REDESIGNING PRESENCE IN NEW MISSIONARY REALITIES:
OLD AND NEW IN MOZAMBIQUE

Introduction:

One day while Jesus was explaining one of his parables to his disciples, he had words of praise for those who are wise enough to bring out both the old and the new. "He said to them, Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. " (Mat 13:52 NRSV)

In this time of rapid transition in the history of Christian world mission, I find these words of Jesus to be particularly reassuring. On the one hand, the new situations encountered in our world and the new situations of the Church urge us to develop new ways of mission. But wise missionaries today also remember that they are building on the foundations laid by previous generations. I would like to reflect with you on the mixture of old and new in ad gentes mission today in the context of an initiative the SVD have recently undertaken in Mozambique. In early 1997 we established a small community in the northern diocese of Nacala. The four members of the team come from Portugal, Mexico, Brazil and Angola. They are now engaged in pastoral and catechetical work in three neighboring parishes along with members of our sister congregation, the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit and with Presentation Sisters. I was privileged to visit the team some eight months after their arrival. Let me share a few experiences of that visit.