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“The Church on earth is by its very nature missionary ....it has its origin in the mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit. This plan flows from ‘fountain-like love’, the love of God the Father.

[Vatican II Ad Gentes Divinitus #2]
     
Mission

The mission of the Church as communion is to promote the reign of God on earth. In so doing, it responds to God’s call to continue the mission of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This mission centres not on the Church but on the transformation of the world according to the person and vision of Jesus Christ, especially his kingdom values of peace, justice, forgiveness and love.

Above all, Christian mission means announcing the “Good News” of God’s reign in Jesus Christ and the Spirit. This evangelising task of the Church must be carried out with sensitivity and respect for all human values and cultures. It must be communitarian; it requires collaboration; and it calls for dialogue. This means the Church must listen as well as proclaim. Proclamation and dialogue are both essential components of Christian mission. As dialogue, mission involves a four-fold activity:
  • dialogue of life, sharing in the joys, sorrows, hopes and aspirations of all people
  • dialogue of action, collaborating with others in social justice and human liberation
  • dialogue of ideas, deepening our understanding of the spiritual values of all churches and religions
  • dialogue of religious experience, sharing spiritual riches through ecumenical prayer and interfaith activities.

The proclamation and promotion of God’s reign in these ways are not intended to ignore the importance of building up the Church itself. This means not so much building up the numbers, but rather the Church itself becoming a more authentic witness of God’s transforming action in the world. The Church becomes truly missionary when the hearts and minds of Christians are set on fire with the love of God.
Enjoying a cuppa
To be baptised a Christian is to be called to a missionary life of communion with God and of loving action in collaboration with all God’s people. In family life, in the workplace, and in all areas of human interaction, our baptism calls us to carry forward the mission of the Church. It is at the local level that we are called by God today to rediscover our missionary nature.

   

 
 
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