Asian Missioners in Asia

Posted: 9th November 2006

MSP Fr. Are give fitst aid care in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea

Inspired by both the FABC vision, As well as local theologies, there are many Asians committed to serving and evangelizing their Asian neighbors. We have already five “Asian-born” mission societies, and three more are being contemplated.


The Vatican II era has witnessed in Asia a renewed commitment to the Church’s universal mission. The establishment of “home-grown or Asian-born” missionary societies verifies this fact. There are five indigenous mission societies: Mission Society of the Philippines: MSP (1965); Mission Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle [India]: MST (1968); Thailand Mission Society: TMS (1990); and, Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society [Philippines]: LRMS (1997). Currently, Vietnam and Myanmar are moving toward the establishment of their own missionary groups; Indonesia is also exploring some concrete options to become further engaged in ad gentes mission.

In addition to their uniqueness as “Asian-born” mission so societies, these five missionary communities reflect a specific charisma: mission society of apostolic life. Three characteristics describe their unique identity and mission contributions: ad gentes, ad exteros, and ad vitam. Such societies direct their efforts of evangelization ad gentes(to those who have not yet heard the liberating and salvific Good News of Jesus Christ), ad exteros ( to peoples outside their own country, cultural milieu, and language group), and ad vitam (through a life-long commitment to this unique form of missionary witness). Ecclesia in Asia (44d) specifically recommends “the establishment, within each local Church of Asia where such do not exist, of missionary societies of apostolic life.” The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) THROUGH ITS OFFFICE OF Evangelization (OE) HAS BEEN PROMOTING MISSIONARY COOPERATION AMONG THE FIVE Asian-born Missionary Societies of Apostolic life(AMSAL). This AMSAL group, now a semi-autonomous organization, began with a FABC-sponsored gathering in Thailand(1997), continued with meetings in the Philippiness (1999), India (2001), Korea (2003) and Thailand(2003). How has the mission vision of these ad gentes missionary institutes been implemented in Asia? To answer this question conretely, a brief synopsis of each Asian-born missionary society follows.

FILIPINO GRATITUDE TO GOD
Missionary Society of the Philippines. On the fourth centenary of the evangelization of the Philippine Islands (1565-1965), the Catholic hierarchy declared “to express in the concrete our gratitude to God for the gift of our faith, we will organize the Foreign Mission Society of The Philippines.” The official name of the society is: Mission Society of the Philippines (MSP), often popularly referred to as “Fil-Mission.”
The MSP defines its charism in these words: “In love and gratitude to the Father, ours is a joyful missionary spirit flowing from a deep union with Christ through Mary and in the power of the Holy Spirit, willing to spend and be spent in sharing His Gospel to all.” The Catholic bishops of the Philippines have designated one Sunday each year as “Fil-Mission Sunday” to help support MSP as a commitment of the entire local Church.

MSP counts 62 permanent members, 37 seminarians, and 5 associate priests. Presently, MSP missionaries work in Taiwan(8), Japan (5), Thailand(2), South Korea(3), Papua New Guinea(10), New Zealand (2), Cook Islands(2), Guyana, South America (2), and American Samoa (2).
In the first yeas of the new millennium, the MSP undertook several new mission initiatives: (a) care for Filipino migrants, enabling them to become active partners in evangelization; (b) establishment of a mission center in Thailand focused on the aged and sick, especially those affected with AIDS; (c) opening of additional “frontier” mission stations in Papua New Guinea; and, (a) organization of mission animation programs for local lay faithful focused on mission ad gentes. Father Socrates C. Mesiona serves as the current MSP Father Moderator.

THE SYRO-MALABAR MISSIONERS

Missionary Society of Saint Thomas the Apostle. The missionary society of Saint Thomas the Apostle (MST) in India is an indigenous missionary instudute of the Syro-Malabar Church. In 1960, Mar Sebastian Vayalil sought the permission of the Holy See to found a mission society. The nascent society began as a Pius Union of Diocesan Clergy in 1965. Additional steps were taken, and the MST was founded at Deepti Nagar on February 22, 1968. The founding members of MST were 18 diocesan priests. On July 3, 1997 the MST was raised to a “Society of Apostolic life of Major Archiepiscopal Right.”
The scope of the Society is “mission ad gentes” in the less Christian regions of India and beyond, “remaining faithful to the heritage and identity of the Syro-Malabar Church.” MST now serves three mission regions (Ujjain, Mandya, and Sangli). MST members render service in 19 Indian dioceses and in Tangzania (2), Papua New Guinea (3), South Africa (1), Sweden (2) Germany (13), and in the USA (10).
The Growth of MST in its first three decades of existence has been phenomenal. Recent data lists 287 permanent members and 154 students at various levels of formation. The current MST Director General is Father Kurian Ammanathukunnel.
New mission activities, undertaken in recent years, are focused on prison ministry, care of HIV/AIDS patients, mission animation in the Church of origin, and the establishment of a musicological research center. MST superiors noted four important mission challenges: Hindu fundamentalism in India, consumerist society’s negative influence on missioners themselves, slackening spirituality and less enthusiasm of presumes to take up challenging missions.

WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE KOREAN MARTYRS
Catholic Foreign Mission Society of Korea. Based on a preparatory study, the Koran Bishops’ Conference established the Korean Foreign Mission Society on February 26, 1975. A formation house ordained in 1981. In the same year, the first missionary was sent to Papua New Guinea.
The Korean Mission Society (KMS) seeks to proclaim the Gospel and imitate Jesus Christ, the model for all missionaries. “We also model ourselves on the evangelical spirit of the 103 Korean martyrs who witnessed to Jesus event even unto their death.”
The Korean Mission Society (KMS) seeks to proclaim the Gospel and imitate Jesus Christ, the model for all missionaries. “we also model ourselves on the evangelical spirit of the 103 Korean martyrs who witnessed to Jesus even unto their death.”
According to recent statistics, there are 49 permanent members of the Society; 46 are priests; 3 are deacons; there are 30 seminarians in formation. Members work within Korea (Suwon and Seoul dioceses) and also in Hong Kong (3), Taiwan (6), Papua New Guinea (9), Cambodia (3), Mainland China (4), Russia (2). The present KMS general superior is Father Augustine Kim.

A Dreemaking course promoted by the MSP

The KMS notes that it currently faces three specific challenges: (a) the recruitment of vocations in Korea where, nationally, there is a low birth rate at present; (b) the ongoing effort to stabilize KMS mission funds; and, (c) the challenge to instill a deeper mission consciousness among the Catholics of South Korea. The hope is that the newly-established mission research center will help to address there difficulties.

AMONG THE HILL TRIBE PEOPLES
Thailand Missionary Society. In March 1987, he Superior of the Paris Foreign Mission Society in Thailand addressed a letter to the Bishops’ Conference suggesting the formation of a missionary group of Thai priests. They were to work with the hill tribe peoples in northern Thailand. The idea was well received and approved by the bishops.
In 1989, four seminarians volunteered to become members of the Society. In June, 1990 and in January, 1991 the first two priests were ordained for the Thailand Missionary Society (TMS); this is considered the real beginning of TMS (popularly called the “Thai Missionary Society”). This society of secular priests aims to do “apostolic work among those who do not know Jesus Christ in Thailand and out of Thailand.” Currently, they serve in Northern Thailand among the hill tribe peoples as well as in Cambodia. TMS membership counts 8 priests members and 9 sisters as associate members. Several seminarians in the National Major Seminary have expressed their intention of joining TMS at the time of their ordination to the diaconate.
The main TMS successes have been the development of a mission presence among the hill tribe people, especially the Hmongs. Equally fruitful has been he work in Cambodia / Kampuchea, “especially with the foundation of a new religious branch of the “Lovers of the Cross’ Sisters”; in March, 2004 two Cambodian sisters made their first profession. Father Jean Dantonel, MEP, is the current superior of the TMS (a Bishops’ Conference appointee); a Thai priest acts as his assistant.

FILIPINO-CHINESE PARISHES AND SCHOOLS
Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society. In 1949 during civil disturbances in China, the Saint Joseph Regional Seminary, which was under the Jesuit administration, was transferred to Manila. In the ensuing years, about 600 Chinese seminarians sere ordained in the Philippines; they went on to found 14 Filipino-Chinese parishes and 18 Filipino-Chinese seminaries schools.
To facilitate the continuation of these apostolate and to recruit and train younger clergy, Jaime Cardinal Sin of Manila established the Lorenzo Mission Institute (a Filipino-Chinese Seminary) in 1987. Pope John Paul II has also requested Cardinal Sin to help prepare missionaries for China. During the Pope’s January 1995 sojourn in Manila, he visited this seminary, instructing the Cardinal to “maintain and preserve the said seminary at all cost.”
In this context, the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society (LRMS) has been formed; it received its decree of approval from Cardinal Sin on January 14, 1997. The LRMS draws its inspiration from Saint Lorenzo, the first Filipino saint who was of mixed Filipino and Chinese descent. He was martyred in Japan where he went as a lay catechist with Spanish Dominican friars in the 1600s.
The members of LRMS are committed to the Church in China, the Filipino-Chinese apostolate, and other overseas Chinese communities. There are 17 permanent members and 32 seminarians. The Archbishop of Manila governs the 4 Society through his delegate; Father Esteban U. Lo is the current superior.

EMERGING LAY MISSION MOVEMENTS
This presentation has only highlighted the “Asian-born” missionary societies of apostolic life; a complete panorama of Asian mission initiatives would also have to include the numerous Asians that are serving in ad gentes mission through international societies of religious women and men. Various lay movements also send personnel for evangelization in many Asian nations; for example, lay mission movements have been established in Japan, Philippines, and Hong Kong. The vast majority of these missionaries serve in other Asian countries. Inspired by the FABC vision as well as local theologies, spiritualities, and pastoral visions, there are many Asians committed to serving and evangelizing their Asian neighbors.

Article Source: World Misssion October 2006 No. 194 VOL.XVIII 60 PESOS ISSN 0116-8142