Mata kaupapa Mihana — The Diocesan Mission Map
The Diocesan Mission Map
I have a dream. I dream of a ‘missionary Church', so that all her structures can be used
for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her own self-preservation.
Evangelii Gaudium, 27 (On the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s Word), Pope Francis, 2013.
The Diocesan Mission Map is the guideline for the communities of faith communities that make up the Diocese to guide them in building a strong and authentic mission focused Christian community. It listens to the signs of the times and spreads the message of Christ in words and deeds.
Through the Diocesan Mission Map, Bishop Patrick Dunn and Bishop Michael Gielen urge all the baptised in the diocese to follow Pope Francis’ call to reach out beyond their parish, ethnic community and school boundaries to bring the good news and the love of Jesus to all. Particularly through:
- Strengthening our Catholic communities for missionary discipleship A reflection on this priority to watch.
- Building up the spirituality of our young people Watch a reflection on this priority.
- Care for the poor Here is a reflection on this priority
Forward in Courage and Hope
We are called to embrace the challenge of Pope Francis that our faith communities look to renew their practices, resources, language, and structures so that they be channelled towards evangelisation of today’s world. Evangelii Gaudium # 27.
Pope Francis has called us all to proclaim the Gospel in a new way - “a new phase of evangelisation that (has) existed from the beginning” Misericordiae Vultus #4. He calls us to reawaken parishes, ethnic communities, and schools to new life. To be courageous and look to the future with hope, to promote evangelisation and justice with new enthusiasm and renewed missionary intent.
Pope Francis Calls us to be a Missionary Church
The Church of Auckland is a community of communities that embraces the diversity of humanity. We are pilgrim people of God making our way together. We are bound by a common past and an as yet to happen future. As Paul writes to the Hebrews (13:14) “we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come”.
To seek what is to come requires us to share in the discernment of God’s call through consultation and collaboration of all the baptized. This document is the result of such processes. Seeded by the Vision Group (2017-2018) it come to fruition from consultative processes of working groups, workshops, and listening sessions.
The purpose of this discernment is to allocate diocesan resources to promote the diversely gifted people of God within the Diocese to be; witnesses to Christ, apostolic in their endeavour, at the service of the world -together.
As the baptized no matter our vocational role we are challenged to read this document as an individual and as a member of the many faith communities we connect to including parish, school, fraternities, social action groups…to be part “not of the change of an era but an era of change”(Pope Francis, 2015).
Strengthen our Catholic Communities for missionary discipleship
We will:
- Grow and develop servant leaders
- Be strong, inclusive communities of missionary disciples
Build up the spirituality of our young people
We will:
- Strengthen families
- Make schools and parishes visible and active as one faith community
Care for the poor
We will:
- Be visible, present and active working for the poor and marginalised
- Advocate for peace and justice
- Develop and enable people who care
Support for the Mission Map will be through five key pillars
Develop and grow people
Provision for formation through training, education and experience that enables the People of God no matter their age, stage of life or background to live and proclaim the joy of the Gospel.
Technology supports mission
- Websites that are mission focused evangelizing windows that shares our passion for mission.
- Easy for for faith communities to access resources for mission
- Technology to share our story of the Good News
Clear Communication
Explore ways of sharing the story of the Church its outreach, its beauty and its source of life.
Astute financial and resource management
Decisions are made for the common good with professional expertise and prayerful discernment.
Why do we need to look at new ways of Missionary?
There seems to be a deep misunderstanding about: God, about the way the bible is to be read, about the relationship between Faith and Reason (Religion and Science) and about the Church.
We as the baptised are called to continually grow our relationship with Jesus that we might live and proclaim the Joy of the Gospel.
In Matthew's account of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) we are given four tasks.
Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations
baptise them in the name of the
Father and of Song and of the Holy Spirit
and teach them to observe all the commands
I gave you.
This calls us to move from 'good enough' maintenance faith communities to missional communities. To be people bringing Jesus' message of love.
What do we do now?
There is no silver bullet that gives an exact recipe that makes instant disciples. Here are a number of ideas to get you thinking. Don't be scared to adapt and modify as suits your situation.
- Assist in community action that your community initiates
- Teach literacy programmes e.g.
- Conduct book discussions & book swaps with others that promote spiritual growth.
- Pray the daily office in a public place such as the Church and invite all to join you
- Have food, clothing, and cleaning supplies in store for those in need.
- Sponsor an activity in the local Catholic school
- Celebrate community heroes
Faith communities (schools, ethnic groups, youth groups, parishes) can access a range of resources to explore the Mission Map through the diocesan portal.
