Father Henryk Hoser, PMS president, echoed the gratitude, commenting on the positive spirit of the United States and its leading place in the list of international contributions to the PMS worldwide subsidy fund, followed by Spain, Italy and Germany.

 
    We visited the office of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples, located near the Spanish steps of Rome where encounters with the international staff and the art, maps and documents from different countries and periods of history helped expand our universal perspective. Irish Father Patrick Byrne, SVD, Secretary General of the Holy Childhood Association, reminded us of the ongoing need for assistance for the millions of AIDS orphans in the world. Belgian Msgr. Jan Dumon, Secretary General of the St. Peter the Apostle, asked for more help for his society which supports the growing number of vocations from Africa and Asia.

     Italian Father Vito Del Prete, P.I.M.E. General Secretary of the Pontifical Mission Union led a tour of the Center for International Mission Animation (CIAM), which offers missiology courses. American Father Kevin Hanlon, MM, missiologist for the CIAM, summarized his article on ”Understanding the Kingdom of God in Mission.” Life-size statues of mission co-patrons, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Francis Xavier flanked the chapel where we prayed around a tabernacle shaped like the globe. Mexican missionary sisters welcomed us, as we gathered around a bust of Bishop Fulton Sheen, former U.S. national director of the Propagation of the Faith, whose cause for sainthood was being furthered during proceedings in the Vatican in early February. Our group also gained insight into how messages from the pope and church representatives are communicated through a visit to the offices of the Vatican Radio and Press. International staff members compile, translate and broadcast information in a true cross-cultural environment.

     In this hub of internationalism, I was able to convene a meeting between various mission leaders with Sister Roxanne Scharr, SSND, an American currently acting as the coordinator for an extraordinary collaborative of mission congregations in response to the desperate situation in south Sudan.

     On our bus trip in Rome, we were excited also to spot the headquarters of the many religious congregations in Rome, including the Franciscans, Jesuits, Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

    We left the magnificence of Rome, with its incredible architecture and statuary, for a pilgrimage to Assisi, the home and final resting place of St. Francis and his friend, St. Clare. We visited the chapel and prayed at the cross where the saint heard Christ telling him to “rebuild my church.” A sense of peace and natural beauty filled the town where groups in conflict are brought to meet and negotiate their differences.

    Upon my return to the United States, I stopped to visit the Maryknoll headquarters near Ossining, N.Y. As I participated in a Mass in recognition of the Asian New Year along with the Maryknoll missionaries and staff, I realized how change continues to unfold in the mission story of the United States. As Msgr. Kozar explained, “In some ways today, the church in the United States is at the receiving end from mission countries. We now have thousands of missionaries here from the same countries that we were able to help in the last 100 years, and we are relying more and more on them.”

    Our American delegation reflected the growing diversity here, with members from “mission receiving” countries in leadership roles. Chinese-American Bishop Ignatius Wang, director of the Mission Office of San Francisco, offered special homilies, reminding us that the first donations from PMS were given to assist China. Haitian Deacon Rodney Mortel, Mission Director of Baltimore, kept the needs of the poorest of the poor in our conversations.

    Upon returning to San Antonio and the mission office, I now look at the world map on the wall with new energy. Jesus’ final request to “go to the ends of the earth,” teaching his commandments to love and forgive, is still being heeded by many generous and adventurous souls. As I write this, I gaze upon the dried petals from the rose I found on my last day in Rome. It reminded me of the message from St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, who promised “to spend her heaven sending roses to earth.”

   Everyone can participate in that great mission, be it through prayer, letter writing or financial support, like St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose poor health prevented her from ever leaving France or traveling extensively like St. Francis Xavier. As St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.”

    The Mission Awareness Office of San Antonio has more information on how you can get involved in all forms of support for the mission needs of the universal church.

     An inspirational DVD, including comments from many missionaries and Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelization of the Peoples, is available by e-mail to mwisniewski@archsa.org or call (210) 734-1913.

Mary Wisniewski is the director of the Mission Awareness office.