Lesson 1: The CICM IN THE DIFFERENT CONTINENTS
Given the chance to go to other countries for a mission, where will it be? Why?
JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD (Jn. 10:10)
“I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its
fullness.” Jesus went from one place to another…
The mission of Jesus is a mission of love and service to humanity and the whole of
creation. It is a self-giving love that entailed much sacrifice - his life. This self-giving is an
unconditional caring that has the safety of His friends as its core value. It does not turn back
when trouble comes. In fact, Jesus dies so that His friends might live. This unbreakable
communion that is characterized by His total self-giving is the quality that makes Him the Good
Shepherd. The shepherd dies; the sheep are safe. The Father’s life, which is essentially love
flows into Jesus, and the life of the Father and Jesus flows into Jesus’ friends. So, the Father’s
self-giving into the Son results in the Son’s self-giving into His friends. The completeness and
transcendence of this self-giving is revealed when the Good Shepherd gives Himself totally in
the act of dying. In His death, the love of the Father is revealed as sustaining and transforming
the friends of Jesus through their own death.
This is how the Father’s life and love works in and through Jesus. Jesus freely enters
into the realm of death. His resurrection will be His continued life in the community of friends
who have received His sacrificial dying into their hearts. This is the Father’s plan for the
revelation of divine love and the unity of all peoples. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is enacting it
(Knox, Ian, 2011). Drawing from the inspiration set by Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the apostles
and the Church continued the mission of bringing the Gospel to God’s children in the different
parts of the world despite difficulties. The Church continues serving the world through her lifegiving ministry, especially the poorest of the poor.
“For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of
humanity, and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new: "Now
I am making the whole of creation new." Strata of humanity which are transformed: for the Church
it is a question not only of preaching the Gospel in ever wider geographic areas or to ever greater
numbers of people, but also of affecting and as it were upsetting, through the power of the Gospel,
mankind's criteria of judgment, determining values, points of interest, lines of thought, sources of
inspiration and models of life, which are in contrast with the Word of God and the plan of
salvation.” (E.N. # 19-20)
Therefore, all missionaries - priests, Brothers, Sisters, and lay folk - each according to
their own state, should be prepared and trained, lest they be found unequal to the demands of
their future work. From the very beginning, their doctrinal training should be so planned that it
takes in both the universality of the Church and the diversity of the world's nations. This holds for
all of their studies by which they are prepared for the exercise of the ministry, as also for the other
studies which it would be useful for them to learn, that they may have a general knowledge of the
peoples, cultures, and religions; not only a knowledge that looks to the past, but one that considers
the present time. For anyone who is going to encounter another people should have a great esteem
for their patrimony and their language and their customs. It is very necessary for the future
missionary to devote himself to missiological studies: that is, to know the teachings and norms of
the Church concerning missionary activity, to know along what roads the heralds of the Gospel
have run in the course of the centuries, and also what is the present condition of the missions, and
what methods are considered more effective at the present time.(8) (Ad Gentes, Chapter IV # 26,
on Missionaries).
“Announcing the Gospel to all nations, he confidently makes known the mystery of Christ,
whose ambassador he is, so that in him he dares to speak as he ought (cf. Eph. 6:19; Acts 4:31), not
being ashamed of the scandal of the Cross. Following in his Master's footsteps, meek and humble
of heart, he proves that His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matt. 11:29ff.) By a truly evangelical
life, (4) in much patience, in long - suffering, in kindness, in unaffected love (cf. 2 Cor. 6:4ff.), he
bears witness to his Lord, if need be to the shedding of his blood. He will ask of God the power and
strength, that he may know that there is an overflowing of joy amid much testing of tribulation and
deep poverty (2 Cor. 8:2). Let him be convinced that obedience is the hallmark of the servant of
Christ, who redeemed the human race by His obedience.” (Ad Gentes,Chapter IV, # 24, on
Missionaries)
“One of the basic reasons for the missionary engagement for the majority of the
confreres is their concern to serve the poorest, to struggle with them and for them, so that the
poor may live a liberated life, in dignity and solidarity.
Christ was on the side of the poor and in their being with the poor, they meet Him. For
many confreres, the joy of their vocation is to live in the midst of oppressed and crushed peoples,
with whom they feel very close and whom they deeply love.” (Silhouettes and Profiles, coll.:
“CICM Spirituality”, no4, The CICM missionaries cherish the spirit of the radical availability of
the first generations of CICM missionaries who left their home country, often to never return, and
placed themselves at the service of the poorest and most vulnerable in Mongolia or Congo. They
dare to hope that in any case this radical availability will remain specific for the CICM of the
future. It’s a radical availability that could take even the highest sacrifice of one’s life for the cause
of the mission which some of the confreres went through.
Reiterating what has been mentioned earlier, there are almost a thousand of them
present in Asia (Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Japan), in
the vast continent of Africa (Congo, Cameroon, Zambia, and Senegal), in the Americas (Haiti,
the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Mexico and the United States), and in Europe
(Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, France)
COUNTRIES IN WHICH THE CICM MISSIONAIRES ARE CURRENTLY PRESENT
Going to these mission areas has not always been easy to the CICM missionaries but their
zeal, dedication, and enthusiasm to their ministry remain admirable, drawing inspiration from
their founder and Jesus himself, the greatest missionary. Such inspiration makes mission work
bearable and meaningful in their different mission stations in the world.
