Jonel Dalimag, cicm
Missionary in the Philippines
The Missionary Daring is an Essential Aspect of our Missionary Presence.
"Wherever a missionary presence is needed most, especially where the Gospel is not known or lived, the CICM dares to go!" This CICM mission statement sparked my interest in joining. This phrase was a key recruitment slogan of the CICM-Philippines, appearing on calendars, T-shirts, posters, and cards. It reflects the Congregation's dedication to sharing the Good News, especially among those who have not heard of it, as emphasized in its Constitutions: "We are sent to the nations (ad gentes) to share the Good News wherever our missionary presence is needed most” (Art. 2). This missionary daring makes our missionary presence uniquely CICM. It identifies us as CICM religious missionaries, and leads us to act accordingly; thereby, differentiating us from our diocesan counterparts and religious missionaries of other orders and congregations.
During our CICM District of the Baguio-La Union Discernment Meeting, we reflected on the theme of Missionary Presence in preparation for upcoming personnel transfers and appointments. While initially focused on transitions, our discussions deepened our understanding of our missionary identity and presence.
The discussion took off from the principle of Fraternal Dialogue, which should be established before any new appointments. I emphasized that we are in a period of TRANSITION, where preparation is key. This preparation involves Fraternal Dialogue between the appointing authority and the confreres. The Vow of Obedience requires mutual trust, considering individual talents and the needs of the Congregation. Article 31 of the CICM Constitutions states that obedience involves continuous discernment of the Lord's calling, highlighting our co-responsibility for the mission. Both Fraternal Dialogue and Mutual Trust are essential aspects of CICM religious life, as reinforced by Articles 83 and 85.
Article 83 emphasizes our collective co-responsibility for the Institute's mission and the importance of dialogue and participation at all levels. Article 85 highlights that significant decisions regarding individuals should be made through dialogue between the competent Superiors and the confreres involved. These principles prompted deep reflection among District members, with one confrere sharing that he declined an appointment due to concerns that the appointing Superior was unfamiliar with his skills, challenges, and aspirations.
As reflections unfold, themes of vision, aspirations, and shared goals emerge alongside the issue of the quality of missionary presence. The Retired but Extremely Dedicated (RED) missionaries shared their experiences, highlighting how their presence exemplified reaching out and stepping beyond comfort zones in line with the missionary essence of Ad Extra. However, they expressed concern that young confreres focus too much on sacraments and rituals, neglecting the true missionary aspect of their calling.
Alejandro A. Ulpindo, a longtime missionary in the Dominican Republic, shared the following as his response to my challenge for the RED to inspire the young:
Missionary Animation
“The Bishop of San Francisco de Macoris invited the CICM to engage in missionary animation in his diocese. We accepted the San Isidro Parish in Castillo as our base, where the bishop stated, "I want San Isidro Labrador de Castillo to be the focus of missionary animation for the whole diocese," later appointing me as the diocesan coordinator for the mission.
I visited all 48 parishes and engaged with their priests, noting resistance to mission animation. Many believe that since we are all missionaries, there's no need for extra effort. While they are correct about the importance of physical presence, it is insufficient. Missionary presence means reaching out joyfully to those in need, especially where the Gospel is unknown. We must go beyond sacraments and rituals to energize local Churches for the universal mission. As CICM missionaries, we have a role in promoting global solidarity among particular Churches. Ultimately, we must act locally while thinking globally.
Missionary Presence in the Local Church
I continued the missionary animation in more concrete ways. For instance, I formed a Diocesan Missionary Animation team. I continued my visit and invited the leaders to participate. After nine long years of animation, the dream came true. From 15 parishes, 15 animators formed the core team of the diocesan mission animation team.
Today, the diocesan team continues to do the missionary animation, and five of them were sent to other countries in Latin America to share their experiences. We set up a bank account for them to continue their mission. Though I am not there, the work continues.
A Missionary Parish
I animated our parish and formed a Parish Mission Animation team of 25 people, including representatives from the center and barrios. They created the "Ninos y Ninas Missioneros" group, which educates children on the Church's universal dimension. They visit schools, inviting children to research different countries, focusing on people's situations, songs, and costumes. They present their findings through drama at assemblies organized for them. They continue to promote awareness of the universal mission.
