CHAPTER II

CICM IN THE WORLD

This chapter deals with the different aspects of the CICM missionary presence. It talks about the
institute’s response to the specific or concrete situations and needs in the countries and provinces where the
CICM missionaries are present. It considers each one’s own accent: in Europe, there is a search for missionary
integration; in Africa, the accent is on communion and solidarity; in Asia, the emphasis is on evangelization and
attempts to dialogue with the great religions of the region; and in America, the accent is on solidarity in the
struggle for liberation.

Lesson 1: The CICM in the Different Continents

Picture Viewing: Where in the world could this be?

Photos of certain structures in mission areas where the CICM missionaries are working.
 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 life-
giving ministry, especially the poorest of the poor.

In the recent Magisterium of the Church in Vatican II, Evangelii Nuntiandi, Redemptoris

Missio and recent trends in Mission Theology and practice, the concepts of mission and evangelization have
acquired a wider meaning and contain new dimensions and emphasis. This is clearly noticeable in the various
initiatives mentioned in the responses which deal with promoting the values of the Kingdom of God, human
dignity and human rights, justice and peace issues, dialogue and sharing of religious experiences, and
collaboration in the struggle for a more just and humane society. All of these are seen as essential elements in
today's new evangelisation, which is part of the service of life rendered by the Church in Asia. Going further,
Evangelii Nuntiandi states:

“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)

Entering into the different strata of humanity is clearly observed by the CICM. Since the beginning,
from the time of its Founder, the direction is clear - that the missionaries go to where they are most needed.
Their missionary work is always carried in response to a need. Such commitment, like that of the Founder and
the early members of the congregation could even cause the loss of their lives yet, the zeal and dedication to
serve the needy is never extinguished. “Unless the seed dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it yields fruit, a
hundredfold.” The CICM commits to the same mission of bringing the Gospel to God’s children in the most
remote areas of the world - in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, living and working together
in multicultural communities as brothers, continuing this long tradition of caring for God’s poorest and most
neglected people in many parts of the world and of sharing the hope and comfort of the Gospel while relieving
their suffering. This is the actualization of the challenge to bring the Gospel of Christ to where they are needed
- into all the strata of humanity, leading to social transformation.

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).
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,
hopes and dreams 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.
Adopting their language, food and customs, they inculturate themselves into the life of the people, participating
in the day-to-day effort needed to achieve lasting spiritual and material change. Their mission country becomes
a second homeland for them. 
A challenge that cannot be avoided by any missionary is clearly stated in the Church document, Ad
Gentes: “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.

The following are crucial dates in the history of the CICM from the date the founder died:

1888 – they breached the 100 mark and because of the demand for missionaries in other countries, the CICM
expanded its missionary work
- established its mission in Congo.
1907 – started the mission in the Philippines.
1931 – Singapore, mission for seafarers and promote inter-religious dialogue.
1937 – Indonesia, founded a Catechetical Institute, minor seminary and an agricultural
school.
During WW II - Fr. Ernest Dieltiens was sent to the United States to ask for financial support
for the China missions and to find areas of ministry.
- Father Raskin, ordained in the congregation in 1910, and in the 1920-1930's,
a missionary to Inner Mongolia, was made a chaplain in the Belgian
army and was a personal advisor to King Leopold III. While he was
operating under the codename Leopold Vindictive 200 for the Dutch
Resistance in 1942, he was captured by the  Gestapo, tried, convicted, then
sentenced to death and beheaded on October 18, 1943.
- The Scheutveld priests and brothers have faced severe perils, e.g. the Boxer Rebellion in China,
involving the massacre of Bishop Hamer, Vicar Apostolic of South-Western Mongolia, seven
missionaries and 3000 Christians; the even greater decimation of their numbers by the Congo
climate, not to mention the persecution of the missionaries and their local congregations. In
connection with their missions the Fathers opened a number of benevolent institutions, for
example the hospital at St-Trudon, Upper Kassai, for those afflicted with sleeping sickness.
April 1946 - Eventually it was decided to establish a permanent CICM mission in the U.S.
Father Dieltiens bought an eleven-acre property called “Lyonhurst,” after its
former owner, Mr. Lyons. Later on, the name was changed to “Missionhurst.”
Hence, the CICM missionaries are known as Missionhurst missionaries in the US.
1948, after World War II, the CICM responded to the invitation of the Bishop of Osaka, and
started ministering to the Japanese people. Among the different works of the CICM in
Japan, inter-religious dialogue is of utmost importance.
1953, the CICM sent missionaries to Haiti. Haiti is known as the poorest country in the
Americas. Their mission is focused on family, youth apostolate, and JPIC.
1954, after the CICM was expelled from communist China, some CICM missionaries
decided to go to Hong Kong and Taiwan. In that same year, the CICM also established
its mission in Guatemala.
1958, Filipino CICMs were among the pioneering group of CICM missionaries that started
mission work in Dominican Republic.
1963 - Brazil started to welcome CICM Missionaries.
1966 - The first team of CICM missionaries arrived in Cameroon.
1976 - Zambia and Senegal were added to the growing number of CICM mission stations.
1977 - Nigeria welcomed CICM missionaries.
1979 - Mexico also welcomed new CICM missionaries.
1990 - CICM missionaries embarked on a new mission in Chad.
1992 - The arrival of CICM missionaries started the Catholic Church’s presence in Mongolia
1995 - Angola
1999 - Mozambique became part of the CICM missions
2012 - the CICM turns 150 years.

