Put Faith Into Action

Inspiring others to put faith into action

I'm 46 and honored to be the first Malagasy Divine Word Missionary Priest. I serve as an assistant parish priest in one of the SVD parishes in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. My main role as an SVD priest is managing the "mission secretary" office for the region, which raises mission awareness. The four SVD characteristic dimensions guide our mission placements and inspire us, as followers of St. Arnold Janssen, to collaborate and coordinate in our work.

Inviting Lay Partners

Mission Animation is important to me because it highlights the vital role of laypeople in and for the church. Since laypeople are baptized, they, too, are missionaries tasked with spreading the good news of God's kingdom. To keep the church vibrant and active, it's essential to embrace initiatives that encourage lay involvement, as they comprise the majority of the church's membership. Without well-informed and engaged laypeople, the church cannot function effectively. This is why Mission Animation is crucial.

Overcoming Hurdles

Mission Animation comes with its share of challenges. One major hurdle is figuring out how to convey the Gospel's message in a way that resonates with today's language and mindset. Our role in Mission Animation is to work alongside laypeople to understand and communicate Christ's message in relatable terms, ensuring it remains alive and dynamic, rather than rigid and confined. This task is far from easy and poses a significant challenge for all of us. Additionally, the issue of time is another obstacle; people today often lead busy lives and have little patience for lengthy meetings or additional responsibilities.

Building a Foundation 

In Madagascar, our mission focuses on "primary evangelization," which involves establishing new Christian communities and supporting their spiritual growth. We achieve this through regular visits and strong collaboration with laypeople, particularly catechists. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, so the poverty rate remains high. As a result, many locals are unaware of modern technology, and in many areas, we don't even have electricity. This makes our mission work here very different from that in more developed countries like the USA. The widespread poverty presents a significant challenge for Divine Word Missionaries. Many Malagasy people mistakenly believe that Catholic missionaries are wealthy and expect financial or material aid from us, like what they might receive from any other nonprofit organization.

Preserving Faith

Currently, we missionaries in Madagascar aren’t facing the influence of atheism or secularism, but it remains a concerning reality for us. In my view, there are several reasons why people become inactive Catholics. Some lose interest in the Church, others are only vaguely aware of its teachings, and some are dissatisfied with their relationship with the Church. Additionally, there are people who feel angry, hurt, or alienated due to a painful personal experience, marital status, or theological differences.

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