice it.

"Listening to" the word means one carries out what one has heard.

The New Testament calls us to "OBEDIENCE". Studying this holy obedience, "one makes a surprising discovery, and that is, that obedience is almost always seen as obedience to the word of God." "The obedience itself of Jesus is exercised above all through obedience to written words. In the episode of the temptations in the desert, Jesus' obedience consists in recalling the words of God and of abiding in them: 'It is written!'"

"Jesus' life is as guided by a luminous wake that the others did not see and which is created by the words that were written for him; he gathers from the Scriptures the 'it is necessary'...that governs his whole life."

We should all be guided by God's word in Scripture: "The words of God, by the present action of the Spirit, become the expression of the living will of God for me in a given moment." When we receive a special word for us during prayerful Bible reading, we can understand that though the word does not apply universally in all cases, certainly in that moment it applies to us, and we obey it.

"Obeying visible orders and authorities, is something that we do every so often, three or four times in a lifetime, if we are talking about serious obedience; but there can be obedience to God's word in every moment. It is also the obedience that applies to all of us, inferiors and superiors, clerics and laity. The laity do not have a superior in the Church whom they must obey - at least not in the sense that religious and clerics have a superior; but they do have, in compensation, a 'Lord' to obey! They have his word." I would be interested in your comments on Cantalamessa's writings.

- In Jesus, Frank

Frank's Note to Missionaires re: Recent Church Teachings on Foreign Missions - April 2, 2008

Brothers and Sisters - Recently I learned of the Vatican's "Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization", published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The document calls us all to be fervent in our commitment to missionary evangelism. I thought I would share some excerpts with you:

- "...to evangelize does not mean simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one's words and actions, that is, to make oneself an instrument of His presence and action in the world." (2)

- the primary objective of evangelism is "to help all persons to meet Christ in faith" (2)

- "Evangelization does not only entail the possibility of enrichment for those who are evangelized; it is also an enrichment for the one who does the evangelizing, as well as for the entire Church....

{E}very encounter with another person or culture is capable of revealing potentialities of the Gospel which hitherto may not have been fully explicit and which will enrich the life of Christians and the Church." (6)

- "There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him." Quote from Mass homily by Benedict XVI

- "Evangelization also involves a sincere dialogue that seeks to understand the reasons and feelings of others."

- the apostolic commitment to which everyone in the Church is called is "an inalienable right and duty." (10)

- public preaching of the Gospel and personal witness ("whereby an individual's personal conscience is reached and touched by an entirely unique word that he receives from someone else") are both essential. (12)

- "Throughout the entire history of the Church, people motivated by the love of Jesus have undertaken initiatives and works of every kind in order to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world and in all sectors of society." (13)

In His Message for World Mission Sunday 2007, Pope Benedict XVI talks about the urgency of the missionary mandate. The theme chosen for the World Mission day is "All the churches for all the world". This is meant to incite an awareness of "the urgent need to relaunch missionary action in the face of the many serious challenges of our time."Missionary activity allows a providential "exchange of gifts" which benefits the entire Mystical Body of Christ..."the most will be made of the potential and charisms of each one....all the Christian communities...every baptized person."He repeats that "missionary commitment remains the first service that the Church owes to humanity". All the Pastors should share in the "pressing concern to proclaim and spread the Gospel."He exhorts the Church to pray for the priests, religious and laity serving in foreign missions. He asks God that their example may inspire new missionary vocations and renewed mission awareness, noting that "it is precisely on the basis of the courage to evangelize that the love of believers for the Lord is measured.""...{F}or the individual members of the faithful it is no longer merely a matter of collaborating in evangelizing work but of feeling that they themselves are protagonists and corresponsible." Working together we "use the means necessary for evangelization today", "working out appropriate spiritual and formative itineraries", and "training new missionaries to spread the Gospel in our time".

Frank's Note to Missionaries re: ZENIT WEBSITE - March 28, 2008

My blessed brothers and sisters - Things are moving along and we can daily see the hand of the Lord touching the lives of people all around.Ashley Hebert has advised us that she is choosing to return to the States. I'm sad but, of course, she calls the shots for her life. We hope Ashley will stay close to FMC here and be praying in a special way for the mission team in the Philippines.The Spain mission continues to make good progress. Joe has just returned from a visit and had a great time with Maria and was impressed at how much is happening to build God's Kingdom there. Kevin Granger is there now visiting with Sarah. When he leaves, Sarah and the children will travel to Rome so the kids can visit their dad; Bridget and Kristen will accompany Sarah and enjoy a pilgrimage to the holy places in Rome. Maria and Sheila will use that time to visit and help Maria's ailing grandparents in Ireland. Genie and I hope to visit the Spain team sometime this summer.Anthony and Holly and Elijah John the Baptist are doing fine. Mother and baby are healthy and happy. Kevin and Andrea and Jen have been very busy with all the short term mission groups going to General Cepeda.I get glowing reports from the visitors on what a great job they are doing there, and that Jen is making good progress with her Spanish.Brother Luke and Albert give good reports: they are well established and busy - they need our prayers for the Lord to work his salvation among the people of their church parish.