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 tribals, 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 inculturate 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 are 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 children-the 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

Cameroon D.R. of Congo Senegal Zambia

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. This is expressed in their statement:
“We love and respect the people to whom we are sent. We adopt a listening attitude and try to gain a
knowledge and understanding of their socio-economic, political, cultural and religious realities. We foster
attitudes which reflect these values, and cooperate with initiatives which promote them. Through dialogue, we
mutually purify and strengthen our values and their expression. Wherever we work and whatever our specific
tasks, we try to respond to situations of misery, injustice and oppression and to understand their causes. In our
work for a new world we are always inspired by the Lord Jesus and his Gospel.”

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).

References:

Austin, Flannery, OP (Gen. Ed.), Vatican Council II: The Conciliar Documents. Vol 1, New York:
 Costello Publishing Co., 1984
CICM, “Carrying on the Mission 100 Years of CICM in the Philippines”. CICM Philippines,
2007.
Constitutions and General Directory of the Congregation of the Cimmaculate Heart of Mary.
Rome, 1988.
Rev. Fr. Verhelst, Daniel, CICM,“CICM Missionaries Past and Present”. Leuven University

Direction: Read the following task carefully

1. Please accomplish the following task.

2. Please follow the following format of your activity.
3. From your class choose your key person to collect and collate all activities.
4. All activities should be encoded or hand written
5. Activities should be saved on MS Word Format (encoded). Scan or take a clear photo of your
handwritten
task and submit it to the key person.
6. Activities should be in one file per student. The file name of the activity should follow the following
Format (Family Name, Given Name) example: APILADO, Andre John
7. Deadline of Requirements: April 25, 2020. Untill 5:00 PM. (I still give consideration for those who have
a
limited access of internet. Feel free to have me Private Message via Messenger)
8. Failure to submit of the said activities in a month means zero. (without any valid reason)
9. Please do not PLIAGIARIZE your activities. Your paper shall be subjected to a plagiarism checker.
10. PLEASE STAY AT HOME! Do not go out of your respective houses for this activity.
Please help your classmates who have slow/poor internet connection/access in order for them to
accomplish this task (magbayanihan po tayo!)

Good Luck! May the Good Lord bless and protect you! Stay safe!

CFE 4: CICM MISSIONARY IDENTITY

NAME:___________________________ CLASS SCHEDULE:_________________
COURSE & YEAR:_________________

Given the chance to go to other countries for a mission, where will it be? Why?

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LESSON 2: Distinct Contributions of the CICM to the World

Group Activity: (Your group is based on your previous report on the CICM in the world)

Each group is given a certain task to do (work on a puzzle, act out a certain situation, solve a certain
dilemma, etc.). Let the students work on their own problems/tasks. No further instructions. (This is to allow the
students to use their potentials, initiatives in performing their respective roles). In the processing, let the
students recognize who among them emerged as a leader, initiator, facilitator, innovator, etc. These are the
qualities which are expected to come out in relation to the contributions of the CICM to the World.

