“Missionaries for a Time” creates bridge-builders between cultures
“Missionaries for a Time” creates bridge-builders between cultures and various people. “Missionaries for a Time” gives young women an opportunity to have some missionary and inter-cultural experience with a community of sisters. These young missionaries serve with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Uganda, and the United States. The Sisters of Notre Dame are connected with “Missionaries for a Time” programs in Germany and the United States.
Germany
In Germany the young women commit themselves to approximately one year in another culture. These women, often right out of secondary school, become bridge-builders between persons of different continents, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. On their return, they become spokespersons for the people with whom they have served. At home, they share their experiences and witness to the fact that a worldwide Church of love is possible.
A number of different religious congregations are involved in the “Missionary for a Time” program, and there is good collaboration between them to give the optimum of preparation and support to the volunteers. Extensive preparation helps the participants become acquainted with the land in which they will live and the stark contrast with their native culture. They prepare to share the lives of the people they will serve, to learn what their service will require and discover the rewards of missionary work.
The intensive preparation begins with an orientation seminar and various religious experiences to acquaint the young people with the program and help them to come to a decision about being missionaries. Once the decision is made, practical details are handled with the support of the person in charge: learning the language and obtaining insurance, acquiring tickets, medical injections and credit cards. Shortly before their departure, the missionaries attend a two-week seminar in which they once again examine their motivation and actively prepare themselves to encounter a new culture.
One important feature of the preparation is the time, usually a week, during which the participants live in a religious community in Germany to become acquainted with religious life and the congregation with whom they will serve in the foreign country. The program gives these missionaries a chance to work with a larger community of sisters, in addition to sharing life with a smaller group of sisters. They meet to re-examine their personal motivation and spiritual resources and to learn important aspects of the life of a Sister of Notre Dame. They are also given concrete details about the work they will do. The sisters find this week with the young women very moving and a special enrichment.
Prior to the departure of the missionaries, a missioning ceremony is held in their parish community or in our provincial house. This creates an opportunity for missionary awareness and helps people recognize that every baptized person is sent by Christ, is therefore a missionary and that each Christian community has a mission to fulfill. Thus, it is the community that sends the missionaries. The atmosphere of the missioning ceremony is one of great gratitude and joy.
During the time overseas, the missionaries share the life of the place to which they are assigned, giving of themselves and receiving from the people there. They keep in contact with the person in Germany responsible for the program.
After their return to Germany, weekend meetings are organised to give them an opportunity to evaluate and to share their experiences. Returned missionaries meet in groups in their home areas or they can get together from all over Germany twice a year to discuss the political and social realities which Germany or the developing countries are being confronted with: new forms of poverty, asylum seekers, women's rights and emancipation, indebted countries, debt remission campaign etc. Many are very active in the places and parishes where they live, working for the idea of One World in which justice, peace and solidarity are possible, inspired by the dream of the Kingdom of God.
More information is available (in German) at: http://www.missionarin-auf-zeit.de
United States
The Sisters of Notre Dame also offer a “Missionaries for a Time” opportunity through the Toledo, Ohio, Province. Women can minister among the poor and marginalized in Toledo or in the Philippines. Sr. Mary Joselyn Weeman coordinates the program and can be reached at jweeman47@hotmail.com.
How are the candidates prepared for work in the missions?
The "Missionaries for a Time" program provides an orientation for both the international and domestic volunteers. The staff will help the candidate to discern the call to missionary service and provide workshops and materials on cross-cultural living, communication skills, conflict resolution, mission spirituality, the Sisters of Notre Dame charism, relationships, healthy living, etc. The orientation is held at the Sisters of Notre Dame Mission House in Toledo, Ohio.
Options available for service with Missionaries for a Time
International service
Full-time (40 hours per week) in Toledo, Ohio
Part-time (10-20 hours per week) in Toledo, Ohio while attending a local college or university
Part-time or short term service (as available) in Toledo, Ohio while maintaining your current job – living in community with the Missionaries for a Time
How long do Missionaries for a Time serve?
After a period of orientation, Missionaries for a Time sign a renewable commitment for up to one year of service. Domestic volunteers typically serve from August 1 – June 30 of each year. International volunteers typically serve from May 15 – April 15.
Where do Missionaries for a Time serve?
The location for the international program is in Guimaras and Iloilo, Philippines.
The location for the domestic program is in Toledo, Ohio
For more information:
Contact Sr. Mary Joselyn Weeman, 419.913.8329 or jweeman@toledosnd.org
www.toledosnd.org (click on Service in Quick Links)
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