1.2. Concrete Application

1.2.1. Places

Indeed, during this period the missionary Institutes were engaged in the specific work of first evangelization. In concrete terms: CICM left for China in 1865, for Congo in 1888, for the Philippines (Mountain Province) in 1907, for Indonesia in 1937, for Japan in 1948. There was but one exception: the departure in 1946 for the U.S.A. was mainly justified for economic reasons (financing). But it is a fact that doubts remained for many years regarding the authentically missionary nature of this U.S.A. foundation.

It was but logical that our activities in Europe were limited to recruitment, formation, logistics and fund-raising. Several missionaries back home for health reasons or for some other reason were called in these services, joined the diocesan clergy or were appointed in a parish in a personal capacity.

1.2.2. Methods

The usual method consisted in establishing isolated central missions where catechumens came together, in a certain sense withdrawn from their environment, so as to ensure their formation in a Christian environment. The neophytes were often encouraged to settle around the mission, thus forming Christian centers, patterned on the medieval abbeys. The central mission kept on developing, integrating schools, hospitals, workshops for carpentry and mechanics, farms. Hence, quite really important compounds were established.

The jus commissionis of those days entrusted us with the exclusive responsibility for the evangelization of vast territories. Hence, many initiatives were taken in various fields: the foundation of mission stations, education, formation centers, seminaries, printing offices, procures, garages, carpentry workshops, constructions, plantations and cattle breeding.