Sample task to work on:

Direction: Read the following task carefully

1. Please read the dilemma and work as a group.

2. Please follow the following format of your activity.
3. From your class choose your key person to collect and collate all activities.
4. All activities should be encoded or hand written
5. Activities should be saved on MS Word Format (encoded). Scan or take a clear photo of your
handwritten
task and submit it to the key person
6. Activities should be in one file per student. The file name of the activity should follow the following
Format (Family Name, Given Name) example: APILADO, Andre John C.
7. Deadline of Requirements: April 25-27, 2020. Untill 5:00 PM. (I still give consideration for those who
have a
limited access of internet. Feel free to have me Private Message via Messenger)
8. Failure to submit of the said activities in a month means zero. (without any valid reason)
9. Please do not PLIAGIARIZE your activities. Your paper shall be subjected to a plagiarism checker.
10. PLEASE STAY AT HOME! Do not go out of your respective houses for this activity.
Please help your classmates who have slow/poor internet connection/access in order for them to
accomplish this task (magbayanihan po tayo!)

Good Luck! May the Good Lord bless and protect you! Stay safe!

CFE 4: CICM MISSIONARY IDENTITY

NAMES: __________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________

THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE

You are an emergency worker that has just been called to the scene of an accident. When you arrive you see that the car
belongs to your wife. Fearing the worst you rush over, only to see she is trapped in her car with another man. He is
obviously her lover, with whom she’s been having an affair.

You reel back is shock, devastated by what you have just found out. As you step back, the wreck in front of you comes
into focus. You see your wife is seriously hurt and she needs attention straight away. Even if she gets immediate
attention there’s a very high chance she’ll die. You look at the seat next to her and see her lover. He’s bleeding heavily
from a wound to the neck and you need to stem the flow of blood immediately.

If you attend to your wife, her lover will bleed to death, and you may not be able to save her anyway. If you work on the
lover, you can save his life, but your wife will definitely die.

Who should you choose to work on?

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What have you learned from the moral dilemma?

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 The Mission of the Twelve (Lk 9:1-6)

“He… gave them power and authority over all demons and to
cure diseases, and He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God,
to heal the sick… Take nothing with you for the trip: no walking stick,
no beggar’s bag, no food, no money, not even an extra shirt…
The disciples left and travelled through all the villages, preaching the
Good News and healing people everywhere.”

Jesus entrusted the mission of evangelization to His disciples and they accepted it. Preaching,
teaching and deeds of power (healings and exorcisms) are three expressions of the kingdom proclamation. The
twelve, symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel are sent out primarily to form an alternative community based
on the new teaching of divine holiness.
It is this “new teaching – with authority!” that Jesus has given the twelve. This is what they have
assimilated, and this is what they are asked to share with others. In order to be successful, the new way of
thinking and acting they have learned from Jesus must be integrated. How they work with people to create a
more inclusive sense of community is as important as healing and exorcising. Therefore, Jesus gives them
instructions which are both practical and symbolic. They must go out as witnesses to the new way of life Jesus
has inaugurated. Walking stick and sandals both facilitate travel yet they were instructed to take nothing for
the trip, and they are to spread the Good News from place to place. They are not to settle down. Their single
tunic captures this single-mindedness: they are men on a mission. Without bread, bag and money, they
become part of those in need. Their lack of provisions elicits the compassion that is the cornerstone of the new
community.
Such mission which Jesus entrusted to the disciples is liberating, transforming, salvific. It liberates
man from all forms of miseries, and evil. It penetrates all dimensions and strata of life. Christ, our Savior, is an
evangelizer, one who teaches and proclaims the Good News of salvation. As an evangelizer, He proclaims the
kingdom of God and the center of His Good News is salvation, this great gift of God which is liberation from
everything that oppresses man but which is above all liberation from sin and the Evil One. This He did
throughout His ministry, marked by service. Jesus served the needs of the people of His time and He still
serves our needs. As He serves our needs, so must we serve one another’s needs and carry on His work in the
world (Knox, Ian. 2011).
The Church and all her members must participate in this evangelizing and liberating mission , drawn
from the very mission of Christ, the greatest evangelizer. Witnessing to the Gospel is always given
importance. Doing this entails a personal conversion which begins from one’s own heart, for such is the
demand of the kingdom which Jesus inaugurated. What then, are the characteristics of the kingdom? Today,
we can start reflecting on some questions that point to the reality of the kingdom. Are the poor not
discriminated by the society? Are the sick being tended to and cared for? Are there people trying to make
peace? Are there people who promote justice and are prepared to die to see it accomplished? Are there people
and institutions committed to healing brokenness and alienation? In other words, are there people today trying
to carry on the work of Jesus? Do we give our share or contribution for the promotion of the kingdom? If we
want transformation, then it must begin with an urgency to change one’s own heart first. “We cannot teach the
demands of the kingdom to others if we do not exert effort to live by its principles (Knox, Ian, 2011).”
It is therefore our duty to work for the accomplishment of such salvation for all peoples by
eliminating poverty, injustice and oppression, enslavement of peoples by war, exploitation of the powerless by
the greedy. We have to make the salvation offered by God a reality. Jesus has brought salvation; we are living
in the new age of salvation. We should be experiencing its effects now; otherwise, how could we possibly
experience the grace of Christ, which makes our life better now?