1. ASIA
Outside of the Philippines and East Timor, Asia is non-Christian. The first mission territory
of the CICM, China, is today a vast ocean of official atheism forced into folk religion/Confucian
beliefs, and what remains of Buddhism. In many parts of Asia, persons belonging to ethnic
groups such as tribal, indigenous peoples and minorities based on race, religion, culture, etc.,
are victims of the injustice of discrimination. In some countries, caste practices have isolated for
centuries whole sections of populations, leaving a consequent psychological, cultural and
economic trauma on the social conscience. Another concern brings our attention to the
particular problem created by discrimination against women and girl children. Obviously, a
degrading and inhuman poverty, along with its consequent inequalities in many parts of Asia, is
also among the most glaring and saddening phenomena of the continent. A great source of hope
comes from many of the Church's religious orders and congregations who have made a major
contribution to the growth of the local Churches in Asia through their mission of evangelization.
Religious sisters and brothers, by their love and unselfish service to those who suffer from
poverty in its many forms, have contributed to nourishing the faith of many in the Church in Asia.
It is in the context of the socio-economic realities, its political history and present situation, and
in the context of its multi-religious traditions that the CICM carries out its evangelizing mission.
Indeed, the missionary presence of the CICM is very noticeable, especially in the Philippines.
CICM missionaries spend their lives with their people, sharing in their hopes and dreams
as well as their sufferings and privations. Adopting their language, food and customs, they
enculturate themselves into the life of the people, participating in the day-to-day effort needed
to achieve lasting spiritual and material change. In response to people’s spiritual needs, CICM
missionaries may staff parishes, administer sacraments, teach, preach, and engage in special
ministries to the youth, the sick and aged, prisoners and university students. In response to
people’s material needs, CICM missionaries may help to build schools or orphanages,
dispensaries or nutritional centers, or they may engage in projects to improve a farmer’s yield
or to bring clean water to a village. This means the CICM missionaries take upon themselves to
bring the Good News of Christ to where they are needed - into all the strata of humanity, leading
to social transformation.
Flags of CICM Asian Mission Stations
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Japan
Mongolia
Philippines
Singapore
Taiwan
2. AFRICA
The continent of Africa borders the southern half of the Mediterranean Sea. The Atlantic
Ocean is to the west and the Indian Ocean is to the Southeast. Africa stretches well south of
the equator to cover more than 12 million square miles making Africa the world's second
largest continent. Africa is also the world's second most populous continent. Africa is one of
the most diverse places on the planet with a wide variety of terrain, wildlife, and climates.
(Map is to be shown.)
The continent is generally young and poor; most of the fifty-plus countries/republics
emerged after World War II, and bad governments are not able to deal with the vicious cycle
of poverty. Aside from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1888), the CICM is also in
Cameroon (1966), Senegal (1976), and Zambia (1976); there are three CICM Provinces in
Africa.
The CICM call to Africa was to pioneer in terms of penetrating tribes in the area, catechizing
and baptizing them, and providing them with socio-economic infrastructure. The
Congregation early on developed the native clergy, and today sends African missionaries all
over the world.
CICM missionaries like Fr. Oscar Nkolo lives and work among people living in dire poverty.
Most of them have no money to cover basic necessities, much less medical care. The elderly is
frequently abandoned by their families, and sick children are left to die. Little children wander
the streets begging, looking for affection, scouring trash bins for scraps of food. Bright childrenthe hope of the country’s future-drop out of school, because they cannot afford to pay tuition and
other school fees. CICM ministry in Africa revolves around the three specific domains as follows:
a. Justice, Peace, Ecology - The Church strives since her beginning for peace and justice.
Only lately the Wholeness of Creation has been added to this because of its necessity in
the world of today. These themes are therefore also our themes as CICM and we try to
implement them wherever we work.
b. Reflections - Reflection is part of spiritual life. Taking your time to stand still and let your
mind wander about your thoughts and actions of the day, and to get inspiration from the Bible
or other sacred and spiritual literature is essential to live in this world without being caught
up into it
c. In the Frontline - As CICM missionaries we love to be at the frontline of society, to answer
to the needs of the people and to see, discern, and act with them. There are many fields in
which we are active, such as parish life, education, youth ministry, inter religious dialogue,
and so on.
Flags of CICM African Mission Stations
3. THE AMERICAS
The Americas are an evangelized region; the North is mostly Protestant, while Mexico,
Central and South America are Catholic. The overall percentage of Catholics is 63.7%,
according to latest Vatican statistics. The work of evangelization then in Haiti (1953), Guatemala
(1954), Dominican Republic (1958), Brazil (1963), and Mexico (1979) by CICM missionaries, who
make up one Province, takes the form of restoring the dignity of Indians and shepherding the
people in rural villages and towns, and in slums, working to eradicate poverty in the form of
ignorance and malnutrition.