Remember to have your personal prayer time each day, with Bible reading. Remember to continue your study from our list of books, encyclicals and reading materials. I have recently been able to find inspiring materials on mission and evangelism at the ZENIT website.Team leaders need to schedule their one-on-ones with the missionaries on their teams. Missionaries must show respect for their leaders, making it a joy for them to exercise their leadership.For His part the Lord will do great things; we need to be there to serve Him. He will sanctify us if we let Him.We pray for all of you all the time - don't forget to pray for us.

- In Jesus' love, Frank

Frank's Note to Missionaries re: India Trip

Good and Faithful Servants - Well, I've had a few days to catch my breath and want to share what's been happening and some of the Word the Lord has been speaking to me.

Holly and Anthony's newborn son (our missionaries in Grenada, Caribbean), Elijah John the Baptist Luczak, has arrived; mother and child and daddy are doing fine; mother and baby are adjusting to a sleep and a breastfeeding routine.

The missions in the Philippines and in Spain are up and running. (I ask all the missionaries to please send me copies of the newsy e-mails you send back home, so that I know what's happening - sometimes I'm embarrassed to learn from others what our missionaries are doing - I need to be kept informed.)

Franciscan University's mission group is at General Cepeda this week; Sarita reports from there that all is going well. Mrs. Genie was there a week ago with the Theresians and that mission went well. The Browns and Jen are working hard - Jen's Dad went down with Sarita for a visit.

We have a young man here at Big Woods for his Come and See.

The office is busy with all the usual stuff that needs doing. We had a successful Shoot with a Mission fundraiser this past weekend - the BOSS gave us beautiful weather for the event. I had the privilege of going to India to help Bro. Luke and Albert get started there; I spent two and a half weeks with them, and enjoyed the fellowship. India has over a billion people, and there are lots of them everywhere, all the time. They seem heavy-laden and awaiting Good News. They are entitled to know that the One True God is their loving Father and willing to forgive their sins and help them with the spiritual battle, their daily bread and everything.

On arrival I suffered jet lag, and we were feeling displaced, and sort of overwhelmed by there being so-o-o many people everywhere. I said, "Lord where do we start, what can we possibly do amidst such a multitude of people? And while I prayed, the Lord said, ‘You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.’ In other words, the Lord was committed to work through our presence there, even in mysterious ways we might not be aware of.

I continued to pray as the time passed, and I asked, "Lord, with so much need and so many people, what can we do, what do you want to do?" And the Lord showed me to pray that His Kingdom come, that His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. In other words, India is certainly not heaven yet, and the Lord is committed to work until it is in India as it is in Heaven. And I began to repeat in prayer over and over again: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven...." And as I prayed I felt the Lord was at work to build His Kingdom all around me, for the sake of all His children in India.

When we went to Mass on our first Sunday in the new parish where Bro. Luke and Albert will be living and serving (Mother Theresa of Calcutta Parish!!), the first reading talked about how the Lord sent Abraham out and that those who blessed Abraham would be blessed by the Lord, and that those who cursed him would be cursed. We need to realize that the Lord goes out with us into mission; missions is His work before we lift a finger. The Holy Spirit is the principal agent of Evangelization, and Jesus says, "I will be with you always, until the end of time."

I left Luke and Albert a list of the activities that they need to schedule into their lives; all of you need to schedule these things into your lives:

• daily personal prayer time alone, with Bible reading
• daily common prayer together with your mission team
• schedule the meal times
• divide up the household chores and schedule the time for them
• schedule some hours for ongoing study (Bible and Church teaching) each week
• have a weekly team meeting to talk about household issues and issues concerning the apostolate
• agree and plan together
• meet to discuss and plan which apostolates to undertake, and who will serve on which apostolates
• schedule a one-on-one with your team leader on a regular basis, and whenever needed
• schedule a weekly desert day and agree on where y'all will go
• have a free day or half-day for shopping and personal errands (this is the time for personal e-mails)
• schedule weekdays when Mass is feasible
• plan together for excursions for outreach ministry to other places
• the leader, with others, should periodically meet with the bishop/priest/pastor to talk about what is happening and to receive the pastor's input
• schedule special team retreats to seek the Lord's guidance from time to time
• get out a team newsletter every two months - with nice photos

Someone said that one of our missionaries ran up a large phone bill this past month talking to their mom back home: this is an abomination!! We have told the first year missionaries that their communications with family and friends should be limited to one day a week (except in emergencies); I expect you to adhere to that guideline. You can't be living back home while you're in the missions; be focused on the work God has sent you to do in the missions; leave the things at home in His hands. If you don't, your mission will never get off the ground.

This is the season of Lent; we all need to get our acts together. Don't waste the opportunity the Lord has given you to be His missionary.

Be on the lookout for ways to serve the poor, expect to find Jesus there.

Please pray for one another, and keep us posted on any special prayer intentions you have - don't forget to pray for those of us who are here at Big Woods.

Let us keep our hands to the plow, and be patient and persevering; let us accept the hardships that are part of mission life and rejoice when we suffer for the sake of the Gospel. This is for real, don't expect anything less. Keep focused, pray constantly. When you need help or have an important decision to make, let me hear from you and counsel you and pray with you. -

Love in Jesus, Frank