| | |  | |  | The Lipa Archdiocesan Commission on Migrants and Mission came to existence in the mid-1990's but realized its mission only upon the arrival of the New Archbishop Ramon C. Arguelles on 2004. Formerly, it comprises two separate and distinct commissions. He believed that the migrants are becoming the new missionaries of the new millennium. This comes from his assessment and belief that the Filipino migrants are expanding their faith practices to the places where they are living, working, and migrating.
In context though, the two ministries to Migrants and to the Mission present two very different yet connected apostolates in the Church. The pastoral care to migrants requires a broad perspective than limiting them to just being missionaries abroad. They leave the country to earn a better income to augment their financial needs in their families. The pastoral care to migrants requires being concerned with their plight while applying for abroad, while they are working and living in a foreign country, and ultimately, when they return home. More than these, there is an urgent need to address the conditions of the families left behind. These involve issues regarding the marital relationships and the upbringing of children who are most of the time compromised for a better income. There are much more concerns, including financial management of their hard-earned income.
On the other hand, the mission ministry demands that there will be continuous work towards bringing greater mission awareness to the people in the Archdiocese. This is not limited to the yearly World Mission Sunday celebrations and collections. There is a need to promote vocations to young people to be missionaries. The faithful must be aware of the great need and task to promote Christian faith all around the world where many still do not know Christ. This has to start with the young people and reach the lay adult community of believers. This is not an easy responsibility as a vocation and a ministry.
They can be together though. However, with the enormous task in the migrants’ ministry, the commission on Mission may need another priest in charge to make the ministry moving properly.
In this presentation, I will first limit myself to the context of the ministry to migrants in the Archdiocese of Lipa. |
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| | |  | | | | | | Rev. Fr. Jojo C. Gonda is the incumbent director of LACMMI. He held positions on National levels and is now very proud to focus his time serving people from his home province. |
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