Reiterating what the Church documents tell us, “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." (E.N. 18)

Such a challenge of bringing social transformation is clear. This is a call to all the faithful of God, a
call to renew His entire creation. In their response to such call, the CICM missionaries, particularly in the
Philippines are one in saying; “We – the CICM Philippine Province, an International Community of Religious
Missionaries dedicated to the Incarnate Word under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with the
inspiration of Théophile Verbist and his companions, and sent to the nations particularly to where we are most
needed – commit ourselves to proclaim Christ and foster the missionary consciousness of the local church
through our joyful and prophetic witness, and to keep alive a pioneering spirit in our involvements.” This they
realize in the different ministries/apostolates and advocacies they have in the different areas of the world where
they are stationed - pastoral, health care, education, interreligious dialogue, IP’s, etc. Their witnessing to the
Gospel of Christ is a powerful means of bringing social transformation. As missionaries, they have their distinct
contributions to the world such as pioneering/daring spirit, multi-culturality, and social transformation.

1.Pioneering/Daring Spirit

The CICM manifests the kind of leadership she assumes in the world. It is a kind of
leadership that is rooted in the tradition of “One Heart, One Soul.” CICM leadership can be described
essentially as one of inner strength (interiority) and greatness of the soul (magnanimity).  The strength
that empowers the CICM leadership comes from participating in the source of the mission itself: Dei
missio, while the grace that sustains the CICM leadership derives from unconditional service to others.
With a wholehearted and animated disposition, CICM missionaries continue to serve God’s people with a
brand of leadership that strengthens and gives hope to the world for the coming of God’s reign.
The CICM missionaries exemplify the pioneering and daring spirit of the CICM,
who dare to go, and to do, where others and what others do not, or did not yet. In the
Philippines the CICM started and built many mission stations in the Mountain Provinces,
 which was largely unreached by Spanish missionaries. Thus the region was opened to
evangelization. But as the Church in that region grows, or after they have “planted the
seed” the CICM handed over the territory to the local Church.

2.Multi-culturality

A fundamental aspect of the vocation of a CICM priest or brother is to live in a multicultural

community in a culture which is not his own but which he must embrace, while endeavoring to work to unify
humankind as children of the same Father, thus making present the Kingdom of God.
Such ‘mark’ of multiculturality makes the CICM an inclusive community working for the
promotion of God’s kingdom. Their missionary work is always carried in response to a need. The CICM
commits to the same mission of bringing the Gospel to God’s children in the most remote areas of the
world - in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, living and working together
in multicultural communities as brothers, continuing this long tradition of caring for God’s poorest and
most neglected people in many parts of the world and of sharing the hope and comfort of the Gospel
while relieving their suffering. This is the actualization of the challenge to bring the Gospel of Christ to
where they are needed - into all the strata of humanity, leading to social transformation.