During World War II, anxious for the survival of our missionaries in China and hoping
to provide them with Mass stipends from the U.S., Father Ernest Dieltiens was sent to the United
States to seek financial support for the CICM China missions and to find areas of ministry.
Eventually it was decided to establish a permanent CICM mission in the U.S. In April
1946, Father Dieltiens was able to buy an eleven-acre property called “Lyonhurst,” for its former
owner, Mr. Frank Lyons. The name was then changed to “Missionhurst.” The concentration of the
CICM - US Province is doing apostolate among Mexican Americans and Blacks, and in rural parishes.
In response to the people’s most urgent need, Missionhurst missionaries may start a
new farming project, build a clean water supply line, work to improve nutrition and health,
establish a loving home for orphans and abandoned children, start a leadership training
program or a sheltered workshop for the handicapped, or provide “seed” money to village
entrepreneurs struggling to start small businesses. Or they may build a new chapel, seminary,
or school.
As trusted members of the communities in their care, they work in close cooperation
with local churches to promote Christian values, human dignity, self-reliance, and a decent
standard of living, while sharing the hope and comfort of the Gospel. Missionhurst priests and
brothers are sent wherever our missionary presence is most needed.
The CICM - US Mission: Dedicated to sharing the hope and comfort of the Gospel, while relieving the
suffering of our poorest, most neglected brothers and sisters in Christ.
Flags of CICM American Mission Stations
Brazil
Dominican Republic Guatemala
Haiti
Mexico
United States
4. EUROPE
Europe is the second smallest of the inhabited continents. It is part of the Eurasian land
mass that includes Europe, Asia, Asia Minor and the Arabian Peninsula. As many large islands
east and south of Asia are usually included in Asia, the Eurasian land mass extends from Iceland
to New Guinea, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to the Indian Oceans.
Traditionally, the Ural Mountains in Russia have been used as a division. This line then had to
curve back through the Caspian and Black Seas to avoid leaving Turkey in Europe. The fact that
this separated Christian Europe from Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Asia is not coincidental. With
the creation of many new countries from the collapse of the Soviet Union the division is more
difficult as so many want to be included in Europe for economic reasons. In order to show
complete countries only we have included Russia in Asia, where most of its area lies, rather than
in Europe.
Europe was where it all started, where the idea was conceived, in the neighborhood
of Scheut in Brussels, Belgium. Since the beginning Belgium has contributed much to the ad
extra missionary effort of the CICM, proof of the generous spirit of the country, and of the times.
And these valiant men have made a difference in the life of the people wherever they worked.
Sadly, as is the general phenomenon in Europe, secularism has crept in. Hardly are there new
CICM missionary vocations in the country. In fact Belgium has become a receiving country, of
missionaries from countries evangelized by Belgians. The “New Evangelization” aptly now fits
the country.
To the CICM missionaries in Europe, personal and community prayer life and the daily
Eucharist are for most of them a lasting source of life and vigor. They know that all their labors
and pains at the service of the Kingdom have value only if the Lord of the harvest blesses them.
And when all is said and done, they recognize that without Him they would be useless servants.
Building up a community with all those who collaborate with the CICM in their work,
their parishes, schools and missions is always an important and enriching element of their life.
Sharing the joys and sorrows of those to whom they were sent brings them something precious:
they learned to respect other cultures, to ‘feel at home’ in other cultures, to join and walk side by
side with people of other cultures. They are ready to leave their family, their people and their
culture in order to devote themselves forever to another people, to learn their language and
integrate themselves to the extent possible into their culture. Their mission country becomes a
second homeland for them.
Availability for service to the local church is an important attitude for the CICM-Europe.
Especially caring service to the poor and the marginalized is seen and experienced as a priority
since the beginnings of their Congregation. “One of the basic reasons for the missionary engagement
for the majority of the confreres is their concern to serve the poorest, to struggle with them and for them,
so that the poor may live a liberated life, in dignity and solidarity. Christ was on the side of the poor and
in their being with the poor, they meet Him. For many confreres, the joy of their vocation is to live in the
midst of oppressed and crushed peoples, with whom they feel very close and whom they deeply love.”
(Silhouettes and Profiles, coll.: “CICM Spirituality”, no4, The CICM missionaries cherish the spirit of the
radical availability of the first generations of CICM missionaries who left their home country, often to
never return, and placed themselves at the service of the poorest and most vulnerable in Mongolia or
Congo. They dare to hope that in any case this radical availability will remain specific for the CICM of
the future.
Flags of CICM European Mission Stations
Belgium
France
Italy
Netherlands
Vatican City
We can participate actively in the missionary endeavors of the Church and in particular,
the CICM by:
1. Becoming a true missionary at home and in the community by being sensitive to their
existing needs and responding to them positively.
2. Supporting the different missionary advocacies of the CICM, especially the advocacy that is
assigned to our school.
3. Involvement in the “random acts of kindness” (RAK) project of the school.
4. Participate and give generously in the “mission drive” of the school, especially during the
mission month as our way of showing solidarity with missionaries worldwide.
5. Adopt a CICM missionary and write a message (encouraging message to inspire him in his
ministry).