Conclusion

To conclude I would like to make three observations that arise from these first experiences of a missionary team in Mozambique and from many other missionary situations around the world. First, I am very encouraged that there is so much questioning about our commitment as ad gentes missionaries today. The questions are not so new, but the place where the questions are being asked is rather new. Twenty or twenty five years ago the question of the nature of ad gentes mission was mostly a concern for the academy and for professional researchers in mission. Now the questions are often being raised in the parishes, schools, hospitals, etc. where missionaries are carrying out their service. The questions essentially come down to the same ones that guided the 1993 General Chapter of the CICM (Scheut) Missionaries. These are:

1. Are we present in the places or situations where, according to our charism, we are supposed to be present?

2. Are we doing what we, as missionaries, are supposed to be doing? Both of these are excellent questions to be asking at the grass roots level. Second, the story of ad gentes missionary activity in contemporary Mozambique or in any other part of the world does not recount a string of heroic successes. If it sometimes seems that way, it is only because charity begs us to discreetly omit many episodes that reflect the hardheadedness, the folly and even the sinfulness of those whom Jesus has called to the frontiers of Church and Kingdom. Jesus himself selected rather ordinary people to follow him. It is the same these days.

We missionaries are really rather ordinary, in our virtues and even in our vices. We stumble around, trying to find a way to do good. But St. Paul encourages us with his assurance that "we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us."(2 Cor 4:7 NRSV) Third, we can be constantly encouraged by recognizing that after all, what we are about is God mission and not our own. It is God who causes the Kingdom to break in upon us. Our planning, building, sending out and gathering in is but a small witness to the enormous transformation that God is working in the world. In moments of discouragement and in moments of success let us set aside moments for reflection and contemplation of this amazing invitation we have received to be a part of the journey to the Kingdom. And let us place all our trust in God. In this way we can hope to be wise enough to share from God immense treasures that which is old and that which is new.