These families are leaving their countries, jobs, and comforts, as they respond to a call to evangelize an increasingly secular world. As the Church states in the Decree Ad Gentes, “In the present state of affairs, out of which there is arising a new situation for mankind, the Church, being the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Matt. 5:13-14), is more urgently called upon to save and renew every creature, that all things may be restored in Christ and all men may constitute one family in Him and one people of God” (1).
Missio Ad Gentes refers to the evangelization of places where the teachings of the Gospel are not present or where the Church has specific challenges to promote the Gospel. The families sent by Pope Francis on March 6 have received a Christian formation for many years through the Neocatechumenal Way and have responded to the call to evangelize. The families do not go alone; a Missio Ad Gentes community is composed of 3-4 families (often families with many children) and accompanied by a priest that together will form a Christian community in secularized areas. The missionary families are requested by local bishops and with the prayers and help of their Neocatechumenal communities and of the whole Church, undertake the task of announcing the Good News of the Gospel.
At the audience, Pope Francis, who energized a crowd of several thousand people, recognized the charism of these families. He also confirmed their calling, expressed his support, and gave his blessing to go and announce Christ into the world.
Said the Holy Father, “I am particularly glad that this mission is carried out thanks to Christian families, united in a community, who have the mission to give witness to our faith that attract people to the beauty of the Gospel, in the words of Christ: ‘This is how all will know that you are my disciples’ (cf. Jn 13:34), and ‘be one and the world may believe’ (cf. Jn 17:21)”(2).
Pope Francis stated that many people find themselves distanced from God, and they need to hear that God loves us and that love is possible. “Christian communities, thanks to you missionary families, have the essential task of making this message visible. And what is this message? Christ is risen, Christ lives. Christ lives amongst us,” he proclaimed to an audience that erupted into applause.
One of these families leaving for the Missio Ad Gentes was the Gomez family of New York, and the parents and all eight of their children looked extremely happy to be present. This family is being sent to Chiangmai, in the north of Thailand. Santiago Gomez, the eldest at 25, will be receiving his Bachelor’s degree in International Business this year.
When asked if he will accompany his family, he said, “Absolutely! This is a calling for the whole family.”
I tell him that the U.S. and especially New York are places where many people desire to move to and establish their lives. Instead, the Gomez family is leaving behind their life of comfort and opportunity in the U.S. to move to a third world country. I asked Santiago what compels his family to do this when his 18-year-old sister Maria confidently interjected: “Faith in God makes us want to go and share the Good News even when many of our friends think we are crazy.” Santiago added with conviction, “Trust in God’s Providence, and knowing that He goes before us.”
This audience was especially touching for me because my oldest son, Olivio, and his family are also leaving to Chiangmai on mission. My husband and I were in Rome to help him and his wife with their three young children and he was able to secure us tickets for this audience. Olivio lived in China previously, so I asked him what makes this move to Chiangmai different.
“China for me was about business and career advancement,” he said. “I studied business in China as a result of putting my career first. Thailand is different because the Gospel will be first.”
He went on to say that his five-year-old daughter understands the family’s mission well. “We go to Thailand to teach others about Christ,” she said.
My daughter-in-law, when asked what spurs her to answer this calling, adds, “If there is one truth that the Lord has permitted me to see in my history, it is that He has never abandoned me, and honestly, my happiness and fullness come in doing His will and not mine.”
Olivio explained that the situation in Thailand, especially Chiangmai, is that it faces issues of drug trafficking (it sits in the Opium Triangle), human trafficking, and many sexual vices. In the midst of these dangers, as a grandmother, I can only rest in the certainly that the Lord will protect my son and his family in their missionary work. As my daughter-in-law stated with conviction, “The Pope has told us that the Lord precedes us in the mission, and so, we can trust that He will protect us.”
Hilda Cruz is Justice for Immigrants Campaign Coordinator for the Diocese of San Bernardino.