To serve in mission: How parishioners are called, invited to share the Gospel as missionary disciples

Will Howell unpacks chickens for distribution as volunteers from Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, the Chris Howell Foundation and elsewhere distribute about 20,000 pounds of fresh and shelf stable food at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (NTC/Rodger Mallison)

FORT WORTH — In a letter announcing this year’s World Mission Day to take place on Sunday, October 20, 2024, Pope Francis urged the faithful to embrace the baptismal calling to serve as missionary disciples of Christ and share the Gospel with others.

The Diocesan Mission Council responded to the pontiff’s exhortation with plans to host a Day of Reflection on Saturday, August 17 at St. Joseph Parish in Arlington. The theme is “Go and invite everyone to the banquet” as noted in Matthew 22:9. The event is set to help those interested in mission to prayerfully discern God’s call to service.

Deacon Mike Mocek of Holy Family Parish in Fort Worth said the Day of Reflection reminds us of our baptismal obligation to share our faith with all, even with just a simple, small step.

“Volunteer at a night shelter or soup kitchen,” he encouraged. “Invite your neighbor to go along. Let the Holy Spirit move you from there.”

Mission may take you across the street or around the world, he explained. “The one essential element is to share the love of God with others while you remain open to God’s love working in you through those you serve.”

Mission in and out of the community

Sarah Butler is a parishioner and Parish Mission Council member at Sacred Heart Church in Wichita Falls. She has served on five mission trips to Guatemala as a faculty member and interpreter with Midwestern State University’s Catholic Center students.

Sacred Heart parishioners also sponsor school children at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in El Sitio, Guatemala, working with the Carmelite Missionaries of San Elias Profeta in Patzún.

But, Butler said, Sacred Heart parishioners find a variety of opportunities to serve locally and spread the love of Christ.

Every few months, a group of parishioners visit Faith Women’s Refuge, a temporary housing shelter, where they lead a faith-sharing activity followed by a meal and conversation with the women. Another group gathers to assemble sack lunches for the homeless in downtown Wichita Falls.

“Mass means mission,” Butler said. “We are called to take the Gospel out to the community.”

Everyone can participate, regardless of time or financial ability, Butler said. For example, a group from Sacred Heart regularly call shut-in parishioners who are unable to attend Mass or other parish activities.

No matter how one serves, Butler believes mission is realizing, “I have a role to play, a duty to be a disciple … to being Christ’s hands and feet.”

A mission abroad

Michael Wanigasekera, a member of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Prosper, began his service journey with the U.S. Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA. He then felt called to share Jesus’ love with others in faraway places. Wanigasekera’s first trip abroad was to a small village of 300 people in Cambodia where he taught English.

In addition to no electricity or running water, Wanigasekera encountered skepticism among the elders. “The village was bombed during the Vietnam War,” he recalled. “Older people had a negativity toward the United States.”

Some villagers initially questioned his intentions, but Wanigasekera remembers a shift in their demeanor as he worked on constructions projects to build a library, basketball court, water wells, and a clean water filtration system for the school. “When they see you helping their children, it changes hearts and minds,” he said.

Through personal fundraising and support from the St. Martin de Porres’ Knights of Columbus, Wanigasekera has returned to Cambodia several times as well as Sri Lanka.

“We’re a Church, and if we want to see a different world, we need to promote service,” he said.

Wanigasekera is passionate about sharing his experiences.

“I don’t feel like God wants me to go on these trips and keep it to myself,” he said. “It’s not about me. It’s about sharing a positive story to encourage others, to inspire.”

The Knight also delights in seeing how faithful God has been to his efforts.

“God always finds a way if you want to help people, if you have a heart to do it, if you put yourself out there,” Wanigasekera said.
 

An open invitation

Pope Francis’ letter affirms that “the mission for all requires the commitment of all.” The level of commitment can vary greatly depending on how much time, money, and energy someone has to give.

Through one’s baptism, all Catholics are called to share the Good News, the pope reminds the faithful.

“Mission is a tireless going out to all men and women, in order to invite them to encounter God and enter into communion with Him,” he stated in a May 25 address to the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies.  

The faithful simply need to open their hearts to Jesus’ invitation.

Although the love for God and others prompts mission work, Deacon Mike Mocek said the experience can be personally rewarding. He explained, “Without fail, every time I have reached out to others in mission, whether locally, domestically, or internationally, the spiritual gifts I received far outweighed what I gave. That is a universal response of everyone I have ever asked about their missionary experiences.”

The Diocesan Mission Council’s upcoming Day of Reflection on August 17 is open to all. For more information and to register, visit fwdioc.org/day-of-reflection.

By Jen Johnson, a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton who studied journalism and political science from Rutgers University and holds a masters degree in political management from The George Washington University. Her background includes corporate communications, community outreach, and nonprofit fundraising.