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The Diocesan Mission Commission serves missionaries and missions through the guiding principle of "Mission Cooperation". Collaboration and Cooperation with Dioceses and Religious Orders around the world enables the missionary nature of the church to be formed in local parishes and communities.
Mission Cooperation is achieved through A) Roman Catholic Organizations B) Canadian Charities C) Eucharistic Celebrations D) Parish PartnershipsA) Roman Catholic Organizations:
The Diocesan Mission Commission cooperates with Dioceses and Religious Orders that serve the missionary nature of the church. Support is directed toward ministry, catechesis, worship facilities and other activities that promote evangelization. Vocations around the world are suppoerted directly and through the Society of St. Peter the Apostle (a Pontifical Mision Society).
Financial support that is sent outside Canada is to be sent through the Bishop who administers the mission territory. The Bishop's office or the Diocesan office of the operating mission must endorse the mission project. A letter of understanding (endorsement) can help clarify the mission work.
Instead of a Diocesan office, sometimes the Superior office of a religious order or missionary order partners with London Diocese. This is prevalent in situations where a missionary priest is serving in the Diocese of London or visiting in Canada. The mission office supports projects of missionaries and missionary groups in the diocese where possible.
Ongoing relationships exist with: The Pontifical Mission Society (Canada) , The Diocese of Whitehorse (Canada) , the Diocese of Osogbo (Nigeria), the Diocese of Porte au Prince (Haiti) , the Diocese of Keimoes - Upington (South Africa) , the Archdiocese of Cape Coast (Ghana), the Society of the Little Flower (India), and the Rosarians.B) Canadian Charities (Qualified Donnees)
The Diocesan Mission Commission cooperates with other Canadian missionary organizations that serve disaster relief programs, social justice and humanitarian efforts. Some national organizations are: 1) "Development and Peace" 2) "Aid to the Church in Need, Canada" 3) "Catholic Missions in Canada" 4) "Chalice"
C) Eucharistic Celebrations (Missionary Cooperation Plan - MCP):
Parishioners and parishes are encouraged to route their missionary donations directly to the registered Canadian Charity. In some cases the parish or Diocesan Mission Office will receive the donation for tax receipt purposes and then forward the donation to the Charity as directed. Some examples of other qualified Canadian charities are: "Comboni Missionaries", "Scarboro Missions", "Save a Family Plan" .
This mission program (MCP) enables parishioners at mass to participate in the missionary activity of the Catholic Church.Visiting missionaries share their particular mission story with parishioners during the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist.
Tangible outcomes are: 1) Parishioners recognize the universal nature of the church. 2) The Eucharistic celebration clearly connects faith and charity. 3) The program provides an activity for parish mission committees to sponsor. 4) Missionaries are supported with prayers and reflection. 5) Missionary vocations are promoted through lived spiritual experiences.
The Mission Office can help organize and coordinate these efforts to participate in the weekend liturgy. Parish Collections from these mission appeals are tax receipted by the parish and then forwarded to the Mission Office for distribution.
All requests from outside the Diocese of London must be screened and approved by the Bishop's Office. A list of current requests is always available.
D) Parish Partnerships and Projects
Prayer is an essential element of parish partnerships and projects. Awareness trips create a passion for continued prayer and reflection. Parishioners can also support priests and ministers traveliing to remote missions through mass intentions. The Diocesan Mission Office can help facilitate these efforts and organize a mission retreat.
Parish mission projects help create "Intentional disciples". Volunteers and donors provide time, talent and resources in order to enable the project. Funds flowing through the Parish or Mission Office books must follow Diocesan guidelines. Not all projects are feasible and due dilligence must be maintained over the life of the project. For example: the Commission does not participate in gift-in kind projects.
The Diocesan Mission Commision supports missionary projects outside the Diocese that nurture and strenghten the faith experiences of our faithful. We recognize that encountering the "Face of Jesus" is often achieved through the eyes and ears of others. Ultimately the "Sender" or "Benefactor" will reap the same spiritual fruits as the "Missionary" or "Beneficiary" - a grace filled experience!
Mission projects need to be consistent with Catholic teaching and this is best acheved through an objective project plan. A project leader in London diocese must be able to tell the project story! Support from the local Bishop carrying out the mission project is part of this!
The Mission Office focuses on due dilligence and transparency and can help multiple parishes work together on a project! A reliable project contact in the mission location ensures realistic expectations and results. An official email adresss is necessary in order to facilitate communication and control. Pictures always say a thousand words!
There are many ways a parish can develop a mission project:
1) from a spiritual "calling" to actualize their faith and evangelize vicariously through missionaries already serving in missions
2) from a desire to provide food, clothing, education or health care to those less fortunate
3) from a longing to serve marginalized children, women or the elderly
4) from a relationship with a particular country or geographical area in the world - Peru, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, India or the Canadian North
5) from a sense of social justice in the church such that all the faithful have equal access to adequate places of worship for prayer, catechesis and the sacraments.
Parish partnerships within Canada
The Diocese of London is specifically partnered through the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to support the Diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon (YT).
Some ongoing projects are:
1) Sacred Heart Cathedral Rectory Renovation, Whitehorse, YT - To upgrade and renovate a three story facility next to the cathedral that can provide safe and comfortable accomodations for visiting clergy and missionaries.
2) St. Michael's - Ross River, YT - To replace warped plywood flooring in church .
3) Mass/Service Intentions - to help cover the transportation expense of ministers travelling to a remote mission that does not a have a priest, deacon or lay minister.
Please contact the Diocesan Mission Director for additonal information!
Parish projects outside Canada
Parishes are not registered to send funds outside the country. A parish that undertakes a mission activity outside Canada needs to coordinate with the Diocesan Mission Office. The due dilligence requirements can seem "burdensome" but the rewards of connecting your parish with a needy missionary parish can actualize an evangelical spirit.
Five examples of mission projects around the world are:
1) Peru - Cayalti Soup Kitchen, Mocupe project (SOSJ) etc (Fr. W. Kornacker)
2) Haiti - Project Precious (Stratford parishes)
3) South Africa - Together We Give (St. Christopher's Forest)
4) Ghana - Ghana Native Assistance program and Fr. Stephen (OLMC, Windsor)
5) Philippines - Brothers of St. Louis (St. Michael's & Sacred Heart, Sarnia)