Proceedings of the 2004 General Chapter  Document on Mission

You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. (John 15:16)

STATEMENT ON MISSION

God has sent and Son and the Spirit to renew the face of the earth.  We are sent to participate in this mission of God, revealed most fully in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Mission in the image of Jesus is the proclamation of Truth and the outreach of Love, moving beyond expected boundaries toward those most in need, breaking down barriers of fear, privilege and prejudice, inviting all into one family.

We go into our world, embodying the Good News of Jesus, not as independent individuals but as Church and blessed by the internationality of our communion in Holy Cross.  In his new millenium, we respond to the Church's call for a new evangelization.  To all whom we serve, from those who have never known Jesus to those who ignore or reject him, we offer "the precious legacy of human and Christian values which have given meaning to (our) lives" (John Paul II, 1999).  The diverse cultures and contexts in which we find ourselves as Holy Cross today help us to be aware of the complex realities of the world we are called to serve and open our eyes to the many faces of Jesus and works of the Spirit around the globe.  They also give us a special lens through which to see and understand how to effectively proclaim the Risen Jesus and his message of salvation  in our times--as Lord of Reconciliation, Lord of Hope, Lord of Dialogue, Lord of Justice, and Lord of Creation.

Our constitutions present mission as border-crossing activity.  Gathered in Chapter we have focused on this dimension of mission as especially timely for our Congregations reflection today.  From the time of our founding, we have understood our responses to the needs of the world and Church as calling us to cross borders.  There is a richness and joy to be experienced when we cross these borders with open and generous hearts.  But the borders in the world that are barriers that divide God's family in fear, misunderstanding and mistrust remain many.  They are, as our constitutions state, "of every sort"--cultural and racial, national, religious, socio-economic, ideological--and we have learned that crossing them requires both "the competence to see and he courage to act" (C2,17;C2,14).

Today's Context for Mission

This Chapter recognizes as especially significant the effort of the 1998 General Chapter to situate our mission in a world context characterized by increased globalization, the neo-liberal economic model, the growing chasm separating the privileged few from the vast masses of the poor and an intolerance of differences that elicits fear and violence between peoples (Proceedings, p.14).  Though many advances in technology and communication serve the efforts of development solidarity around the world, in the past six years, it has become even clearer that there are negative effects of globalization which increase injustice and inequality.  Additional aspects of the global context of our mission today include: 

• violence and terrorism and the resulting vulnerability and insecurity experienced by our confreres and the people we serve.   Where violence is prolonged, some become numb, even indifferent; in others, fear and the desire for retaliation make responses consistent with the Gospel and Church teaching seem unrealistic.  Further, the ongoing way in Iraq has deepened the hostility of many already fearful of western dominance, increasing tension between Christians and Muslims in several areas of our service;
• disregard for life, manifested in abortion, the abandonment of children, the sexual exploitation of children and young adults, euthanasia and capital punishment; 
• religious fundamentalism, in its intolerant and often violent forms, diminishing the moral authority of more authentic interpretations of the great religious traditions; 
• the global burden of disease (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis);
• environmental pollution, threatening the integrity of the earth itself;
• the migration of refugee people, bringing the challenges of hospitality, respect for diversity, and concern for the rights of minorities in our mission everywhere;
• sinfulness and the misuse of power within the Church, weakening our credibility before the world, call us to deeper conversion and fidelity.

As we try to respond to these and other global challenges in our mission, we are aware of a whole set of other realities that call us forward and give us hope:

• the inspiration and commitment of colleagues with whom we work;
• the generosity and hunger for God that we experience in students, parishioners, and others in our ministries;
• the prophetic voice of the Church on behalf of the poor and in support of life and peace, and the service rendered by it to the needs of people around the world;
• the faith and social commitment of so many youth, evidenced in time given to service projects, their desire for evangelization, and the success of World Youth Days;
• local initiatives in the areas of our service to improve the quality of life, share resources with those in need, and raise consciousness of justice and peace issues;
• a growing solidarity among those committed to transforming the national and international policies and structures that block progress in the direction of God's reign of love, unity, justice and peace.

Today's Direction for our Mission

Whatever the context, the words of our founder in his Rule on Zeal describe what is most basic: "If we have faith and the zeal that faith inspires, we will...be ready to undertake anything...to suffer anything and to go anywhere...to save souls that are perishing and to extend the reign of Jesus Christ on earth".  For Basil Moreau and for all in Holy Cross, the zeal that faith inspires is the primary apostolic quality.  We know that the "mission is not simple, for the impoverishments we would relieve are not simple" (C2, 14), and we are aware of our personal and corporate limits, but zeal inspires a service that is generous, competent and courageous.  And so, with the General Chapter of 1998, we call the Congregation "to intensify its efforts to confront the modern world and its fascinations with a clear, bold, and faithful vision of the Kingdom o come" (Proceedings, p. 14).  In that we, we will be "men with hope to bring" (C8, 118).

At this time when the globalization of market forces, technology and culture is to pervasive, we desire to promote a congregational commitment to the globalization of solidarity to the teaching, healing and sanctifying mission of Jesus.  Our communion with each other in Holy Cross and our structural interdependence among societies, provinces and districts is the basis for an internal solidarity that can renew our mission.  There is much to learn from one another and the richness of our cultural diversity, much inspiration to take from one another, much support we can give one another.

Since 1980 eh General Chapter has affirmed two priorities for our mission as Holy Cross: the preferential option for the poor and the proclamation of the truth o the Gospel as educators in the faith.   This General Chapter concurs that these two interrelated priorities are at the heart of our charism as Holy Cross and are to give direction to the border-crossing mission effort in each our ministries.  Our reflection has further convinced us that this mission effort in each local context will be challenged and enriched by attention to and connection with Holy Cross life and mission in other contexts.  Our diversity, shared in a spirit of mutuality, solidarity and interdependence, is a valuable resource for mission and a gift we can offer to all whom we serve.

Recommendation 8: Solidarity in Mission

In order to express our interdependence as Holy Cross in mission and promote solidarity across the borders of our life and ministry, the Chapter recommends that each Holy Cross ministry develop a relationship of Christian solidarity and mutual exchange with a similar Holy Cross ministry or ministries in another culture.  The example and experience of those who have already developed such relationships, and the encouragement of local, district and provincial leadership will be helpful in this effort.  The congregational Solidarity Commission should assist and coordinate the implementation of this recommendation as needed.

                                    For more information, write: John Korcsmar, CSC