Present: Kathee Bautista, John Hernandez, Lyn Ibanez, John Jerpe, Irma Pazmino, Richard Perez, Joe Santos, Peggy Santos, Kathryn Shannon M.M., Lucy Yu M.M. Deacon Leonel Yoque; from San Diego Chapter Jim DeHarpporte, Michelle Dunne, Erin Rickwa
Leonel began the day asking each of us to introduce ourselves. After a "Call to Prayer" and in that comfort zone of no strangers, he led us in two Maryknoll power- point presentations on MISSION, whose source is the Triune God, a God who IS love. The mission of Jesus, the Son of God sent by the Father was to show us how to love. As his disciples our mission can then be nothing less than being that same love for the world, its people and all that is in it, especially the marginated.
The question is, "Does the Mission have a Church or does the Church have a Mission?" Whatever happened historically, Gathering and Sending are both essential.
A turning point in the Mission of the Church was the Second Vatican Council. We learned that by virtue of our Baptism every Christian is a missioner, not just the professional few. Group participation was constant. Joe Santos gave one demanding insight. Our Mission starts the minute we drive out of the Church parking lot. The task made crystle clear to us all was that Mission means to love. Leonel gave us seven paths to live out our missionary call: 1. Witness 2. Proclamation 3. Interreligious and Secular Dialogue 4. Social Justice, Peace and Integrity in Creation 5. Inculturation 6. Liturgy, Prayer and Contemplation 7. Reconciliation
He concluded the morning with what was for me an emotional, short video of people living out love around the world.
Lucy and Leonel led the Agape prayer. In memory of Jesus we shared bread and wine and concluded with a "Song of Blessing" The potluck meal, like those of the Gospel, was awesome with what was it , 12 basketfulls left over?
Our 30 minute Holy Hour with the Lord in Chapel included music, prayers of the faithful and a standing repeat of our "Vow of Nonviolence" written by John Dear S.J.
Back in the Annex, Peggy then divided us into three groups with 4 reflection questions using the Affirmative Inquiry Method for discussion of the past, present and future of the Affiliate Group. Reports back to the House were made. Joe and Peggy will take our insights to the International Affiliate meeting in June. John Hernandez thanked everyone for coming and his team for their service to the group.