Mission outside the Box (Missio Ad Gentes, Inter-Gentes, Ad extra)
I was also a parish priest for many years. I followed faithfully the demands of the Church according to canon law. I celebrated the Holy Eucharist and administered the sacrament. Preach the good news. I comply with the demands of governing, sanctifying, and teaching. As I comply with all these, I also dedicate much time to forming lay leaders. Sometimes, I get out of the box and celebrate the Mass in the 'altars' of human peripheries in places where the Gospel is not known, preached, and lived.
One day, with the leaders, we decided to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the river that crosses the town of Castillo, where I was parish priest. The river was so polluted and very dirty because the people threw everything there. One can see all the strange things floating in the river—that day of the celebration. I told the people that our altar today is the river, and we watch how it looks now. All had the chance to express what they saw. As an act of contrition, I challenged the people to ask pardon because we have destroyed the river. By destroying it, we also destroy our and the next generations' lives. We resolved to clean the river and plant trees at the riverbank. We formed a committee for the cleaning of the river and also a committee to take care of the plants that will grow. When I left, many trees were on the river bank.
Another experience was converting a dumpsite into a garden: A Garbage to Garden Project
In one of the barrios of the center called Puerto Rico, there is a dump site. Many people were gathered to attend Mass at this dump site. Everybody has their handkerchief in their mouth. There was a foul odor. I asked them to remove their handkerchief from their mouths and noses, smell and breathe the air, and see and feel the difference between attending Mass in a beautiful, fragrant church and the altar at the dump site. This is our own making. We threw all the dirt here, and it accumulated over time. It is time to see our responsibility and accept our sins against nature, against the beautiful creation. We had time for an examination of conscience. Now that we have received our responsibility, we will ask ourselves how to concretize it. Can we make this place beautiful again?
After the Mass, the people said, we go in procession to the Municipal Hall and demand the mayor to send bulldozers to clean that whole mess. We did this, and the mayor was very open and helpful. He sent a brigade, and in a day, it was clean. In the meantime, we formed teams to plant trees and flowers and also a team to watch over the cleanliness of the place. When I left, the dump site had turned into a garden. And the people enjoyed the fresh air again.”
My initial goal was for the RED and veterans among us to share lessons, wisdom, and advice that could guide and be used by the appointing authority in their decision processes towards the new appointments for the next 3 years. However, it was a profound exchange of reflection among all the participants. Our sharing confirmed what was already reflected and written in 1981, which states:
"The crucial element of our CICM missionary identity is to "go beyond" wherever we are, NOT TO SETTLE DOWN. A genuine missionary spirit requires attitudes of availability and integration… Mission is everywhere and a missionary makes himself always available. For us CICM missionaries, it is typical to cross barriers to express this availability. Our concern is for the continuous growth of the local churches, but we are ever conscious of the growth of the temporary character of our presence. Aware of the worldwide responsibility to the mission, we are willing to leave behind personal and group-acquired securities and to live in solidarity with the needy, abandoned, and oppressed." [CICM Missionary Presence, Acts of the 9th General Chapter (Rome: 1981), pp. 10-12].
Applying Art. 3 of the CICM Constitutions, which states that, "We regularly question ourselves about the tasks we undertake. We willingly adopt the reorientations deemed necessary", we put ourselves under the microscope to see whether we are still worthy of being called 'missionaries' This reminds us of the 15th General Chapter of the Institute wherein the capitulants lamented the many obstacles that prevent the Congregation from realizing its dream:
"The maintenance of long-established congregational structures and long-standing commitments hinder us in "letting go," to respond to more urgent missionary challenges. We feel very much at home in our comfort zone and we fear change. The loss of "pioneering spirit" is a major obstacle to starting something new. The lack of animation and encouragement for our leaders may lead us to stagnation and stifle our creativity."
And, of course, a musing on CICM missionary presence and its challenges will not be complete without referencing the Kindling the Fire of 1974, my favorite CICM document. I shared a long reflection from this document, but for this purpose, let me share these few quotes:
"An essential attitude of the missionary is that of NEVER WANTING TO INSTALL HIMSELF DEFINITIVELY" (KF,153).
After all, we are reminded that "Our commitments retain a temporary character. This keeps us available to respond to other missionary challenges." Art. 10, CICM Const.)
"The missionary who easily accepts the idea of being replaced finds his happiness in being at the disposal of others. He rejoices to see others take over his works. He retains enough flexibility to give himself to another task with the same generosity. Another important attitude is being able to integrate fully in a new milieu, where the missionary is offered the occasion to grow and be inspired by values unknown to him."
