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OUR MISSION AND CHARISM
A) INTRODUCTION
The specific charism of our Society must
be seen within the broad framework of the Church’s mission which itself is an
extension of the mission of Jesus. The gospel attests to the mandate which Jesus
gave to his disciples before he ascended to the Father. The duty has weighed
upon the Church to spread the faith and the saving work of Jesus Christ. Through
the different charisms of her members and through the power of the Spirit the
Church fulfils this duty.
B) JESUS SENT BY THE FATHER
“For God sent the Son into
this world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through
him” ( Jn. 3/17). The NT understands the coming of Jesus Christ as the
culmination of God’s saving dialogue with mankind in Israel (Heb. 1/1-2).
Prompted by his intense love for man, God sent his son Jesus “to establish peace
or communion between sinful human beings and Himself, as well as to fashion them
into a fraternal community”(AG 3). Jesus was sent thus to proclaim the Kingdom
of God which consists in the comprehensive and total well-being of man. Jesus
preached the good news particularly to the poor and afflicted humanity for he
was sent to liberate them from all their enslavement and restore to them full
human dignity of living as God’s free children. Jesus achieved this by living a
life of poverty, service and humble adherence to God’s will. His suffering,
death on the cross and resurrection indeed brought life to mankind.
C) JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES
“As the Father has sent me,
even so I send you” (Jn. 20/21). The sublime mission of Jesus did not end with
his death. He commanded the community of his disciples to continue the same task
giving them the power of his Spirit (Mt 28/16-20; Lk 24/ 46-49; Mk 16/15).
Prompted by the Holy Spirit and in obedience to Christ, the Church beginning
with the apostles boldly began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all
nations. Thus, the Church is born missionary and her mission is a continuing
one. Through the diverse and multifarious activities of her members, the Church
fulfils the sole mission of Christ, viz. To reveal and communicate the love of
God to all men and nations.
Though salvation in Jesus Christ is offered to all, Jesus’
mission refelected the predilection of God for the poor and afflicted humanity (Lk.
19/10). The Church which continues this mission reflects the same in the milieu
in which she serves the world. Moreover, she must pattern the style of her
service to that of Jesus. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give
his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10/45). The Church must imitate Jesus in his
poverty, obedience and selfless service unto death. Taking the same road as
Jesus took, the Church can walk in hope because, from his death, Jesus came
forth a victor by his Resurrection (AG 5).
D) THE MISSIONARY ASPECT OF EVANGELIZATION
The faithful
are called to realize the Church’s mission in different ways corresponding to
the gift the Holy Spirit gives them. Broadly we could distinguish the three
aspects of Evangelization: (a) Pastoral Activity (b) Ecumenical Activity (c)
Missionary Activity which involves basically the proclaiming of the Gospel and
planting the Church. The word “Missions” refers to “those particular
undertakings by which the heralds of the Gospel are sent out by the Church and
go forth into the whole world to carry out the task of preaching the Gospel and
planting the Church among peoples of groups who do not yet believe in Christ”
(AG 6). The missionary activity brings this task to completion in the concrete
situation of particular territories.
E) OUR SPECIFIC CHARISM
“Christ inspires the missionary
vocation in the hearts of individuals. At the same time He raises up in the
Church certain groups which take as their own special task that duty or
preaching the Gospel which weighs upon the whole Church” (AG).
Our Society is one of these groups blessed with a special
task – a special charism – for the Evangelization of India by its own sons. This
special charism has been manifested first at the moment of Foundation and in its
apostolate within the boundaries of the mission-field. The second moment of the
manifestation of this charism has been mightier than the first one as that has
given new vigor and stability for its Re-organization. The Re-organizers brought
new life into the Old Society by up-dating the Constitutions, introducing the
sacred bonds, a training program for its members and the extension of the field
of the missionary endeavors.
Ours is an Indian Society, organized on Indian soil and
founded and re-organized by the sons of India, as a response to the clarion call
of Pope Leo XIII: “Filii tui India, administri tibi salutis” (Your own
sons, O India, will be the heralds of your salvation). The Indian character of
our Society is expressed first of all through its indigenousness and sharing in
the rich social, cultural and religious heritage of India (AG-11) and secondly
because we are called to work for the evangelization chiefly of our Motherland.
F) OUR MISSIONARY AIM
In order to concretize our specific charism the following missionary aim was envisaged: The society intends
principally the evangelization of those who do not yet believe in Jesus Christ.
Opportunely and by order of the superiors, members may devote themselves to the
preaching of the divine word either by way of Missions or spiritual exercises or
other ecclesiastical ministry.
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