After emerging from a life-changing tragic period in his life,
Andy Richers was looking for his next path — holy orders or becoming a
missionary.
Father David P. Meng directed him to visit Father Jason Weber in Bánica,
Dominican Republic. It was there Richers met Michelle Haworth, executive
director of Commissioned by Christ, a Catholic missionary organization
supported by the Diocese of Arlington.
It turned out Bánica was what Richers needed.
“It gives me what feeds my soul — daily Mass and prayer, simple
food and logistics, no electronic connections or distractions,” he said. “It is
as much a retreat as a mission.”
Pope Francis named October as Extraordinary Missionary Month to
celebrate the anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s apostolic letter “Maximum Illud.”
Commissioned by Christ is responding by focusing on mission trip
opportunities available for the diocese. They are scheduling one-day mission
trips for those who want to give back to the community but don’t have the time
or desire to do something internationally. “You want to start there, in your
own backyard,” said Haworth.
Local trips include broccoli gleaning for Catholic Charities St.
Lucy Food Project and going to Washington to help the Missionaries of Charity
with their work for the aging homeless population.
“We are reaching out to
former missionaries and supporters helping them understand what Extraordinary Missionary
Month is about. It’s important that people see their corporal and spiritual
works of mercy in the big picture,” said Haworth.
Not only is there an impact on the people they serve,
missionaries are impacted.
“I love the part of coming home and touching base with them to
see where they’ve landed,” said Haworth. “Some have a hard time going back into
their old lives. Some are inspired to get involved in their community, some
branch out and do a bigger thing.”
When Commissioned by Christ began, there were only two mission
trips — Bánica and Peru. Going into next year, they will have added trips to
Kenya, Jamaica, Rome and Nazareth Farms, W.Va.
Father Jamie R. Workman, diocesan chancellor, is chairman of the
board for Commissioned by Christ.
“Our mission and purpose is to serve working Catholic adults and
families with the opportunity to attend mission trips and by which be better
formed in their faith with sacraments and community,” he said. “Our emphasis is
on serving and providing that opportunity, which isn’t always afforded working
Catholic adults and families.”
Father Workman said the membership of the trips have been representative
of the diocese.
“Young adults, parents with teens, middle age and retirees are all
on the same trip, sharing the faith, serving and sacrificing together,” he
said. “As a small community, they tend to stay in touch and some missionaries
sign up for multiple trips.”
Gloria Solorzano participated in the mission trip to Kenya, where
she helped at the Mother of Mercy Girl’s Secondary School.
“My decision to go was a combination of things beginning with
being grateful for all the blessings I have in my life and I wanted to serve
Our Lord in something more proactive, something bigger than my world,” said
Solorzano. “It’s something that pushes you out of your comfort zone, in a
different environment and a completely different world from what you’re seeing.”
Solorzano found a connection.
“I found that even though you’re from different places, our
Catholic faith is universal,” she said. “We’re all the same at the end of the
day.”
Being away from distractions helped her find focus and become
more conscious of her beliefs and values, she said. “I’m much more grateful now
for everything I have because I think sometimes you take so many things for
granted.”
Participants on mission trips come back enriched and motivated to
be more engaging in their own parish communities, said Father Workman.
“We may think we’re limited by our age or physical abilities, but
God gives us what we can handle, then he does the rest,” said Haworth.
Find out more
Go to commissionedbychrist.org or call 571/699-3339.
