Mission Today Summer 2008

Dear Friends

Many years ago when I was in the Boy Scouts, our regular prayer contained the words ‘… to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to labour and not to seek any reward save that of knowing that I do thy will, O Lord’. (I later learned that they were a prayer of St Ignatius Loyola.)

They are very much in the spirit of the hymn in the Letter to the Philippians (Chapter 2) – Jesus who emptied himself of all power so that he might become the servant of all. These words came to mind as I read the articles in this edition of Mission Today. Our writers all point to the great truth of the Gospels – that Jesus became human so that all people might share his life. It is our joy to proclaim this in our daily lives.

It is not easy. Each of us has our own specific part to play – young and old, healthy and infirm, rich and poor alike. We must make many sacrifices, even letting go of some of our most treasured dreams – like St Therese of Lisieux. Sometimes we even allow ourselves to be ridiculed when others fail to understand our love. These sacrifices – sometimes just by trying to live more simply – may be quite challenging for our friends and families. Our society doesn’t always understand selflessness! We are proud to be part of the Live Simply campaign with our friends in other Catholic agencies.

Your generosity in helping the work of APF/Mill Hill is a real part of this mission. Thank you for everything you do. It is massively appreciated by our partners in mission. The men and women who serve the Church in difficult places are examples to us of faith and determination.

Prayer - our relationship with the Father - is the bedrock of all we do. (And Fr Peter offers a gentle nudge towards the Sacrament of Reconciliation.) In all things, we pray that we may do the will of the Lord - simply because he is Lord.

In missionary unity

Fr John