CICM Missionaries in the Philippines, indicative of multi-culturality

3. Social Transformation
a. The work of the CICM towards social transformation is rooted in the consecration of the Congregation to the
Incarnate Word, who responds to the love of God by uniting all of humanity into a single family of brothers and
sisters. To work for social transformation is to respond to the invitation to continue Christ’s mission of
redemption for the gradual realization of the Kingdom, a Kingdom of justice and love, of peace and joy.
b. The list of endeavors of the CICM missionaries geared towards social transformation is endless. Foremost
among these is the education apostolate, which is a part of youth ministry. The advocacy for interreligious
dialogue in Asia, for indigenous peoples in the Philippines and in Guatemala, for the Latinos and Blacks in the
USA, for Haitian migrant workers in the Dominican Republic, and for the physically challenged and lepers, are
also directed towards social transformation. In fact they could all be subsumed under the heading of Justice,
Peace, and Integrity of Creation. CICM’s have also been engaged in special projects in nature conservation,
agriculture, livelihood.

In this work for social transformation, the Founder himself, Fr. Theophile Verbist recognized it
necessary for one to be transformed first to become truly an effective agent of transformation. Again,
 going back to the message of Fr. Theophile to his sister Elisa he wrote: “The missionary would
jeopardize the success of his efforts if, before attempting to reform the world around him, he would not
first study matters in silence, observe with care, and, above all, exercise an enduring patience.” It is
from this experience that he would challenge the novices in Belgium to test their vocation well. They
have to make sure their vocation is rooted in a pure love of God.

“One of the basic reasons for the missionary engagement for the majority of the confreres is their
concern to serve the poorest, their uncompromising commitment to the poor, 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.
Clearly, the CICM institute generously responded to this call to build the Church.
From the writings and examples of Founder Fr. Théophile Verbist and from the various official
documents of the Congregation, the CICM continually draws relevant insights for missionary directions in
the face of new challenges.“The general purpose of the Congregation is the conversion of the non-
Christians, but its specific aim is the preaching of the faith to the Chinese and the salvation of the many
abandoned children,” reveals Fr Verbist of the reason for the establishment of the CICM in 1862. That is,
faithful to the inspiration of the Founder to dedicate lives and efforts as members of CICM communities
to the proclamation of the Gospel values and to the care of the marginalized and the poor.
Hence, at the core of CICM character are  –
1) A Christ-centered spirituality for the mission;
2) A missionary activity integrated into the whole pastoral work of the Church; 
3) The evangelization of cultures through quality education;
4) A proactive stance in support for people’s natural and cultural heritage; and, 
5) Solidarity with the poor through the establishment of an inclusive society.

Inspired by Christ and the CICM missionaries, our concrete contribution for social transformation can come in
different ways/forms:

1. Discovering first our distinct gifts and talents in order to be able to identify ways of using them for the cause
of the kingdom.
2. Use one’s leadership in promoting the welfare of fellow students such as initiating/spearheading projects for
the studentry like peer tutoring, peer counselling, etc.
3. Participating in the different Church ministries - as altar servers, choir members, lectors, commentators,
ushers/usherettes, etc. For a meaningful liturgical celebrations.
4. Joining groups/organizations which serve the cause of street children and out of school youth to bring about
genuine social transformation.
5. Using the social media responsibly for the dissemination of cause-oriented advocacies locally and globally
like “Greeneration”, “NO” to Coal-fired Power Plants for JPIC, etc.

References:

Austin, Flannery, OP (Gen. Ed.), “Vatican Council II: The Conciliar Documents”. Vol 1, New York:
Costello Publishing Co., 1984.
CICM, “Carrying on the Mission 100 Years of CICM in the Philippines”. CICM Philippines,
2007.
Constitutions and General Directory of the Congregation of the Cimmaculate Heart of Mary.
Rome, 1988.
Rev. Fr. Verhelst, Daniel, CICM,“CICM Missionaries Past and Present”. Leuven University
Press, 1995.
Rev. Fr. Amigleo, Ernesto, CICM, “Journey from Mission Church to Local Church in Christ is
Calling Me 150 Years of Service in God’s Mission 1862-2012”. Makati: St. Pauls Philippines. 2012.
Rev. Fr. Mpongo, Laurent, CICM, “The Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM)
and the Formation of the Local Clergy in Congo (1916-1955) in Christ is Calling Me 150
Years of Service in God’s Mission 1862-2012”. Makati: St. Pauls Philippines. 2012.
http://www.cicm-mission.org/en/about-cicm/who-are-we